The Goofy: My Version

500 Club Medal, Mini 500 Finishers Medal, Pump and Run Bronze, Flying Pig Finishers Medal 

Have you ever heard of the Goofy Challenge? It's part of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend where you run a half on Saturday then the full on Sunday; finishing both races earns you a special "Goofy Medal". I know there are several other races that offer participants challenges like this, usually called "doublers". For example, Pikes Peak offers the ascent only on Saturday and the full on Sunday; the Post Oak does the same but with a 50k, then a marathon.

Well, earlier this month, I created my own Goofy or Doubler by running the Indianapolis Mini 500 on Saturday May 5th, and the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon on Sunday May 6th. The Mini 500 is the nations largest half marathon with 35,000 runners and a trip around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Other than the run through downtown and the 2 mile lap around the speedway, there is not much scenery at this race, but the speedway makes the race worth it.




35,000 at the Mini Start and The Indy Motor Speedway

Crossing the Bricks, then giving them a kiss. 




Cincinnati is a short 2 hour drive from Indianapolis and host one of the best marathons I have participated in. The Flying Pig has a great route that runs through two states (Ohio and Kentucky), downtown Cincinnati, spirited neighborhoods, offers awesome views of the river, and after a steady incline from miles 5-9 it is flat to downhill the rest of the way. In addition to the course, the expo gives away some of the best SWAG of any race: shirt, logo duffle bag, and event poster are included with registration.

Running out of Downtown Cincinnati and uphill the next 4 miles, Pump and Run at the Expo 

At the Flying Pig there is also a separate event called the pump and run. This event allow race participants to bench press a % of their body weight and deduct a the time form their overall finish time. There is a separate registration fee, and money raised goes to local charities. I was able to complete 16 reps, good for a 32 minutes deduction from my overall time. Without the deduction, I was third place for all those who signed up in the pump and run, but after everyone's deduction, I finished in 13 place.

The Goofy/Doubler weekend was a lot of fun and I look forward to doing another one sometime soon, but next time with my currently prego running partner.

One of several "Flying Pigs" placed around the course and possible my favorite shirt ever

Running While Preggo: 3rd Trimester

Finishing up the 2^nd trimester was great.  I was feeling really good and still enjoying running up to 5 miles, about 5 times a week. Once I hit about 7 months I got shin splints. It was strange because I have never had shin splints. After doing a little research I realized that it isn’t uncommon for pregnant runners to get them because of the quick increase in weight. That would make sense as I began to get bigger! So, I took some advice from livestrong.com (which is a great resource for athletes btw) and took a week off. After that I gradually got back to 3-5mi runs, but I had to start out really slow to warm up my legs. In April I did the Walker Johns 5K. My goal was to keep my mile times around or slower than 10min.  For the most part, I succeeded. It was nice to feel “back in the game”. Dustin kicked booty at that race. It was a 2 loop course and he took 1^st place overall in the 10K by a long shot!!! On his first loop, he ran by as the 2^nd runner overall in the 5K. People were trying to get him to go through the finishing shoot, but he had to tell them that he still had another lap!!!  Such a stud :)

The past few weeks (starting around pregnancy week 32) it has been tougher to get my calves and shins warmed up enough to where I can continually run. I still felt great overall, but my legs below the knee weren’t very interested.  It would take about 2 miles before I could run continually and hills seemed to aggravate it more so I substituted the HS track for my running group. I miss running with the girls, but I didn’t want to make them stop to walk. Dustin was sweet enough to still want to run with me, especially since he seems to frequently be either recovering or tapering from his Marathon Maniac quest.

This week I hit 35 weeks. As I went out to the track on Monday I realized my body felt tired. I just wasn’t in to it anymore.  I had to go up a notch on my baby belt so it felt a little loose. Finals were over and I was no longer in need of my trusty de-stressor. I thought, “Why am I doing this?” So, I decided to stop.

Since January I have been going with Dustin to the pool to swim laps with him on off days.  I enjoy swimming because it doesn’t seem like pregnancy has too much affect on it.  I just make sure to stop to rest and get a drink after every 12 lengths or so, since I have a difficult time being able to tell if I am tired or not. Now that I am not running I will alternate between swimming, walking, and resting. :)

I feel so blessed that I have been able to run for this long. I hope that other pregnant women realize this isn’t the norm and that other dads-to-be don’t expect their wives to continue running, even in the first trimester. Pregnancy is different for each woman and so is how much they can exercise. But if you CAN do it, I would highly suggest it! For me it helped ward off the typical pregnancy “symptoms” and I’ve been told it leads to an easier delivery (and a smarter, healthier baby)- which I would love to happen!

