Garmin Half Marathon Race Report (2nd race in the Heartland Series)

After a very cautious week of running (three runs again with the race being the third).  I was really excited to see the new route and have for once, good weather. The past two years that i have done this race included hail both times and a horrible thunderstorms complete with wind and lightening.  Read about my previous experiences here and here and here (last year is a two parter due to us having to make an emergency trip to TN and back to KS).

I think any time a race is new or is in a new location, there will be hiccups.  The new RD did a great job of sending out numerous emails on parking and even videos on the FB page that seemed to be updated multiple times a day some days.  I love that, it gets me motivated to do the race and excited about the race!

Mel and I headed down to the expo friday afternoon and were shocked that it had almost doubled in size.  Of course Gypsy runner was there, one of my favorite running gear gurus, so we tried on tons of her clothes and made a few purchases.

I got a new pair of compression shorts that are cosmos themed and a pair of compression capris with dog paws. 

 I am also going to try a new tank with new material for her as well.  I also purchased a new bondi band.  While I am trying to get on board with wearing them, I am not entirely convinced that I like them as much as my running hats. They are great on windy days when I can't wear a hat and here lately that has been oh, pretty much every day.  

After getting all of our stuff, we headed out to a dinner of pasta at the garden of olives.  Got to carb load!!!! We needed to get in bed early due to the fact that we were warned that parking might be an issue, and that we needed to be parked by 5:45 AM. Of course any time someone says you HAVE to go to sleep, I am wide awake.  So, after a fitful night of tossing and turning and even a stomach ache, I got up around 4:30 am, but made myself lay in bed till 5.  We had gotten all of our clothes ready the night before, and gotten our gear laid out and bagged up, so getting ready was quick.  After a short drive over, and one full parking lot, we were parked near the start finish line and ready to go.  Thank goodness it wasn't very cold this weekend as opposed to last weekend. 

I was really concerned about the porta potty situation, but thankfully, there were plenty.  They even had them roped off, so each line had 4 porta pots to fill up.  I used them multiple times pre race, and never had to wait more than 5 or more minutes.  Let's just say that the problem I had last week before RTPW was not an issue this time. I downed my UCAN and got in the start area ready to rock.   This race has no corral system or wave system but I think it is big enough now that it for sure needs it!  I honestly had no plan, other than to run with my good friend Gypsy Runner AKA Amy.  She was doing the full and was looking at staying with or ahead of the 4:30 pace group, and that sounded good to me.  We lined up with the 4:30/2:15 pacers or as close to them as we could get.  

A little note, I drank my UCAN about 45 minutes pre race and had visited the porta pots several times post-drinking.  I felt like the issue I had at RTPW i.e. having to pee would be a non issue.  Well after starting, about a mile in, my bladder told me otherwise.  This has now happened every race I have used UCAN before, including the Chicago marathon.  While I love the energy UCAN gives me, and the fact that I don't have to fuel but once during a half, I DO NOT LIKE having to stop to go to the bathroom.  It kills my time and I will never be able to PR with this problem.  I love the lack of sugar I have to take in, but I don't love having to sprint to catch up with the group again post potty break. 

I was lucky this time a porta pot was open when I got to it, and i only wasted about 2 minutes.  It took me about a mile to catch back up with Amy, but I managed to do it.  We ran together till she had to split off around mile 11 to hit the trail for the rest of the full, while I headed back to the hotel/finish area.  Overall, the course was pretty hilly and challenging, but fun.  We had full sun for some time, so I did stop at pretty much every aid station for water.  I wanted to play it safe and not dehydrate.  About mile 10 or so, the clouds came back and so did the wind, but it was welcomed because it cooled us down.  

 We were all smiles at the end for sure.  Super cute BIG medal, lots of post race food and BEER!  We had noticed that the traffic was quite backed up of people trying to get out of the parking areas, so we headed back over to the expo to rest and get medals engraved and our finisher's certificate.

 We were both pretty spent.  That course was tough, and we were feeling it. After much water, rest, and stretching, we headed back over to Mel's mother in law's house to shower and eat lunch.

