run like a mother – Page 2

From the smallest to the largest marathon- no two 26.2 mile races are the same

As I approached 40 I caught the marathon bug. 2020 was the year that I was going to run the NYC Marathon. The biggest, greatest, marathon of all marathons. A classic if you will. March 8, 2020 I registered to run as part of the Alzheimer’s Association team, in honor of my Dad who was suffering from Alzheimer’s. Two short weeks later COVID-19 began to impact the United States and the world more profoundly. Everyday life as we knew it had changed. Slowly but surely all races were beginning to be canceled- by June the 2020 NYC Marathon was like all others and it too was canceled. As was the case with many runners, I grieved the lack of racing opportunities, but this one hit hard. For a variety of reasons I was determined to run a marathon in 2020- big birthday around the corner, the 50th running of the marathon and I wasn’t sure my Dad would live to see November 2021 and wanted him to know that I had accomplished this bucket list item in his honor. I had two choices- pout that I wasn’t going to be running five bridges and boroughs in 2020 or do something about it. Despite the marathon being canceled I continued my fundraising and I decided to start my training cycle with the goal of running the Virtual NYC Marathon. I knew that with every training cycle I learned something new, so having a dress rehearsal if you will before the “real deal” seemed like a reasonable backup plan. Everyone says, be sure to carefully select that first marathon experience. Look for great crowd support- a course that will help you to go the distance. My first marathon was anything but- I ran in loops from my house. My crowd support consisted of some deer, squirrels and the guys taking down trees in my yard, until mile 20 or so when my family/friends came out to give me the final push to go the distance. While this was far from the NYC experience of running a marathon, I controlled a lot of the factors that you don’t get to control when running a major marathon. I slept in my own bed the night before. I was able to get up when I wanted and eat my normal breakfast. I listened to NY, NY by Frank Sinatra with my boys and hit the road. I didn’t listen to music. I didn’t have loud crowds cheering me on. Instead, I listened to an audio book and ran my solo 26.2. For what will likely be the only time I broke the tape that my then 5 and 7 year old children created as I crossed the home made finish line completing my first marathon. While I was initially disappointed that NYC didn’t happen, I honestly wouldn’t change a thing about this first marathon experience. Not many people can say they finished their first marathon in front of their home with their family and friends around them.

LIke many others when given the choice of my future guaranteed entry I selected 2021 as my first choice. Truth be told, I didn’t really think there was a chance of the marathon going off in 2021. So much felt unsettled at the time of making my election. However, I knew that I wanted the chance to run the 50th NYC marathon. I would still have the chance to do it during my 40th birthday year. But, as I suspected, I lost my dad a few months before the marathon and instead of running in his honor, I ran in his memory. This added to the meaning of the run.

As the date got closer, I was cautiously optimistic that the marathon would happen. For a long time, I was afraid to get my hopes up because I didn’t want to be disappointed by another canceled race. But this was the real deal and it was going to happen!! In contrast to my solo run, I spent the days leading up to the marathon taking in the sights with my family. We had the perfect few days of enjoying great meals, seeing the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and the Central Park Zoo. The weather was perfect. I was so distracted by making sure everyone had what they needed for the morning of the race- proper layers, snacks, and knowing how to get to the grandstand, that I lost track of the fact that I was about to run the biggest race of my life. I started the day by walking down Fifth Avenue to the bus to Staten Island. It was truly surreal. Crisp. Quiet for NY but not truly silent. As the city never really sleeps. Busses were lined up for blocks to take the runners to the base of the Verrazano Bridge. Fortunately, I made friends waiting in line who helped to pass the several hours we waited before our start time. While it was cold waiting in the start village (I knew that would make for the best running weather)- the time passed quickly sitting along the Verrazano Bridge, taking in the people, the sights and trying to settle my nerves. The energy was high and before I knew it I was making my way to the starting corral. On the top level of the Verrazano Bridge I stood in awe- thinking of all the times I had driven over the bridge, never once thinking that I would run across it. How would I describe the experience?? Intense. There is such a buzz at the start of the marathon where there are no spectators but all the runners are so excited. Once we crossed the bridge there were spectoros, music and excitement for miles. The only other really quiet stretch was the Queensboro Bridge. But then you have the spectators waiting on First Avenue to cheer you on. I’m still amazed at how many volunteers and spectators gave of their time that day to make the race possible. I wore a bib with my name on it and it was as though the spectators knew when I needed a boost and would call out my name.

I like to think of my two marathon experiences as my first marathon and my first “real” marathon. Trust me, anyone knows that 26.2 whether you do it alone or with 30,000 people is a marathon. But there is no describing the energy felt for the 26.2 in NY. In NY I was running as part of a community. When I ran alone it was a very personal experience. It was something I had to do for me. In NY it’s as though the entire city was cheering me to the finish. The sense of community with the runners, many of whom had been waiting two years like me to run in NYC was profound. But one thing remained the same- my husband and boys were there at the end. No, we weren’t in front of our house and they didn’t get to squirt me with water guns like in 2020, but when we called out to each other and locked eyes it was like no one else was there as I crossed the finish line of my first “real” marathon in the greatest city in the world!

A week to go- two years in the making

Two years ago I was in New York City for training for work. I had just come off my first half marathon. Running a marathon had not crossed my mind. But, then I saw the City preparing for one of the largest marathons in the world. And a thought crept into my mind, maybe just maybe I should…could run the NYC Marathon. If you know me, once a thought has entered my brain, I’m going to research the heck out of it and do it. I hadn’t even been running for a year at this point and as I said, literally just finished running my first half marathon. Yet, during my run from my hotel to Central Park it became clear to me that I would run the New York City Marathon. Shortly, thereafter I learned that you could register to run by fundraising for various charities, including the Alzheimer’s Association. At the time my father was years into his battle with Alzheimer’s and the thought of fundraising and running for the Alzheimer’s Association gave my running new purpose. I quickly became acquainted with the woman who organized the charity race entries for the Alzheimer’s Association and marked my calendar for when I could register. This friends is how my quest to run the NYC Marathon began….in October of 2019. In March of 2020, March 8th to be specific I actually registered for the 2020 NYC Marathon. I was beyond excited, until like all other major races the marathon was canceled.

So here we are the end of October 2021, two years later and one week away from the 2021 New York City Marathon. God love my husband who has lived the ups and downs of the stress of this whole process- of registering, the sadness of the race being canceled, the questions of whether I would be able to run this year when the marathon was canceled in 2020. That’s not even going into the amount of marathon talk that has been going on over the last few months. Holy cow- what would normally be a twelve week training cycle has basically been 24 months. It is hard to believe that I’m eight days away from running the race that I have been mentally and physically preparing for the last two years. Many have asked “how are you doing?” The answer is simple- I know I’m physically ready. I know mentally I can go the distance. BUT, I know full well I’m going to be a bundle of emotions. The experience is going to be a tad bit different from my solo marathon around my neighborhood that I ran last Fall. I’m eager to take in all the sights, sounds and the full marathon experience in the greatest City in America. I’m excited for the boys to see a major marathon in action. I’m also totally nervous about all the logistic details. The getting to the bus, the start line and the waiting to start. My Type A mind is on overdrive trying to anticipate all the things I “might” need. I also know full well that I’ve put all of my dad dying energy into my running and preparing for this race. So I’m going to be an emotional mess as I cross the finish line. While he won’t be here to know that I did it, I’m certain he’s going to be watching me every step of the way, that he will be the wind at my back carrying me through five Burroughs and over 5 bridges.