I’m sad to see my running end for now, but it will be nice to take some time off. If I would have had to quit during the school year, I think it would have been really tough. But, now it’s time to sit back, relax, and get ready for Basil’s arrival.  Less than 5 weeks til due date! Things are about to really change in our running world :) And, I think it involves a jogging stoller!

Pleasant Surprise

The past few weeks have been full of little pleasant surprises and this week was no exception. Last Sunday, April 15, I ran the STL GO! Marathon for the first time. Aimee and I met, and stayed with, some friends from Springfield who were running in the 1/2. (Below are Justin and I stretching in unison, and Teresa and Alyea proudly displaying their running skirts) 

The GO! course was challenging, but very enjoyable. The race started/finished downtown with a great view of the Arch (right). The first few miles are south of downtown past Union Station, The Scottrade Center (Home of the Blues), through Soulard and the Anheuser Busch Brewery. After passing through the brewery and one of their world famous Clydesdales, you return to downtown and past Busch Stadium.   

After seeing us off at the start, Aimee was able to hop over a few blocks and catch all of us as we returned downtown around mile 7 (left). Leaving downtown was the first of some very long inclines. The next few miles of the race continued West through St. Louis University and towards the Central West End. At mile 10, the half marathon participants return downtown to finish, while the full participants continue West into Forest Park; home of both the 1904 World's Fair and Summer Olympics. 

After running through Forest Park, the Marathon continues past Washington University and the city of Clayton where runners begin to circle back to downtown. Miles 19 and 20 run along Delmar through The Loop and Blueberry Hill where Chuck Berry still plays shows. The final 10k of this marathon is probably one of the toughest sections of any race I have ran. For a normal run, it's probably not that bad, but after 20 miles it is very challenging and seems like one constant, steady, uphill climb.

Justin, Teresa, and Alyea all ran great half's and after pacing Justin through the first 10 miles, I was able to finish the full in 3:18:25; my third best time ever! Six days later, Aimee and I ran locally in the Walker Johns' 5k/10k. Aimee continued to run very well while 31 weeks prego and I took first overall in my first ever race, winning the 10k in 39:23. 

Weekly totals 4-15: Run 39.2 mi, Bike 13.8 mi, Swim 1150 yd
Weekly totals 4-22: Run 29 mi, Bike 20 mi, Swim 1400 yd

Easter Sunday

Today is Easter Sunday and Aimee's side of the family has been in town all weekend. In fact, this makes three weekends in a row of family! The last two weekends have been spent baby-showering and we have got to see my mom and sister both in Springfield then here in Farmington.

My last post was about our St. Patrick's Day Run in St. Louis and Aimee wrote an update on running while pregnant. Needles to say, we have stayed busy, and have not done much blogging during that time. Here are some highlights as we play blog catch-up.

End of March/Beginning of April: I traveled to Indianapolis for the National Science Teachers Conference and in addition to the many good seminars I attended, that I won't bore you with, I found some time to run (of course). Indy is what I call a "small big city" with everything close together and it was very nice and clean. There was plenty of greenway trails including several that connected to downtown. I am looking forward to going back there for the Mini 500 in three weeks.

March 19-25 totals: 37 miles run; .75 miles swim; March 26-April 1 totals: 40 miles run, 29.8 bike, .35 swim.

April Fools Day: I decided to run and bike St. Joe Park. I ran the 11 mile loop once and biked it twice. While on the loop, I saw the same woman three different times. The third time I stopped to talk with her. She told me she had just seen a Mt. Lion. I ask her what it was doing? She told me it was right back on the path between mile 7 and April Fools. Nice One!

This Week: Aimee and I have started swimming more as it is something "easier" for her to do while prego (not that anything is "easy" to do while prego). Yesterday we did a half mile! This is easy for Aimee, but for me it was a huge accomplishment. I cleaned my bike for the first time, it's been incredibly foggy this week, and our running group, Mineral Area Ridge Runners (MARR) is starting to gain more members at the track on Wednesday mornings! Looking forward to St. Louis Go! Marathon this weekend.

April 2-8 totals: 39 miles run, 11 miles bike, 1.2 miles swim.