Overall, I am very pleased that the new RD moved the race. The course was a challenge, but who wants a super easy course?  RTPW is pretty flat and perfect for a big PR if that is what you are after.  I LOVED the bigger expo and the fact that we could come back into the hotel post race and hang out.  If I could consume beer post running, I sure would have, because they had several options, as well as food to eat that included chicken sandwiches.  They had many nice places for finished runners to sit and imbibe or stand and imbibe.  Not going to lie, the parking was a mess, but I have noticed that the RD is going to explain why this was an issue when it was clearly marked that it wouldn't be.  While I had no where to be post race and could hang out, I know there where those that needed to go to work, or get on the road to get home.  Many have posted some pretty bad reviews and while they have every right to be mad and honest, I think some of the reviews are pretty harsh.  Having been witness to what the RD for Wicked goes through every year just to put on a race, I am never going to criticize an RD and their decisions ever again.  There are so many variables that an RD has to go through including working with the city the race is in and the PD and volunteers.   For that reason, the Garmin RD and race for that matter earned much respect from me.  I look forward to next year and now the decision to NOT do the Heartland Series just became super hard:)

Heartland Series Week 13: Race #2 of the Heartland Series

Going to sprinkle in photos from last weekend's race for this week's run down.  You have to love a race that gives free photos to all of those entered.  

 I have no clue who the girls on the right are but we all cuddled up and took a pic

Monday:  Strength and T-ball.  Little red decided he did NOT want to even go to T-ball.  We bribed reasoned with him that if he went, he didn't have to go out on the field, but we would go for Mcdonald's afterwards.  He ended up spending the whole time on the field and doing much much better.  Well, other than throwing some dirt in a kid's face.  What is the obsession with dirt?  They at least did several exercises out in the outfield, so he didn't have the dirt distraction there.  I hoped we would have one very tired little boy afterwards, but nope, he was awake past 11.  So glad to have a night owl NOT!

I knew I should have moved over to my left.  Right before this picture and several before this for that matter, the two ladies had their hands up in the air totally blocking me.  

Tuesday: 4 miles planned.  Oh, good old Kansas wind.  Need I say more?  At least it was from the south and west, so I got it over with at the beginning of my run.  I did walk a couple of times just to stretch out my tight again hip.  At least it isn't hurting, but it is tight and I am stretching like crazy to get it to relax.  

Mel was right, I can always pic myself out of random pics with that pink hat on

Wednesday:  Strength and deep tissue massage:  The deep tissue massage happened, the strength, not so much.

I ended up scooting my bike and trainer into the living room, and riding for an hour while watching the Royal's game. I was just kind of down from the whole massage.  It was good one, but we are both puzzled as to why my legs just won't come in.  I am afraid again that this is the beginning of the end of my running career as the orthopedic dr predicted 2 years ago, so a little teary. I don't want to have to give up yet another sport that I love:(

Pretty sure this is at the end.  Ignore my foot, it makes me cringe too

Yes, I am still carrying gloves.  Mel told me to throw them away but they made good tissues.  

It seems to be getting way worse with me running way less and doing better at my strength training and PT.  My hip and upper leg appear straight but my lower leg just isn't getting with the program.  I really am a freak of nature.

Thursday:  Planned 4 miles.  Ended up running 6.  Only getting about 1 day a week lately with Mel so we have lots of catching up to do. Sometimes you just talk and forget about the miles.

Friday: Rest

Saturday: Garmin marathon and Half marathon

Sunday: Rest

Total miles for the week: 23

One more half marathon to go body!  You can do it!!!!

Rock the Parkway Race Recap/1st Half of the Heartland Series

I am one tired lady right now.  Trying to get this blog post done while the boys are out shopping, but I am dragging.  I had the opportunity to stay in KC at my running partner's mother in law's house and I could have just gone back to bed when we got done.  Here is how the Expo and Race went down!

Headed out to the Expo Friday.  Actually took the whole day off from work, and just cleaned the house and got caught up on laundry and dishes.  Am I the only one that cleans the house before they leave for a trip?  Also had a yummy meal at one of our local restaurants that does daily specials.  The special was great but they had homemade banana cream pie for desert that was AMAZING!  It counts as fruit right???  I headed out around 1pm to meet up at the house before we all headed to the expo.  I had told my running partner do NOT let me spend any money and she did a fine job.  I walked away with my tech tees from the race and from the Heartland Series and nothing more.  Yeah me:)  We had dinner at Cinzette's, which is a HUGE italian buffet.  It was wonderful and chocked full of carbs as usual!  I was super sad that all of my KC friends where down in Hutch at a dog show, so no one could carb load with me, but maybe next race.  We watched a few episodes of Outlander when we got home, since where we stayed had Starz.  Le sigh.  Jamie.  How I love thee.  Outlander was an amazing book, and the series did not disappoint.  I just wish that it wasn't the last two episodes of the series, as those were hard to watch (if you read the books, you know exactly what I mean).  We were in bed by 11 pm, and I think I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Saturday morning dawned bright and early.  We were about 20 minutes away from the race start, and wanted a good parking spot, so wanted to get there at least an hour before.  Unfortunately, we had much colder weather than we thought we were going to have, and none of us had throw away clothes.  Luckily between the three of us and our crazy gear bags, we were able to pool together clothes, so that we could all be sort of warm.  I was wearing an undershirt from Pat and gloves from Mel.  I had at the last minute thrown in tights and one of my winter hats which ended up being a life saver.  I also carried a pull over and put it in Pat's drop bag at the last minute.