You too can follow along using the TCS New York City Marathon App. My bib number is 19353. Mentally I have an A and a B goal. While the big goal is to finish the damn race. I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t have a time goal floating around my head too. More importantly I want to take in and enjoy the entire experience. Never in my life did I think that I would run across the Verrazano Bridge?! Stay tuned for updates next week when I’ll compare my solo marathon from 2020 with the experience of running the largest post Covid marathon in NYC with 33,000 of my closest running friends.

NYC Marathon-6 weeks to go

I’m half way through my training cycle for my first in person marathon. That’s right- I ran my first marathon virtually in October of 2020 when NYC was canceled because of Covid. I had the opportunity to defer my guaranteed entry and learned that I would have the chance to run in 2021. As the marathon wasn’t run in person last year this is still the 50th running of the NYC marathon. This is what I wanted. I wanted to run the 50th Anniversary year- I wanted to run for my 40th birthday (which was in January), so I guess I’m just extending the birthday fun. When this adventure began it was to honor my Dad, by running and fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Association. Less than two month ago my dad lost his battle with Alzheimer’s. So now I run to honor his memory. I was already a bundle of emotions, when I ran virtually last year, but now my emotions are on overdrive.

I’ve been cautiously optimistic as I started my training cycle that the marathon will go off as scheduled. The closer we get to November 7 and the further I get into my training cycle the more optimistic I am that the marathon will happen and I will really toe the line in Staten Island. Things suddenly became very real this past weekend. I had my first longer run (12 miles) at marathon pace. My biggest challenge when running an in person race is to keep my cool at the start and not go out too hard. I imagine I am not alone with that “problem.” There’s so much adrenaline at the start of race- the excitement of running with others- the support along the route to keep going. I’m not sure I can even begin to fully appreciate what it is going to feel like on race day morning. So here I am six weeks to race day and in full freak out mode. I’m trying to anticipate all the things- what is it really going to be like to wait in the starting village for HOURS? What is the weather going to be like? What throw down items of clothing should I pack? Should I get arm sleeves/warmers? How much water should I carry? How am I going to make sure my phone stays charged? What if my watch battery dies? Will the new Apple Watch come out in time?? What in the world is my family going to do all that time while they wait for me? What am I going to want for dinner when I’m done? We would really go back and cheer on the other runners after I finish. This is just a sample of all the practical questions and thoughts running through my mindI’m thinking about. This isn’t even taking into account all of the emotions- I cried last year as I went out to run by myself. I can’t imagine the emotion as I begin to cross the Verrazano Bridge! Forget about when I see my family and enter the park to finish. This is not a DNF situation. Come hell or high water I will cross the finish line! That said- no pressure right??

I’m also in that window where staying healthy is key. There’s not much time for illness or injury to happen and get fully better without derailing this portion of the training. Granted if I accepted the idea that my only goal should be to finish- I could pack in the training now and know that I could finish a marathon. But I don’t want to “just finish.” I want to enjoy the experience. I want to take in the entire experience and I want to honor my father’s memory with each and every step. Again…no pressure! I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the unwavering support I get from my amazing husband. But for him believing in me, helping with the boys and making sure they were always there to cheer me on I couldn’t do it. I’m truly blessed and grateful.

I looked back at my posts from my last training cycle and felt grateful that I took the time to blog each week about that week’s runs. This weekend after my 12 miler the outside of my left knee feels funny- sore, tight. This isn’t a new pain, just a pain I haven’t had for a while. So I went back to my notes. It actually was’t until week 10 of training that this same knee pain popped up last year, but much worse- like couldn’t run much worse. I opted to lift this morning rather than do my scheduled run. Experience gives you a lot of things- when it comes to training it gives you the confidence to modify your running plan to listen to your body and hopefully avoid a more serious injury. We shall see what tomorrow brings as I go for a nice and easy few miles on the treadmill. Knock wood this go round, I’ve managed to avoid the nagging hip pain that plagued me through most of the last marathon training cycle. That said, I’ve fallen into the same trap of focusing on the miles and letting the cross training/lifting go. The last two weeks I’ve been a little bit better and added one lifting day. Core and strength training are really just as important as the miles so it’s important to make the time to get both the miles and the strength training done!

So what will the next six weeks bring?? Lots and lots of overthinking just about everything. Talking to my friend, Suzy of RunLIftMomPod, who will talk me off the wall and give me some helpful pointers. I will select an outfit…and a backup. I’ll commit to shoes, socks, waist pack- the whole nine yards, while likely packing back ups of everything. Deep down I know I can do it, I just need to get over not controlling the logistics and go with it. I can only prepare so much- the other pieces will fall into place. I will trust my training. I will take in the experience. Less than 40 days until the NYC Marathon!! On your mark, get set- GO!!!

Balancing Act- work, kids, and marathon training

Let’s be real life is always a balancing act right? Kids, work, working out, volunteering, time for your spouse, the house, laundry, more laundry. As the years go on the balancing changes. For example, when the boys were young and I was a stay home mom- it was balancing finding time to shower and make dinner with feedings, diaper changes and nap schedules. Then they got a little bit older and it was balancing having two kids instead of one. Trying to make their schedules mesh. Then one starts school, one is home and you are doing all the mommy and me activities. You get the idea as years pass by we are just changing the things that are always at a delicate balance. I laugh because Covid has just made the balance like a see saw. Every time we think we are in a good place there’s some sort of monkey wrench thrown into the mix.

Last year for the first time in my years as a mother both of my children were in school full time for the very first time. I had this grand plan for a life of luxury. I would drop them off, have time during the day to train for my marathon, read, write. I laugh, because within moments of them both being in school I started subbing basically full time at school. Let’s be real, I’m not really the take it easy, have a lot of time on your hands kind of person, so this wasn’t a huge surprise. We figured out the balance and it worked out well. I was happy to be at school with the boys and they were happy to have me there. I learned a lot about myself and the fact that I was really ready to go back to work.