Blessed Runner

I feel so blessed in so many ways. The biggest way is that Dustin and I will be able to meet our little girl in a few months. Being able to feel her kicks and movements as she gets stronger has created a bond that makes me more and more excited. Another way is that I have been feeling so good. I have heard so many horror stories about bad pregnancies (and births, women feel compelled to let you in on the worst!) and it makes me even more thankful that I feel so good, even better than pre-pregnancy. Thursday I entered the 3rd trimester, so I know I won't be feeling all that great for long. I cherish this time!!
I also feel so blessed to be able to be so active. Dustin and I go on bike rides, albeit short and slow. We go swim laps together; swimming is the one physical activity where I don't feel much different. And I am still able to run!!!  Keep in mind that it isn't all roses. It definitely isn't as comfortable to run as it was before. I get winded much easier and I have to go slow or else I get muscle fatigue in my legs. If there is any sign of possible cramping in my mid section I stop immediately.  The hardest part is not being able to stretch my legs out and finish strong at the end of the run or skipping speed work on the track. Wednesday's track day is normally my favorite, but is now a very boring run since I can't go any faster and only run in circles. I still go anyway because I get to see Dustin as he laps me :). Slow and steady is my current motto.
Currently I am still running 3-5miles a day, 5-6 days a week. I run some on my own, some with Dustin, and some with a group of girls. At Dustin's last race (60K trail run in Kentucky) I started talking with a girl/woman who was also spectating. We got to talking and both mentioned how we wish we could be running it too. I told her that I was pregnant and she said, "but you are still running, right? I ran 10-mile runs when I was 7 month pregnant". That put me in my pregnant-while-running place! Come to find out she wasn't running because she has a hairline fracture in her foot, that may put her out indefinitely, from a 100 mile ultra trail run. At that moment I visualized the word "freak" (a term I endearingly call runners that can perform at extremely high levels) flying in the air pointing down at her and it made me feel better. She normally runs 60-120 miles a week!!!  At 7 months pregnant I feel so fortunate to be able to run at all. I don't know what I would do without running (especially with the stress of pharmacy school). I know I couldn't have gone 9 months without it!

St. Pat's Day 5 Miler

26 Weeks 

Hard to believe, but this year was our first time running a St. Patrick's Day Run. St. Louis host a 5 miler that draws over 13,000 runners, most of them there to party. It was a lot of fun and we learned a few things for next year like arrive early to claim tailgate spot for parade and pack your own cooler. 

Aimee raced 26 weeks prego (53:08) and I tried to break 30:00 (31:31), but my legs just didn't have it in them. Oh well, the weather couldn't have been any better and we enjoyed the company of a few new Farmington running friends!
(Paul w/Ava and Ashley)

I think the part I enjoyed most about the race was watching all the fun/crazy people go by while waiting for Aimee and Ashley at the finish line. Funny thing, we never saw them finish because we were distracted by the group pushing a keg and doing keg stands, while the girls were on the other side....

  13,000 runners coming to the finish and one Jamaican Bobsled team, complete with human sled. 

Who needs aide stations when you carry your own cooler? 

Land Between The Lakes 60k

Two weeks after completing my first ultra, I just doubled my total.

West Kentucky Runners Club Land Between the Lakes is probably one of my all-time favorite races. As I look back, 60k (37.2 miles) is a long way, but it didn't seem all that long while running. As you can see from the picture above, the scenery and weather made this race even better. The course started in Grand Rivers, KY and headed roughly 1.7 miles out to an 11 mile single-track looping trail. There were four different events taking place at the same time on the trail: 23k (one loop), Marathon (two loops), 60k (three loops), and 50 miler (four loops). I finished the 60k in 6:40:46 a 10:45 pace.

First Loop Complete 

13 miles down; 24 to go!

The entire first loop was spent with other runners; most of the time in a single file line due to the narrow width of the trail. In a race this long no one was in too big of a hurry anyway. I stayed with the group pictured here for roughly 5-6 miles on the back section of the loop. Following the gear check and aide station to start the second loop we all split up and I was pretty much on my own after that.  

Reaching half-way point. 

Here I am coming down the flatter front side of the loop. The next 3-5 miles were the hilliest (is that a word?) part of the race. After fueling up at the aid station I was back on my way (below). Shortly after this picture was taken I was passed by the eventual winner of the 50 miler, David Riddle. David set the course record and was just voted fourth in the ultra-marathoner of the year award. You can read his blog here. To give you an idea of how fast David is, he ran 13 more miles than me in 50 less minutes. His pace for the 50 miler was 7:04!

Yes please. 

Back at it. Only 19 more.

Not sure if I would run across the yard in sandals. 50 miles? 

 

That about sums it up. 

Along the way I saw two different runners in sandals, a couple wipe-outs, and multiple abandoned mobile meth labs. I also ran across Joshua Holmes, the founder of Run It Fast.com. You can follow him on Twitter @bayou or @runitfast. Between taking pictures, caring for Marlie, and studying, Aimee found some time to run on her own. I look forward to the day we can run together again and compete in a race like this as a couple; but until then, she continues to be my number one supporter!

Best support crew ever! (Marlie was in the car) 

Coming up this week, we are running in the St. Louis St. Pat's Day 5 Miler. I'll be taking about a month off from racing after that before running in the St. Louis Go! Marathon April 15th. Looking forward to seeing some of our Springfield friends who will be running the half that day too.

Aimee's find on the shoreline.