We still were pretty cold, and spent most of the time before the race huddled together.  While Running with the Cows is my most favorite half of the Heartland Series, Rock the Parkway is a close second.  They have several live bands at the start and finish and throughout the course.  The course support is pretty good, even when the course winds through the neighborhoods.  People are out handing out all kinds of food and good things for runners and cheering us on.  Several were handing out tissues and we sure needed them!  I had 0 expectations of this race other than FUN!  I went back a corral and lined up behind the 2:10 pacer.  Unfortunately, and this is your TMI notice, so skip on if you need to, but I couldn't get my tummy jump started prior to the race for evacuation, so it decided to remind of that around mile 2.  I saw a bank of porta potties and decided rather than fight it the whole 13.1, that i would just loose time and get er done.   I got er done and when I came out, the 2:15 pacer had just passed.  I decided to try and catch up with them and hang with them for a while.  It gave me a goal to charge towards and charge I did.  I caught up with them, but felt like I could go a little faster, so made my new goal to try to catch up with the 2:10 pacer. 

 While I felt like I was in line and in the porta potty for 5 or more minutes, I still ended up finishing in 2:10.  I was elated at that time!!!!  That is only 4 minutes slower than my previous course PB and half PR of 2:06.  I think I could have gotten a huge PR had I not stopped to go to the bathroom, but I don't think that could have been helped.   I couldn't believe how good my body felt the whole time including my recalcitrant foot and hips.   I decided to not look at my watch and just run by feel, and in looking back at some of my splits, I had some fast for me miles for sure!  I also tried some self talk and said things like "Michelle looks strong" or "Michelle looks awesome".  I know that helped me stay at an even pace.  I also tried not fueling as much.  I did UCAN 45 minutes prior to the race and then I only fueled at mile 8.  I think the cold weather played a HUGE part in my good time for sure.  I sure haven't put in the work for a PR or even that time, and I am seriously on cloud nine right now.  

This is a great race for a first time half marathoner.  The parking is ample and easy to get in and out of.  For the most part, the course if very flat, which is why it is usually my A race.  The medals are always HUGE and beautiful and can be engraved for a small fee.  They have tons of merch and they also have a 5 K that you can do if you aren't ready to do a half that utilizes the same course.  While I don't think I am doing the full Heartland Series next year, this and Running with the Cows are two KC races that I do truly love to do and will probably continue doing.  

I can't thank these guys enough for letting me stay with them, letting me borrow clothes, and huddling with me pre race for warmth.  Running friends truly are the best friends EVER!  

Now time to spend the rest of the day with this sulky girl and a little red headed two legger!

Heartland Series Week 12 Race week Half number 1

Year three of the Heartland Series is about to commence.  I am going to be honest here and say that I super excited about this weekend, but a tiny bit sad that my A race won't be my A race this year.  I am contemplating moving back a corral to be more correctly seeded, because I have no clue what my body is capable of right now.  I know it isn't capable of a PR for sure, so to be fair to those working towards a faster time, I will move myself backwards.  Here is how the week played out.

Monday:  Strength day and first day of t-ball for the kiddo.  I sure didn't want to run the day after I had done a 10 miler, especially since my hip is still tight and sore.  I knew it would be tough to do an after work run anyway with the kiddo starting t-ball, unless I wanted to get up super early and run in the morning.  Well, I am not ready to give up sleep just yet, so I decided to rearrange my schedule this week, and just do 2 runs plus the half this week.  I need to be super careful, since we have back to back half marathons in the series and I am not 100%.

T-ball went well, he mostly played in the dirt, but did enjoy running the bases, and did attempt most of the exercises they had the kids do.  I thought things were going to be just like soccer at first, as he got his name tag, and then declared he was done and came and sat with us in the bleachers.  The kids on the field started warming up, and he wanted no part of it, but when they started running the bases, he was off.  Well, and a little admission here, I promised him a cheeseburger from McDonald's if he would at least attempt to go do the exercises.    Ah, the power of a happy meal.  We had to do this with soccer as well.  I just equate it to dog training, we are offering a very high value reward for the exercise given.