Fast forward to July of 2021. Back to work full time- for real. I was a host of emotions- worried that I couldn’t truly find the balance, worried that I couldn’t remain the mom that I wanted to be to the boys. We quickly got into our summer routine and realized…this will work! Not only would it work, it was really important for the boys to see me doing something beyond being their mom. I’m not for one moment saying being a mom isn’t enough. Quite honestly, if you are blessed to be a mom I consider it the number one and most important “job.” That said, it was healthy for them to see me working on projects and doing other things. Once I got settled I realized how much I needed this for me too. So I worked on getting acclimated. The boys enjoyed camp and we got into a routine- a balance so to speak.

Then the balance was thrown out of whack…my dad died. While he had been battling Alzheimer’s for years, this sudden decline and death seemingly came out of no where. Understandably so the balance that we were just holding onto got undone. It would have remained undone but for the fact that school was starting as was marathon training. Time to kick it into high gear when all I wanted to do was nothing at all.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that marathon training began the week after my dad’s funeral. The reason I caught the marathon bug was to fundraise for the Alzheimer’s Association. He was my why for doing this big scary thing called running the NYC Marathon. The week following his funeral I couldn’t have been less motivated to lace up my shoes and run, but I’m a stickler for following the training plan. So in a good way it forced me to get my butt in gear, lace up my shoes and put one foot in front of the other.

Shortly thereafter would come the true test- back to school madness was about to begin. I think we can all agree that September is a crazy month. Everyone is getting back into routine and there are so many new things- new activities, back to school night, etc. etc. Throw into the mix that I had several programs for work in addition to the Jewish holidays along with the back to school madness/marathon training. Oh my goodness- it was a blur!! By the end of each day I am completely exhausted and falling asleep most days when the boys go to bed. But like always, we somehow found the balance and made it work. We still found the time for books and snuggles and movies. We found the time to discuss, highs, lows and buffalos each day. The boys found ways to help me get ready for events at work and we enjoyed more than one golf cart ride together. Was it easy? Heck no. Would I trade it for the world? Also no. Someone recently asked me how I was really doing regarding my dad. The truth is, there are good days and bad days. There are moments that set me off for no reason. I think the crazy schedule and being busy helped. He wouldn’t want me to be sad. He was always hustling and working hard. He’d be happy to know that I am too.

At the end of the day- I couldn’t be happier with my new job or the fact that I get to work where the boys go to school. I joined an amazingly supportive community, where family still comes first. I work hard, mom hard and run hard everyday. All while finding time to read for pleasure- my other guilty pleasure. We’ve found our balance…for now! Until something changes and we work to find the balance again!

#chuck12- my favorite race

Back in 2019 my first “long” race was the Charles Street 12, aka Chuck12. I love the idea of the race starting in Towson, not far from where I used to work, going past the hospital that I delivered the boys, continuing past where I went to law school and ultimately finishing at Under Armour Headquarter in Baltimore City. When I ran this race two years ago it was going to be my longest race to date and I didn’t really know what to expect. But when I toed the line this year, I’ve run a variety of half marathons and a virtual marathon. Plus, there’s nothing like having a real sense of the course. I wasn’t a newbie runner- yet still had that nervous energy as we got started. Even with Chuck 12 being my ultimate favorite race, I almost didn’t go. Last week was crazy- start of school, Jackson’s birthday, big event at work, all on the heels of a long month following my father’s death. But this was a real life racing opportunity, how could I pass it up?

I’m not going to lie, I was super sad and frustrated when racing got “covid cancelled” for much of 2020 and into 2021. I missed the opportunity to have a race setting push me to run my very best and test my training. I ran all the virtual races and it was just not the same. It took seemingly forever for racing to return to Maryland. It wasn’t really until June of 2021 when races started to happen in person. In October of 2020, I “raced” my virtual marathon and then basically had been in maintenance running mode for months, with no real race on the horizon. The June race that I ran was a last minute entry and a really tough course. I was of course happy that I did it- when I was done. Up next was the Frederick Half. This was a race I had deferred from 2020, that was supposed to be in May but was in July. Ugh- Maryland in July is hot and humid. Overall that day proved to be decent weather conditions, but my time was not my best, nor was it my worst. Again, I was so happy that I did it and my husband and sons were there to cheer me to the finish. But really my two racing experiences in 2021 had proven hard and didn’t yield the time results I had been hoping for. So clearly, I knew despite the long week- month- and migraine I was running the Charles Street 12.

One of the interesting parts of Chuck 12 is it starts and finishes at completely different places- as you would imagine that are 12 miles apart. I’m so fortunate that my husband and boys still enjoy coming out to wait for hours to see me cross the finish line. So they headed to the finish and my friend and I drove to the start of the race. Funny side story- I wear glasses 98% of the time. Maybe on 10 occasions during the year do I wear my contacts. But for whatever reason for races I prefer to wear my contacts so I don’t have to worry about my prescription sunglasses. If I drop or lose my sunglasses I would much rather it be a $25 pair than a $500 pair of prescription lenses. However, since I so rarely wear my contacts I make a lot of rookie mistakes with them. The car ride to the race proved to be one such time. My eyes were super itchy so I scratched them without giving it too much thought. Until, all of a sudden I couldn’t see so well out of my right eye. I thought at first that the contact was dry and tried to generate tears. Then it dawned on me…I had rubbed my contact out of my eye!! Panic set it. I didn’t have glasses with me and I certainly didn’t have another contact. I searched my eye- maybe it was hiding up under my lid. No luck. I carefully looked all around me. No luck. Well, it hadn’t disappeared so where on earth did it go?? We got to the start of the race and did some more searching in the car. As a last resort, I got out and thought maybe looking from a different angle I might see it. Still nothing. So I was resigned to running with on contact, and a migraine that I was keeping at bay with Excederin Migraine. Now if that doesn’t sound like prime condition to run a race, I don’t know what does. Then I got back into the car. Folded up like a creased up taco was my contact on the seat of the car. I then proceeded to break all the contact wearing rules in the book. Took the cap off my water bottle, dropped the contact in and poured some water on in- willing the dried up little contact to come back to life. All of this is quite entertaining NOW- at the time. Not so much. Somehow the contact sprung back to life and I got it back in my eye. Yes, I know it was completely unsanitary. But short of spitting on my contact I wasn’t really sure what else to do. I’ve considered every in person race leading up to NYC a trial run and so the lesson was BRING EXTRA CONTACTS!! I may even bring and old pair of glass that I’m willing to part with too. Something to think about for sure.

Well, now that the contact drama is behind us I could begin to focus on the nervousness and the fact that generates the sensation of needing to go to the bathroom. So I made a bee line for the porta potty line. One would think that one visit would be sufficient as I really hadn’t drank that much, however there was the half marathon when I assumed it was jus the nervous sensation that I needed to urinate- when in fact I really did and I lost nearly two minutes running to a bathroom in the Magic Kingdom. As a result, I never take for granted that it’s nerves and go to the bathroom as many times as possible before the race. This should be really interesting when I have to spend nearly 5 hours waiting to start the marathon in November.

