What am I thinking?

Half marathon or marathon? What am I capable of? Why am I even trying this? Have a lost my mind? Well…maybe!

Week 2 & 3 are complete and the dreaded Saturday 7 mile run went better than expected.

I managed to continue with 4-5 days of Burn Bootcamp Five Forks and have been doing my weekday runs right after camp in my neighborhood. However, for Saturdays, I decided to drive downtown and do the long runs on the Swamp Rabbit Trail where the actual race will take place to get use to it. The official route for this year has yet to be posted, but I know that most of it will be on this trail. I arrived there Saturday at 8 am, later than my normal 6:30 am run time and the heat was already brutal. I was actually pleased to see so many people there already running, bicycling, and walking. I LOVED feeding off that energy! The goal was 7 miles this past Saturday and I went a little over and walked 1/2 mile to cool off. I never felt like I had to stop so I will take that as a win! The pace was a little slower, but from here on forward, that will be referred to as a “sexy pace,” as my fellow runners call it. More to come on that in an upcoming post.

Sleeping in this Saturday was much needed. I had a long 55 plus hour work week and the 3.5-4 hrs a night took a toll on me. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to listen to the needs of your body. Are you fueling correctly? Are you getting enough sleep? How are you feeling-mentally and physically?

“In training, listen to your body.”

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SHOES:

One of the BEST things I have done for myself over the last couple of years when it comes to working out is getting fitted properly for the right shoes based on my feet and stride. I remember the days of buying shoes for colors, trends, or simply because they said “trainers” or “runners.” I would just assume that those would work for me. I ended up doing a lot of damage to my feet. I went to a local running store, Gotta Run Simpsonville, and they have helped me so much find the right shoes for different types of workouts over the last couple of years. I now wear shoes I may not have ever considered in the past. I am pretty much a convert to Hoka’s, Mizuno’s, Brooks (occasionally), and Sauchony. I do wear No Bulls for weight training days.

Midway through week 1, I switched from Hoka Bondi’s to a Sauchony Endorphin. I have suffered from severe plantar fasciitis in the last two years, the kind of pain that brought tears to my eyes by simply trying to get out of bed in the morning. Switching to Hoka’s two years ago and using Oofos flip flops for recovery and daily use has helped me significantly. However, the Bondi’s are heavy and run about 9 ounces plus each (for women). While the cushioning is the best I have ever experienced in a shoe, after mile 4, the weight becomes too much. The Bondi has a 4 mm heel to toe drop. I went back to my favorite local running shoe and they fitted me in a Sauchony Endorphin Speed 2 weighing about 7 ounces for women and an 8 mm heel to toe drop. It is super bouncy and lightweight. So far, this shoe has not let me down and I am super happy with it. This may be the racing day shoe!

But whoaaaaa, who is this person geeking out about shoe ounces and heel to toe drop and so on. I have been a super nerd researching shoes, running gear, and so on. Yup, I just couldn’t help myself. Once I get started, I can’t seem to stop. Hopefully that applies to my training as well. Ha! By the way, for those who do research running shoes, I highly suggest Seth James DeMoor . He does helpful videos on running shoes after running 50 miles in them. I love him! He is a great resource online. But once again, I still HIGHLY recommend getting fitted properly at your local running store.

FLIP BELT:

This Saturday, I also tested out a reflective Flip Belt. I chose reflective because I sometimes have to run while it is still dark outside. I loved how it fit snug around the waist, plenty of room for an id, my iPhone 11, a key fob, a gel pack, and a water bottle made specific for the belt. While I love the belt, I tested out getting the water bottle in and out while I ran slower. I thought it was just OK, but then again, I am very new to this. I need to use it a few more times before I can give a solid opinion. Please message me with any other belts that you love. I have yet to run with a hydration pack as well, more to come on this.

I spent the last week running in a knee brace as well. The pavement has taken a toll on my knees over the years. While not in terrible pain, it’s enough to know I need one and it does help. However, when running in 90 plus degree weather, it is a bit of a pain in the butt to get used to. If you have suggestions on your favorite brands, please message me as well! I am open to feedback here.

So the training continues everyone. Perhaps when I have to run the 13 miles, I will have a better sense of what I am truly capable of. I am super excited about this personal challenge and thankful to all of my amazing friends and tribe for continuing to encourage me and support me on this journey. Love you all and will be posting again soon!

Let your legs do the running, your mind do the pacing, and your heart do the pushing.

Anna

Fuel The Soul Today