Tuesday:  Date with the bringer of pain and a planned 5 miles.  While I had hoped he could fix my hip, he was more concerned about the fact that my gait seems to have gotten worse lately instead of better.  His fear is that we have gotten the top parts of my legs strong, and now the bottom parts need help, but he is at a loss as to how to do that.  Not only are my feet flaring out again, but I am back to running on the sides of my feet. I kind of left a little dejected and down.  I want to continue running, I don't want to give up, but if my body is going to be continually injured by the way I run, then what can I do?  And why was I okay most all of last year running 2 x the number of miles?  I am trying not to be down and over think this, but it is really bothering me.  I feel like the foot issue was the shoes (possibly) and the hip issue was lack of training with hills and then running a hilly course, not the fact that I run funny.  The jury is still out I guess :(

My five miles was a suckfest.  Spring in Kansas just sucks.  We have horrible wind and burning 24/7, so if you aren't fighting the wind, you are breathing in smoke.  Today was a mix of both, but I just kept telling myself that I was blessed that i got to run in that mess.  It was the slowest 5 miler I have had in a long time due to the 24-30 mph sustained south/south west wind.  Seriously wind, pick a direction, just one, and stay there.  I can do east/west routes or south/north routes, but when you come from two directions, you really screw me up.

Wednesday:  Planned strength.  We had a play date and dinner to attend, so strength training came later in the night, but it got done.  This is my first week in a LOOOONNNNGGG time that I actually got two strength training work outs done in one week.  YEAH me!  For whatever reason, maybe due to the lunges or the single leg squats, my foot got really angry post work out.  Had to pop some advil to tame the pain.  Foot, I officially hate you big time right now.

Thursday: Planned 5-6 miles or whatever I could do and still not loose my mind during the stupid fierce wind.  My running buddy headed out with me, and she just needed to do 4 so we just did 4. I had grand plans of running before she came over or after, and that just didn't happen.  Instead we went and did selfies in the park with the tulips:).  Priorities right?

Friday: Rest day and EXPO

Saturday: Rock the Parkway 13.1.  First race of the Heartland Series.

Sunday: Rest

Total miles: 22.1 miles

2016 Addition of Running things I LOVE!

Wow, I just realized that it has been 2 years since I did a post on things I love!  Time to remedy that situation!!!

1.  My Garmin 220.  Yep, still one of my most favorite running devices.  Gives me all the information I need including pace and distance, but also I can create workouts and send them to my watch.

Starting to build a new work out!

This function is HUGELY helpful because when Coach Jenny sends me some of her crazy and fun speed work sessions, I can just let the watch do the work.  No more having to guess at how many minutes you are at what pace.  The watch times the segments you set and beeps at you to tell you to slow down or speed up.  It really helps to not to have to stare at a watch to know these details!  Someday I might move up in the Garmin ranks to a different Garmin (maybe the 235 that has the heart rate monitor built in:), but my heart is and always will be with my Garmin watches! As I said two years ago, I love the big colorful screen, the ease of moving through the menus, and the color of the bands!  I still don't get a quick lock on satellites as promised, but I am willing to ignore this one fault.  I will also admit that Garmin Connect can be a little hard to use, but they have gone through many iterations and each one is better than the last.  I give them two thumbs up for the improvements in the creating a work out section alone!

2.  Rock My Run app:  I still use pandora on occasion, but I have totally fallen in LOVE with this app.  You can pick run mixes based on what type of music you like.  Here lately for some reason, I have been all about 80s music mixes.  I love the fact that with a membership (which I have the rockstar membership) that I can either stream or download the mixes.  I use them not only for running, but also when I am doing strength training or just walking across campus.  The mixes really help me get through tough workouts.  You can also tailor the mixes to meet the BPM you need or want.  I usually don't use this function, but I hear it is really fun to play with.  I also love the fact that Another Mother Runner makes mixes and then releases them to this app.  I am not a huge pop fan except when running, so it exposes me to some pop music and artists that I actually usually end up liking.  I think with a free membership, you can stream one mix a month but I guarantee you will fall in love and want to buy a membership.  Do be aware that certain features are not supported in the free app and that there are ads.