Let’s chat about the weather. The week leading up to the race was hot and humid until the remnants of Hurricane Ida came through and cooled things off considerably. That translated to temperatures in the 50s to start the race, but still some humidity. Overall a beautiful weather day to run a great course. This was part of what got me out of bed the morning of the race. How could I pass up such a wonderful weather day?? That and I’m in a marathon training cycle. The week called for 26 miles and I still had 12 to run as I had planned for the race to complete my weekly mileage. I’m a stickler for following the plan. Either way I was going to be running 12 miles so I might as well make it part of the race.

Speaking of training cycles- when I ran the Chuck 12 last time, I trained for it like it was a half marathon. Did the proper tapering, etc so I would have fresh legs to run on. As I just mentioned I’m in the middle of a marathon training cycle. So there was no taper and I had already run 14 miles this week, including speed work earlier in the week. The week after the race has a key run of 10 miles. So I’m considering myself ahead of the game with having the 12 miles done early. There are those who say don’t race during a training cycle as racing taxes your body differently than training runs. There are others who would say that two months before the marathon having a race like experience isn’t detrimental. I knew I had two options when I showed up on race morning- treat it like a training run and take it easy or run it like a race. Training my mind to have easy runs was a work in progress for a long time, so it’s definitely not at the place that I could have treated this just like a training run…it was a RACE!

Whereas my goals in 2019 were to finish races, I have more specific time goals now. Most of the time they are conservative. Sometimes, like for Frederick because of the heat and humidity I knew I needed to bring my time goal down to a safe number to not over tax my body. In the end I met that goal, but overall didn’t feel solid during the course of the race. When it came time to plan for Chuck 12, I couldn’t quite figure out what I thought my time could be. In 2019 my time was 1:52:28. At the time, that was 5 minutes faster than what I had anticipated would be my finish time. I was beyond shocked when I finished that quickly, as was my family who weren’t expecting me for another 5 minutes or so. Based upon my utter exhaustion and not tapering I was considering 1:48 a solid finish time for 2021. That would be more than 4 minutes better than last time and seemed like a realistic goal. But my reach goal was 1:42. Now that is a broad range! Six minutes faster would mean shaving 30 seconds or so off per mile from my 1:48 goal. That’s a lot of time. That said, 8:30 a mile isn’t too far off what I was doing when I hit my stride before Covid shut everything down. I’ve never run with a pace group during a race, but I’m intrigued by the idea. There were pacers at the race which got my mind thinking. I lined up with the 1:40 pace group. Yes, I know this is even faster than my reach goal, so I needed to have my head examined. But they looked like a fun bunch. I knew I couldn’t really hang with them, but went out with them for the first mile and then settled into my pace. I continual remind myself that I need to run my own race and pace. But here’s what I figured, I would maintain my own pace that felt comfortable, as comfortable as a pace can feel at race pace and try to avoid getting passed by the 1:45 pace group. If however, the 1:45 pace group came up on me I would run with them and still beat my 1:48 initial goal.

After learning to race and take water when it was offered, Covid had me wearing water to train and race. Each is a mental mind shift. Truth be told, I don’t love carrying my own water, but there’s something to be said to be able to drink whenever you would like. It also allows me to have a nutrition pouch whenever it’s convenient because I need some water to wash it down. All this to say, when push came to shove I opted not to carry my own water. It felt good to be traveling light!!

While the course is advertised as down hill, the first six miles or so have a series of hills. I play mind games as I tick off the miles during a race. At first it’s to get under 10 miles. Then I start adding my mileage. Usually once I get to four miles I’m in a solid rhythm and feeling pretty good. So for this race my mental mind games were to get to 6 and I would be halfway done. Then focus on getting to 8- then 10- then at 11 which is when I call to say I’m a mile out and boom I’m done. It’s really not quite that simple, but that’s literally how my mind was working Saturday. At the end of the day- it’s all about what works for you. This is what works for me! This was the first race in a long time that I wasn’t questioning my sanity. I felt solid pretty much the whole time. That is not to say that I wasn’t extremely happy to see the finish line because I was in fact very happy to finish. But the best part of the finish was that it wasn’t super crowded and I had a great view of the boys with their signs. I was waving and smiling to finish up 12 miles. Who would have ever thought?? There is truly something to be said to having family support at the finish line. Sometimes it’s what gets me there and times like Saturday it’s fun to celebrate together!

Because I’m all about the numbers- how did things shake out?? I averaged 8:35 a mile for 12 miles. Not too shabby. There were 953 participants. I finished 247. So not quite the top 25% but not too far off. There were 479 women who ran. I finished 74th. (PS my 8 year old had counted all the women who finished before me and was able to tell me within one of what number woman I was to finish). In my new masters age category of 40-49 there were 152 women. I finished 17th. So, all in all a solid showing, a good race overall and I can’t wait to do it again next year!! The Charles 12 will always hold a special place in my heart.

Virtual Racing to the rescue

Understandably, we are seeing many cancellations as Covid crisscrosses the globe. I feel terribly for those brides-to-be who have planned so much to have to have a private ceremony or need to reschedule, the high school and college seniors who aren’t going to have a traditional end to their year or graduation, and for our children who must adjust to a new normal as they and our teachers navigate the world of virtual teaching.

If you are part of the running community you are also experiencing race cancellations, postponements and races being converted to virtual runs. I know in comparison to the other major cancellations and life disruptions this might seem minor. But if you are a runner, who has been training these cancellations are huge. Many of us feel lost as we find ourselves mid-training cycle not quite sure what to do. Listening to Run Lift Mom’s podcast on what to do if your race was cancelled help shift my mental focus.

Ironically, I listened to Run Lift Mom as a ran my first virtual race! I followed my pre-race routine which included a flat lay. If you didn’t take a flat lay did the race happen?? I wore my bib and my themed shirt. It was silly. But it was important.

I happened to be at my sister’s in Arizona. So we ran the trail behind her home. Our kiddos stood out in the yard and cheered us on as we ran by. When done we enjoyed a post race adult beverage. Why was all this important?? 1) My boys knew I was supposed to race. Remember, they are always watching. So I thought it was important to them to see that we still ran. 2) It was supposed to be a fun thing that I was doing with my sister and her sister-in-law/aunt. We made the most of it. 3) While silly, testing different racing gear before a “real” race is important. I’ve been wanting to try out the hustle shorts for a race and this gave me a chance. 4) It was cathartic to run the trail, which is completely different than running on the road which I’m used to. I recognize that this was a little different because while the run itself moved virtual I still completed the event with others. So it was kind of like a hybrid experience.

Unless you are part of an in person running group for many runners our support comes from family, but also from an online running community. We’ve been virtually supporting each other for years? This is our moment to shine.