3.  My Saucony Kinvaras  The last time I did this type of blog posts, I was never ever changing my mind about Nike Vomero's!  Now I am firmly in the Saucony camp.  I have tried both the Saucony Triumph (holy moly cushioned) and the Kinvara (very light cushioning), and I love them both.  My Triumphs were with me through my Chicago marathon training and kept me healthy.  My kinvaras are helping me get back to optimal health.  I also wear Kinvaras at work as well, since my job allows me to wear comfortable shoes.    I just love the way they feel all day, every day!  Again, shoes are something very personal and should be picked based on what you need for your body and your gait.  Right now this shoe is what works for me, but that can always change!

4.  My Balega socks.  I have tried EVERY running sock out there, but I just can't find one that works for me like Balega.  They are uber comfortable, don't rub or cause blisters, and don't allow themselves to be eaten by my shoes. I prefer socks that come up a little past the back of the shoes (not the no shows) and these socks are the perfect height on me.  They are my go to running sock and come in all kinds of cute colors and patterns.  My feet aren't digging compression right now and luckily they are tight, but not compressive and my feet love them.  I honestly wear them every day all day because they just feel so good.

5.  My Pro Compression socks.  For when my feet are digging compression, these are my go to socks and sleeves.  I did the Chicago marathon in my jailbreaks and just love them.  I wear them not only for recovery, but for long runs, or whatever work out I am up to.  I don't feel like I get too hot in them at all.  I have tried a few other brands but I always go back to my pros!  They have great sales all the time and I LOVE the fun colors!  

6.  Running partners.  I said this before, but I will say it again, running partners are what keep me running some days.  Having accountability AND a great therapy session all rolled into one is key for me.  I am blessed that my Mel is faster than me, just like Robin, so she can really push me on my speed work, but also stay with me on easy days and just chat.  She trained with me for most of my training runs for Chicago, and while she is training for an ultra and our running plans don't match up right now, she still tries to run with me at least one easy run a week.  Heck, she even did 1.5 hours of pool running. Talk about a trooper!!!!  She even bought me a selfie stick so we could have better photos during our runs:).  I met Mel at a local race of all places and we have been friends ever since.  

7.  Technical Trucker Hats.  Those words I never thought I would put together in a sentence, but I LOVE my technical trucker hat from Another Mother Runner that I got for the Chicago marathon last year.  Nuun also has one I am eyeing super hard right now as well.  I am a hat girl when I run, and I just love the breathability and the functionality of this type of hat.  It seems big and bulky, but it fits lightly.  I also love the fact that it helps my head lamp stay in place better on my little head for night runs.  Bonus, it even looks cute to just wear when I am not running, versus some of my other running hats that just don't look right on my head unless I am running.  I only have one TTH at this point, but I am on the look out for another one!

There you go!  Just a few of my favorite things right now 2016 edition.  I am getting ready to go to three different expos in the new two months so I may have a few more things to add.  

Heartland Series Training Week 11 (it's almost GO time)

While I feel like I am slowly getting back on track and the pain in my foot is getting less with each passing day, I am still being very careful about everything, at least until after this series is done.  There may be no PR for me this spring, and I am okay with that.  I just want to be able to complete my third year of this series, get my super cute swag, and be on my way to my next goal in the fall.  Here is how the week went down!

Monday:  4 miles planned.  Wow, my quads and hammies were sure thanking me for the lack of hill training I got accomplished this training cycle.  I ended up doing a walk/ run method, because my right leg was KILLING me.  I would walk a tenth of a mile and run 9 tenths.  Probably a good thing for all of us, because Deuce hasn't been out in over a month and was kind of dragging.  Had tony snap a pic of us as we ran by the house.  The wind was kicking out of the south.  I am so over the wind now.  Seriously though, remind me of these nice comfortable temps and cooling wind when I am bitching about the 100 percent humidity at 4 am in the morning will ya!  4 miles done.

Tuesday:  Planned Strength:  Okay first off, this was the first day in a LONG time that I didn't take any anti inflammatories.  I am still sore, but it is kind of like a minor bruise now.  I so hope I am done with this stupid foot injury.  I am ready to be able to do speed work and a more wider variety of strength exercises that utilize my foot behaving.

I look loopy in this pic but I LOVE stella's expression!  Trying to figure out our selfie stick

Wednesday:  Planned 6 miles.  Woke up in the morning with bad right hip pain.  I iced, cursed, stretched and prayed all day.  I thought about taking a rest day, but oddly enough, as with all of my injuries, if i run, it feels better.  Maybe someone should bottle up my endorphins and sell them as pain relievers?  :) My right hammy is still tight, but my quad seems to have calmed down now.  I ended up doing 5 with my running partner and stella.  When we got done, she showed me a stretch her chiro has her do for hip issues, and it seemed to really, really help loosen everything up in there.   More ice and more advil before bed, and lots of praying that this will be a short lived problem.  I am less than two weeks away from the start of the Heartland Series, and I just need to make it through so I can give my body some down time to completely heal! 5 miles done.

On a side note, I am testing out some new shirts for a good friend of mine who does custom t shirts and tanks for runners, along with many many other products.  Even though this tank is super long on me, I LOVE it!!!  Super soft, super wicking, and I love the color!  I will let you know when she has some in her store, because you have to have one!  Visit http://www.gypsyrunner.com/ now to check out all of the super cute stuff she carries!

Thursday:  Glorious rest day.  Woke up with half the pain I had the day before, which put a smile on my face.  This too shall pass or so I hope.  Much stretching, icing and adviling done:)

Friday:  Planned 5 miles.  This run was a big pile of SUCK!  The wind was blowing 24 mph from the NNW.  I thought i could beat it by planning a clever route, and then have my hubby come pick me up.  Well, I had to head west for about a mile in what I thought was a protected area but ended up just running into a wall of wind.  Then it started raining this needle like rain that HURT!  Various parts of my body hurt throughout the run including my stupid hip, hammie and foot even.  I just ignored everything and finished (i am stupid remember). 5 miles done.

I had called my hubby with about half a mile to go to come and pick me up and he miss interpreted where I was so I ended up stopping at 5 and walking till he finally found me.  I was freezing cold, couldn't feel my hands and my legs which were in shorts were almost blue. I had totally misjudged the sunny weather and had NOT dressed warm enough for the wind.  Lesson learned.  Back to the drawing board on my hip.  My massage next week can not come soon enough.  Is this just part of getting old?

Saturday: Planned rest day.  Well you know how that goes, I have a 3 almost 4 year old son that never lets me really rest.  We had planned on going to the local library and to the little local zoo.

We ended up going to the library, zoo, sonic playground and insect zoo.  I had this grand vision that he would go to sleep at 7 if I kept him up and going all day, and I would have a saturday night to myself.  Instead he was up past 11 pm!!!!  That is without a nap at all as well.  I need to bottle his energy and drink it for sure!

Sunday:  Planned 10 miles.  The plan was to get up early, get 4 in while the wind wasn't as bad and the temp was lower, and then join up with my running partner to do her 6 to get my total 10.  I couldn't go to sleep to save my life saturday night.  I tossed and turned and was exhausted, but not sleepy.  I finally got up around 11:30 and took a melatonin, and went downstairs to see if sleeping in the guest room would work.  I think I finally went to sleep around midnight, but when the alarm went off in the morning, I hit snooze.  I finally got up in time to do a quick 1.5 before meeting up with Mel, which means I had to do another 2.5 after we were done.  It was already hot and very windy, and I didn't take water, which was STUPID.  I was sweating super salty and feeling slightly dehydrated the whole run.  I hate carrying a bottle or wearing a vest, but it really is the smartest thing to do when the temps get around this high (80).  Also, even though I have lived in KS since 1999, this year, the burning is really killing my respiratory system.  I was full of snot the whole run (the entire state was burning yesterday and last night due to no wind), and couldn't really get a good deep breath.  This run definitely wasn't a confidence builder for the upcoming series of halfs,  but my hip mostly behaved and let me finish.  10 miles done.








Total miles: 24

Overall, other than my hip being a jerk, my runs were almost like being back to normal.  I have an appointment to see the bringer of pain Tuesday, and am sure he can fix me up.  I am still stretching and icing, but trying to wean off of advil.  I have been on some sort of NSAID for almost two months now and that is not good.  I am getting super excited about my upcoming races, even if there is no possibility of PR.  I want to have fun, meet some new friends, and just enjoy some races.  Am thinking about shifting my A race to this fall and putting the ultra on hold till next year.  There are several really nice halfs in KS and MO that I haven't done in the fall, so that might be a better idea than trying to force an ultra.  I also want redemption on the Konquer the Konza 25K.  It landed me in the emergency room last time and I want to finish it, better my time, and recover smart.  I am keeping an open mind and not making any decisions as of yet. 

Have a great week y'all and see some of y'all at Rock the Parkway next week!  Don't forget to visit gypsy runner's booth at the expo!