For example, if you had the chance to read my RunDisney Race Recap, you’ll learn that much of my inspiration to start running again came from Brenda Ster and the other fabulous ladies in Suite Runners. Day in and day out we share our running highs and lows. Right now we are getting creative and sharing in virtual runs. Many in the group were scheduled to do the WonderWoman 5K/10K in Tempe on March 21. With the race cancellation we all shared in a Virtual 5K. Throughout the day we shared our pictures after we finished. Some ran for the first time in a long time. Many considered it their first event. It’s an amazing way to get moving, connect with others and share

Virtual 5K with the Suite Runners complete!

Given the option between not racing at all or virtual racing the opportunity to race virtually is a blessing. Are you likely to have a personal record (PR)? Probably not, but you never know. You do get to share the experience with your online community. It fulfills a need to get out and run and share!!

Here’s the deal, if you’ve already paid for many races this year that are getting postponed, cancelled, becoming virtual (that’s me!) you don’t necessarily want to pay to register for additional races to have the virtual racing experience. But what if I told you that you could have the ability to have four virtual races for FREE??? Run to the Edge has put together a virtual run series Un-Canceled Project.

How’s it going to work?? First of all it’s FREE!! Each week in April you’ll complete a virtual race. You choose the distance. Why do I think this is so important?? A variety of races have been cancelled. Maybe you were going to run a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Full Marathon or an Ultra Marathon. You can get the closure for that race by selecting your distance.

What else is super cool about this virtual series?? Each week as a theme. Gratitude, Hope, Humor and Inspiration.

WEEK 1: GRATITUDE UN-CANCELED

* Wear something blue the day of your virtual race.

* This week share the little things make life wonderful. Post about family, love, a warm place to sleep, food on your table, a body that is able to do a virtual race, etc.

* During your race focus on being grateful and post the bib you earn with the things that top your gratitude list.

WEEK 2: HOPE UN-CANCELED

* Wear something green the day of your virtual race.

* This week share the things that give you hope. Post quotes, stories, videos, etc. that help restore your faith in humanity.

* During your race, focus on your personal sources hope. Post the bib you earn with what inspires you most.

WEEK 3: HUMOR UN-CANCELED

* Wear something orange the day of your virtual race.

* This week share anything (please be appropriate) that makes you giggle. Post your all time favorite meme, video, or pun to the group to make each other laugh.

* During your race do something silly. Wear a mismatched outfit, do a cartwheel, sing out loud to the music in your headphones, or anything you can think of to bring a smile to your face and others. Post the bib you earn with what you did or your favorite source of humor.

WEEK 4: INSPIRATION UN-CANCELED

* Wear something teal the day of your virtual race.

* This week share what inspires you. Post quotes, stories, videos, or anything that you find inspirational. Tag the friends who inspire you as well.

* During your race focus on your sources of inspiration and post the bib you earn with what or who inspires you most.

So who is going to join me. Run or walk. Pick the distance. Spread the gratitude, hope, humor and inspiration!!

Do you know of other virtual runs that you want to share?? Comment below and I’ll include them for everyone to see!

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How Running Changed my life!

Often in life we find that actions/activities have unintended benefits or consequences; sometimes good and sometimes bad. When I set out to “start running again” in February of 2019 I had absolutely no idea what lessons I would learn. Here are my top 10!!

Number 10- Running is as much a mental sport as it is physical Yes, it truly is as much a mental game as it is a physical challenge to move your body. Think about, sometimes just getting out the door is the hardest part. You start making excuses of things you have to do, the weather, not feeling well etc. Then think about when a run isn’t feeling great, because guess what not every run is a good run and you need to dig deep and remember why you are running. Again, this is the mental component creeping in again. Or wait for it, what about when you get injured. While we all strive to avoid injury and work really hard to stay healthy, let’s be real- it happens. So now again you have to have the mental fortitude to give your body the rest it needs and then get back on the horse so to speak and get back at it when you are physically feeling better.

Number 9- Strength training is just as important as the miles I’m going to say it again, strength training is just as important as the miles. I’m crazy you say. Nope. I 100% stand behind this statement. As soon as I made the shift from just wanting to run a few days a week to I want to run 10Ks, ten milers, half marathons I followed the sage advice of Suzy Goodwin (If you aren’t connected with her, check her out!!) and found a trainer that I trust to do strength training with a few times a week. Today as I got the idea for this post I was talking with a friend about shaving some time off her runs. And we got to talking about the absolute importance of strength training. I could literally talk about this all day- but I’ll leave you with this short anecdote:

August of 2019 I ran my first “big race” of 12 miles. Right before the taper (which is also important but doesn’t make this top 10) I was experiencing brutal hip pain. During the taper period it felt better and then after the race it hurt again. Same thing before my first half marathon. Terrible hip pain as my mileage increased. Better during the taper and HORRIBLE after the Half. Felt great during the run but was killing me after. Any idea what was causing this terrible hip pain??? Over tight hamstrings. Any guesses what my trainer has incorporated into every session?? Exercises to stretch my hamstrings and strengthen the muscles around them. The result as I completed my third training cycle, I got through the entire cycle injury and pain free. I ran back to back races on a Saturday and Sunday (10K/Half Marathon) and had no hip pain. As you can see, I cannot say enough about strength training!!

Number 8- It’s addictive. Truly. The more you run the more you want to run.

Number 7- Never underestimate the importance of good shoes If you are thinking about running, any distance the first thing you need to do is get good shoes. And it’s possible that the shoes that were working great when you start don’t remain the best fit so it’s important to revisit them. While I’ve remained with the same shoes through the annual “modifications” I’ve added arch supports along the way for the perfect fit. Read all about finding the best shoes here!

Number 6- What you eat and drink really matter- While this seems completely obvious it somehow was less obvious to me in the beginning. i.e. I considered skipping the wine the week of the race being race ready. Then after my trainer more than once casually mentioned that I should really start tracking what I was eating, I bit the bullet and download the MyFitnessPal app and started tracking. Quickly I learned that I needed more protein and calcium. I began to focus more on getting the nutrients I needed in addition to eating what I liked. I’m not suggesting you need to go on a crazy diet, but I am saying that keeping an eye on your intake will make a difference. When I did I truly see this in action?? We went on vacation. So I went on vacation mode in regards to eating and adult beverages by the pool. Then I would try to run the next day. Brutal. It was rough!! That’s when I fully understood that what I’m eating and drinking totally matters!!

Up next in the what you eat and drink matters came the time to give up soda. Soda has been my vice for as long as I can remember. Then it came time to drop that habit like it was hot. Hello, Arbonne Fizz. I don’t drink coffee so the caffeine from the soda was what got me through the day. Then I tried the vegan, plant based natural caffeine of Arbonne fizz and I was hooked on something better!!

Number 5- That it would become a family affair I started running because it was something for “me.” I was committed to finding the time between work, volunteer obligations and kids to run. It was “me time.” But then the boys caught the running bug with me. My husband along with my two boys were my biggest cheerleaders. So then they wanted to run too!! I realized yet again, that our children are always watching and what an important lesson I was teaching them every time I laced up my shoes. So in May the boys will run their first official race the night before my third half marathon. I’ll be there, sign in hand so proud that they want to run too!!

Number 4- The beauty of the world around me This is two fold. First, because often to get my miles in I’m up early. The calm of the morning as the sun is rising, as I run past the deer, rabbits and birds truly settles my soul for the day. While I despise being cold, I love the crispness of the air for the fall and winter runs. It’s an invigorating start to the day. Part two is that running doesn’t take a vacation for me. So when we take a vacation I get to take in the location on foot (again usually before the rest of the world is up). How amazing to run the Tower Bridge in London or to the Eiffel Tower in Paris?? But just as amazing to run along the beach or the dessert of Arizona. We joke with the boys that nature is all around us. When you are out there pounding the pavement you have a whole knew appreciation for the world around you!

Number 3- How amazing it feels to have a great run Some say they don’t get a runner’s high. I fall into the camp of getting a runner’s high after I finish a good run or race. Like I’m all jazzed up for hours after, especially after a race. When you know that you have given it your all, felt good and finished strong how could you not feel great??

Number 2- The bonds you build are amazing Running communities are special. While I’m still primarily a run on your own kind of person. I know that I can depend on the resources of my local running shop Charm City Run for my running needs and the ability to train with folks in “real life.” But I’m talking about the online running community of women that have been super supportive. Heck, I got back into running because a group of dedicated women in The Elite Suite, an online social marketing and mentoring group were talking about running the Princess Half Marathon in 2019. They inspired me to lace up my shoes and then I got to meet several of them at the completion of the Half Marathon in Orlando in February. But then there are those that are cheering you on along the way. You know and hyping you up all weekend long. I see you Suzy Goodwin. And I know you have a HUGE bucket list run coming up soon!!

Number 1- Set big goals and crush them!! My goal had been to run the Princess Half Marathon. Along the way I ran several other races including a 12 Miler and another Half Marathon. I have races on the calendar for every month for the rest of the year. Each racing experience teaches me something new and I’m enjoying the ride. So now, it’s no longer the goal to finish. But rather the goal to continue to get stronger and bring down my time. Maybe there’s another goal floating around that will be revealed soon!!

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RunDisney Princess Challenge Recap 2020

In February of 2019 I declared that I was going to run the Fairytale Challenge in Disney World in 2020. That means running a 10K (6.2 miles) on Saturday and a Half Marathon (13.1 miles) on Sunday. This was going to be my first half marathon. Long story short if you take a look at the race recap section you’ll see once I started running I didn’t stop and this was ultimately by second half marathon.

In the week leading up to going to Orlando my level of stress was high. It’s flu season after all. At both of my son’s schools it seemed like everyone was sick. I knew that if they got sick I couldn’t possibly leave them. As luck would have it everyone stayed healthy and on Thursday, February 20th I made my way to Orlando. After checking into my hotel I made my way to the Expo.

What is the Expo?

The Expo is where your running shopping dreams come true. Imagine three buildings at ESPN World Wide of Sports- one with exclusively RunDisney merchandise, one where you pick up your bib and can take pictures with the giant mile signs for each race. Finally, another building where you pick up your race shirt(s) and vendors with anything from running shoes, to graphic tanks, headbands, race specific Pandora and so much more.

The Expo opens Thursday morning at 10:00 AM. I arrived at approximately 3:00 PM. Other than waiting in line to enter the exclusively RunDisney merchandise building there were no lines. You could easily spend hours pursuing the various booths. I limited my purchases to:

Saturday, February 22, 2020-10K

The weather was unseasonably cold in Orlando. I’m talking in the 40s kind of cold. The 10K started at 5:30 AM. Since I was staying at the Contemporary I was able to take advantage of the RunDisney transportation to the starting line near Epcot. But that also meant being outside waiting for the bus at 3:00 AM. The weather prediction vs. the reality were two different things. Originally, it was supposed to be in the 50s at the start of the race. Clearly, this wasn’t the case. Fortunately, I brought shorts and pocket light n tights as options for bottoms but had planned on running in a tank and bringing long sleeves to “throw away.” (Actually RunDisney collects the discarded items, washes and donates them.) Change of plans. I wore my tank, put my “throw away” long sleeves on and then added my Bomber Jacket for waiting in the corral.

While waiting in the corral can be tedious, it’s also an amazing chance to chat with other runners from all over the country or world. As we approached go time, I removed my “throw away” shirt and put my Bomber Jacket back on. After the first two miles or so I warmed up and I was good to go. Along the route there were characters, music and photographers to capture the perfect running photo. This was the first time I was racing back to back days. But truth be told, I don’t know how to “take it easy.” While I didn’t want to run hard as I knew I was running a half marathon on Sunday the weather was perfect for setting a good pace.

The route was mostly surrounding and within Epcot. It was a fun course. I didn’t stop for character photos until I spotted Mickey Mouse on the Boardwalk. There were only two people in line so I figured it would be quick. I jumped in and out of the photo and it was well worth it. My boys thought it was the best thing ever.

Since the race started at 5:30 AM, it was dark for nearly my entire run. I finished well before the sun was up. I felt good the entire run and finished in 53:48.

While running is a very personal sport. It’s about doing better than the race before, right?? This happened to be a PR (personal record) but then I was curious and started looking at how it measured up against the other runners. Let’s take a look:

There were 12,572 runners in the 10K. I finished 308th.
There were 10,728 female runners. I finished 168th.
There were 1681 women in my age group. I finished 38th.

Holy smokes. Not only was I personally pleased with my overall time and race, but look at those number.

What did I learn?

The Bomber Jacket is literally amazing. I might have mildly panicked when I didn’t have along sleeve performance shirt with me since the weather shouldn’t have required it. The Bomber fit the bill. No chafing and provided me with the extra layer that I needed.
When traveling for a race….alway pack a long sleeve performance shirt regardless of what the weather is saying.
You can stop for a picture with Mickey and still PR.

February 23, 2020- Half Marathon

Day two waking up at 2:30. Somehow it was easier the second day around. Transportation to the Half Marathon was via Monorail vs. bus. This was so much easier!! The weather was also 10 degrees warmer. So that meant it would be in the low to mid 50s for waiting in the corral and running. Ideal for running, a tad bit chilly for waiting. However, following the 10K they gave out mylar blankets. You better believer I brought that with me Sunday morning. Especially, since my plan was to run in just a tank I knew I would need the mylar to stay warm without the benefit of a jacket.

Based upon the proof of time that I had submitted I was in the second corral to start the race. I felt good, despite the 10K on Saturday and couldn’t have asked for better running weather. But…there’s always a but. You know how you have that nervous energy before a race and you think you have to go to the bathroom, but you really don’t?? Guess what sometimes it’s not just nervous energy and you really do have to go to the bathroom. So despite using the glorious johnny on the spot with a half hour of starting the race, I had the urge to pee just as we started that I was sure would go away…alas it did not. Translation, I spent the first 4 plus miles trying to reason with my brain that I was going to have to stop and waste precious time. At last I made the call to stop in Magic Kingdom and guess what, it did cost me approximately 2 minutes. Killer!

But I digressed. The start of the run is leaving Epcot and heading toward Magic Kingdom. Again there is music and characters along the route. Keep in mind it’s also well before sunrise so it’s dark as well. The start of the run was along the roadways leading up to Magic Kingdom. One of the amazing parts of the Princess Half Marathon is that you run Main Street and through Cinderella’s Castle!!

Taken on Friday in anticipation of running Main Street on Sunday

In anticipation of the much needed pit stop I ran hard the first half to try add some cushion to time. I was on pace for a PR and wanted to keep it that way.

Such a fun experience to coming running through the castle

After exiting the Magic Kingdom we were back on the roadway leading back to Epcot. The temperature remained perfect and it was beautiful to watch the sky change color in anticipation of sunrise. That said I was hitting miles nine and ten my calves began to cramp a bit. Up until that point I had just had some water during the run. To give myself some extra energy I went to my tried and true Honey Stingers. They gave me the boost I needed.

The last three miles I was watching the clock. I knew that short of something crazy happening I was going to beat my half marathon time from October by approximately four minutes. Despite the calf cramping, I dug deep. I knew I didn’t go all that way to leave anything on the table, I had to go all in. And that’s what I did pushing to a 1:54:34 time! A PR by nearly four minutes..

Truth be told, I didn’t feel fabulous right after I finished. I thought that I was going to get sick. I made my way over to a trash can right past the finish to catch my breath and if I got sick at least get sick in the trash. I could hear my high school cross country coach in my head “if you get sick you know you ran a good race.” I was most impressed with the medical staff on site as someone immediately came over, to me; looked at my bib; asked me by name if I was OK. When I indicated I just needed a minute, he gave me the time to compose myself and then I was fine.

Let’s take a look at how my time compared to the other runners:

There were 20,492 runners. I finished 562nd.
There were 17,518 female runners. I finished 325th.
There were 2847 runners in my age category. I finished 67th.

What I learned:

I need to pack a bag for waiting in the corral. For example, I need to bring a blanket, mylar is a must, snacks and water.
Always go to the bathroom one last time before the race starts.
Running through the castle is AMAZING!
I can run races on back to back days.
Time to sign up for more races!

My RunDisney weekend was amazing. I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity and support of my husband and children. If you have the chance to participate in a RunDisney race…do it!! Enjoy it. Take all the pictures to remember the experience!

Planning your Princess Half Weekend

Photo credit rundisney.com

Last year I watched in awe as a group network marketing friends shared their experience at the Disney World Princess Half Marathon weekend. I was determined to run with them the following year, meaning February 2020. Translation later this week!! But if you are new to RunDisney like I was, the process was a little overwhelming. If you aren’t familiar with the various RunDisney races they SELL OUT!! So for me this added to my want to race anxiety and to get registered and reserve a room early.

So what did I do?? I did what I thought made the most sense. I stalked the website for when hotel rooms would become available to make reservations. I learned you could make reservations by phone 499 days before for a room only. Score. So I called and reserved my room. I figured I was half way there. Easy, breezy.

June 4 was the magical day that registration for the Princess Half weekend opened. I sat down at my computer at the appointed time and you guessed it, I sat in the queue. My friend, sat in the queue. We texted with our anxiety. What if one of us got in and the other didn’t?? After what literally seemed like forever I was able to complete my registration.

It all worked out right? I got registered for the race. I secured a room at a very good rate. I was able to add park tickets and photo pass and all of those things. But why did I give myself extra stress?? Well, because I didn’t really know the system. I thought I knew but I didn’t. So here’s what you can learn from me and avoid the same stress.

What if I told you that you could secure your race bib for the 2021 Princess Half Marathon during the Half Marathon weekend THIS YEAR??! Say what?? Right, it really doesn’t have to be as complicated as I made it out to be. So did you know that there are select Travel Agents that are registered with Disney? They basically have magical powers. Not only can they plan a fabulous Disney vacation for you and your family/friends, but they can also secure race bibs a year out. Or any time during that year before while supplies last. What does that mean?? That means that during the Princess Half Marathon Weekend an agent registered with Disney could call and register you for the race for next year. (Bib fee due in full at the time of booking) So if you are having some serious FOMO watching everyone run this year. Book now for 2021.

What else can they do?? They can also book a room, that can be turned into a package and any promotions that are announced later can be applied when applicable. ($200 deposit due at the time of booking) You also get all the perks of a Travel Agent, such as: guidance in planning, suggestions for schedule, making your dinner and Fast Pass Reservations and trouble shooting any problems that might come up. I know, I know, you can do it all on the internet by yourself. Believe me, I’ve done it…you know 3:00 AM while nursing a baby trying to make dining reservations for TEN PEOPLE. It’s doable but again it’s more stress for you. But if you prefer to do all your own reservations for meals and Fast Passes, etcetera that’s okay too. The Travel Agent’s services are there if you choose to utilize them but you aren’t required to do so.

This sounds too good to be true- what does it cost??? There’s no additional cost to you!! That’s right. You don’t pay any more and you get first rate service from a Disney Registered Travel Agent.

Who can I contact to plan my next trip??? Well, I’ll be using my friend Meghan Campbell the next time for sure!! All this serious Mom Guilt about going to Disney without my family has me thinking hard about a Spring Break trip next year. You can find her over on Facebook or send her an email.

So learn from my stress, contact Meghan today to make the planning as Magical as the trip to Disney!

Ultimate RunDisney Packing Guide!

Call me crazy, but I love to pack for a trip. Unpacking, not so much but packing is my jam. Why?? It involves lists and organizing. This is my wheel house!! Let’s start with some general packing tips:

1) Use packing cubes! Packing cubes have been a game changer in my packing. Each family member has their own color. Which means we can share luggage when we travel because we know whose stuff is who by just looking at the color of the packing cube. There are a couple of different ways to utilize packing cubes:

Pack each day in a packing cube. What does that mean? Everything you need for that day- top, bottom, undergarments, socks, shoes.
Group items together in a packing cube. For example, all socks in one cube, underwear in another cube, shirts in one, etc. This is the method I utilize when packing.

2) Make a list! No really, make a list. Even if it’s a trip you’ve packed for previously it’s helpful to have a list. This doesn’t mean you have to recreate the list each time. For example, we travel fairly frequently with our two boys. We’ve traveled since they were babies. I had a master packing list so as to not forget simple things. That’s what prompted me to create a master packing list for the Princess Half Marathon Weekend.

3) Lay everything out BEFORE you start packing! In order to maximize space when packing and to make sure you don’t forget anything it’s helpful to lay everything out and then begin packing.

When it came time to pack for the Princess Half Marathon weekend 2020 I was determined to carry on only. It’s rare that I travel alone and I wanted to keep it simple. I should note that I factored in that I will likely acquire a few things at the Expo and souvenirs for my kids along the way. So I also packed an empty bag inside my larger carry on bag just in case I could get everything back in for the return trip. While this trip will involve a flight for me I gained some running packing experience when we traveled to the Baltimore Half Marathon in October. So without further ado here’s my Ultimate Run Disney Packing list:

A list of must have items for a trip to Disney to run a race.

Let’s break down the packing list just a bit:

Race Items

Running Shoes: You should plan for one pair of shoes for each race you are running. Why?? Well, weather is one factor. No one wants to start a race in shoes that are wet. Unforeseen issues with your shoes are another reason. Even though you shouldn’t race in overly worn shoes…things happen. My go to running shoes are:

New Balance Women’s 1080v10 Fresh Foam Running Shoe.

PS you should only be using your running shoes for running so plan to bring another pair for in the parks!!

Socks: Here I’m suggesting two pairs for each day. Why?? Again I’m thinking about Florida and the potential for rain. So if the weather is calling for rain I would wear one pair and keep the other pair in my gear check bag or in my waist belt. Then change to a dry pair right before the race starts.

Sports Bra: My hands down favorite sports bra is the All Star Bra from Zyia Active. I’m planning to travel in one and have packed one for each race day. Stylish, supportive and non-chafing you couldn’t possible ask for anything more from your sports bra.

Costume/Running Clothes: Keep in mind that you shouldn’t wear anything new on race day. Test any costume or running gear your plan to wear before race day. When it came to planning my racing outfits I opted for Disney inspired tanks from Raw Threads (use the link for 20% off your first order!) I went with a Mary Poppins Tank for the Half Marathon and Toy Story- Buzz and Woody for the 10K!!

Raw Threads is usually at the Expo so you can check them out there if you haven’t decided on your race day gear. Another important thing to keep in mind is that the Florida weather can be tricky regarding temperature and humidity. The long range forecast has changed at least three time in the last week. So I’ve planned a variety of bottom choices to go with my tanks. In an abundance of caution I have two bottoms planned and packed for each day. My absolute favorite running shorts: the Mesh Energy Shorts from Zyia Active. These are my go to for all warm weather running. Breathable, comfortable and chafe free!! I’ve run multiple races in the Mesh Energy Shorts and couldn’t be happier. But since the races go off at 5:30 in the morning I’ve also packed my go to running tights Pocket Light n Tight Capris from Zyia Active. I’ve previously run several races including a Half Marathon in capri length light n tights so I know that they are also a dependable choice. I actually prefer them because I prefer to keep my phone in the pocket, rather than in my waist pack. But that’s just my personal preference.

Water/Fuel Belt Truth be told, I would rather not have to run and carry my own water and/or fuel. But if I have to wear a belt the Spibelt Running Belt is my go too. I’ve added an additional pocket to mine. So I wear one in the back and one in front. The idea behind this is to keep those items that you won’t need at all during the race in one. i.e. ID, phone, insurance cards, cash, credit card. Then put items you will want to access in the other pouch such as race nutrition, tissues, chapstick.

Race Fuel: This is another thing you want to test out before race day. While you would imagine something could upset your stomach you would be surprised!! During your training experiment with different kinds of fuel to get a sense of what gives you the boost you need during your run. My favorites are from Honey Stinger. While they offer a variety of items from waffles, to gels, the gummy chews are my favorite.

Phone/Device for Music: I know many say that you should enjoy the sights and sounds of a race without music. But I personally need music to keep me moving!

Headphones: While training I alternate between Aftershokz for outdoor runs and AirPods for indoor runs, race day calls for Aftershokz all the way. You can truly hear what’s going on around you while at the same time enjoying your music. While the concept of sitting outside your ear appears strange at first the sound is still incredible and again I can’t stress the importance of being aware of the people around you to stay safe during a race.

GPS Watch/Charger: I’m slightly obsessed with keeping track of my time, pace and heart rate during a run. My first device for running was my Apple Watch. I wear it every day all day. So it’s natural that I would also use that for tracking my runs. But then I also started running more and wanted additional analytics. So it’s possible that I run with my AppleWatch on one wrist and my Garmin on the other. Whatever your preference don’t forget your watch and charger!

Small Bag/Backpack: While you will get a clear plastic bag at the start of the Expo. I prefer to bring my own small bag or backpack to make it easier to store items as I collect them and to keep my hands free.

Foam Roller: Since I’m opting for carry on only. I’m breaking this rule a little bit. Rather than bring my larger foam roller, I’m bringing my Foot Roller/Massager instead. I’m hoping this will do the trick until I get home and I can foam roll!

Post Race Shoes: After a race I cannot wait to take off my sweaty socks and shoes!! It’s not so much that they hurt as much as they just want some fresh air!! Olukai Women’s Sandal are in my post race gear bag for warm weather races. They are supportive and kind to my post race feet!!

Light Jacket: I generally try to avoid running in the rain at all costs. But we can’t guarantee that race day will be dry. While if it’s a really bad rain nothing is going to truly keep you dry, I’d like to do my very best for a light rain. So I’ve added the White Bomber Jacket from Zyia Active to my bag. Lightweight and breathable with strategic ventilation this will get it done for a light rain. Plus it doubles as a light jacket for the parks.

Visor/Headbands/Hair Tie: So I don’t usually run with a hat because it makes me overheat. However, I wear glasses and back to my rain contingency plan I’ve packed a visor with the thought that the brim will help keep the rain out of my face and the fact that it’s a visor and not a hat will cut down on the overheating. My hair is really too short to pull into a pony tail so I opt for headbands when I’m running. I picked up some cute one from Sweaty Bands before heading to Disney. PS they will be at the Expo!!

Ziploc: Seem random? Never leave home without some baggies. Why?? Back to my apparent obsession with the rain. Put your phone in a baggie to keep it dry during the race. Need to ice after the race?? Make yourself an Icepack. Don’t want to fight with the package for your race nutrition put them in a baggie. See…you need to pack baggies!!

Body Glide/Vaseline: Truth be told I have not yet had to use body glide or Vaseline when I’ve run. Then why is it on my list. Yup, just in case of rain you know I’ll be coating my feet in Body Glide in a valiant effort to avoid blisters!!

Miscellaneous/Disney Specific items These are pretty self explanatory and many of the same things you would pack for a non-running Disney trip. As a mom, I must travel with snacks even if my children aren’t with me so I’ve of course added snacks to my bag. My water bottle is attached to me at all times. As hydration is key I’ll be sure to bring it along. In addition to water I enjoy Arbonne Fizz for a pick me up and PhytoSport for before, during and after my run.

The key to packing is to be organized, while bringing the necessities without overpacking. It’s a very delicate balance. Happy Running and safe travels!!