Ultra Training: Week Ten

It’s official—I have registered for my first 50K.  I am just as excited as I am nervous and know that my training is definitely real now.  I have a 110 days to get it together.  This is how week ten went:


Sunday
After Christmas Eve’s lackluster run, I was hoping today would be better.  I debated between increasing my mileage to make up for the lack of miles on Saturday or to stick with my plan.  I stuck with my plan.  It was a beautiful day and it was fun to see all the families out at the lake enjoying themselves.  

Monday
I’ve been running on Monday mornings with a group of friends, calling ourselves the #5amRunClub.  Due the holiday, we slept in and met at 6am for our run. We ran down to the harbor in San Diego and made it just in time for a beautiful sunrise over the city.  

Tuesday
Tuesday’s run was a fun 5K—the Bumblebee 5K or Holiday Bowl 5K.  It was a small race that started fifteen minutes  before the Holiday Bowl Parade that went down the parade route and finished up at a  great viewing spot of the parade.  It was another beautiful day in San Diego and the course was along the harbor—you can’t go wrong with a run there.

Wednesday
Wednesday was a hectic day and I wasn’t sure I was going to get my run done.  It was just one of the those days, but in the afternoon I found some time to get my run in.  An easy few miles to clear my head and get some miles on my feet.

Thursday
I headed out to the trails for this run.  It was a little crowded at my “go to” trail and and though it was a little congested at spots, I love seeing that many people out enjoying the trails.  

Friday
I headed out Friday morning for the #RUN619 who were running this week to celebrate me as it also happened to be my birthday.  I got to pick the route so I picked my favorite which includes two local bridges.  It was a great turnout and I definitely felt the birthday love.  I’ve said it before, but I love this group!

Saturday
I wasn’t looking forward to my run on Saturday—I hadn’t slept well the night before and missed my group run in the morning.  I had fourteen miles to do and the idea of running them solo did not sound fun.  When I finally dragged myself out of bed, I headed to my local running spot and kept my fingers crossed it would hold on raining for a couple hours.  
When I arrived to the lake, I ran into Jenny so we ran a warmup mile together before going separate ways on our run.  About three miles into my run, it started to rain—it wasn’t a hard rain, rather a heavy drizzle.  I didn’t dress for the rain, so I had two choices—either head back to my car or keep going.  You learn a lot about yourself when you face decisions like this—I kept going.  I got all 14 miles done—they weren’t pretty, but I was proud of myself for getting it done.  When I got back to my car, I was grateful for the towel I had in my trunk and the Starbucks a block away—after this run, I needed both!

Total Weekly Miles:  43.73

The start of the year often means more people are the gym and other places.  I will be one of those people at the gym—one of my goals this year is to work on my strength training and I’ll be adding that into my running mix.  I’m hoping people have patience and remember they were once new to it too. 

On a completely random note, I am excited to announce that I have been selected to be an ambassador for Pro Compression and Orange Mud.  I love both these companies and they have definitely helped me in my ultra training.  I am looking forward to working with both of these great companies.  

What are your goals for 2017?

Until next time, happy running!
Jenn13.1

My Ultra Training Essentials

As week nine of my ultra training nears its finish, I am about a third of the way through my training.  During this time, I’ve discovered a few things that I can’t live without in this new adventure.  Some of these things are things that I’ve used all along, just now with a better appreciation for them.  Some are things I never tried before and am wondering why I waited so long.  I know as I progress in my training, some things will be added to my list of essentials and everyone’s training essentials are different, but right now these are a few of mine.

A Plan
I’ve never trained with a plan and I learned the hard way that having a plan is better.  I ran my first marathon in February and although I did a couple long runs, I didn’t give it the dedication it deserved.  When I decided I wanted to run a 50K, I decided to get a running coach and am working with Jenn from Sole Health and Wellness.  Part of the coaching experience is having a plan—I have a calendar that tells me what mileage to run each day and what type of runs they should be.  It was hard to adjust from being a no-plan runner to running with one, but now I love it!  Yes, there are times that I deviate from my plan—I may run a little more or a little less on some days than scheduled, but by the end of my week, my weekly mileage is pretty consistent to what's been planned.  

Hydration
I used to be one of those runners who didn’t drink until they felt thirsty.  If you’ve ever done this, you know that by the time you feel thirsty it’s usually “too late.”  I’ve been working on hydrating before, during and after my runs to maintain a good level of hydration—over hydrating can be just as bad as under hydrating and I don’t want to do either.  The two things that have definitely helped with my hydration are my Orange Mud HydraQuiver and Nuun hydration.  My Orange Mud vest has two bottles which allows me to fill one with water and one with Nuun—my general rule is to take sips every mile or so.   Even as the weather has turned colder and it sometimes doesn’t feel like I need to hydrate as much, I still stick to this rule.  (I love my Orange Mud so much, I added a one barrel vest to my running wardrobe to use on my shorter runs when I don't need both bottles worth of hydration)

Compression Socks
If you follow me on social media, you know that I love my ProCompression socks.  As I am running more mileage, I am definitely noticing a difference.  I am not only training for my first 50K, but I am also on a Run Streak so I am running everyday.  My ProCompression socks are helping my legs feel less tired and definitely help the recovery process.  I wear them during my runs and after for recovery. And now that it’s boot season, I’m wearing them more with everyday wear too!  

The Right Shoes
As much as I love to feel the dirt beneath my feet, I knew that I needed the right pair of shoes between me and the dirt.  After doing some research (i.e. Asking my friends) I went to a local running store to try on some trail shoes—after trying on several pairs, I decided on the Altra Lone Peak 3.0 and it has been love from the first mile.  So far in my training, about half of it has been out on the trails and the shoes have been amazing.  There wasn’t a “breaking in” period—they were just the right shoe for me.  

The Elements
When you’re training for an event, the weather doesn’t turn to “perfect” for every run just because you want it to.  My little disclaimer is that I live in Southern California so the elements I need to be ready for are no where similar to what other runners run in.  (A big “You’re Awesome”  to everyone who runs in extreme weather!). But we have had a few weather changes lately and it’s definitely impacted what I wear when I’m running.  I’ve had to run in the rain a few times and am grateful for the rain jacket I randomly purchased a couple years ago.  It’s also been a lot colder lately and that’s been the biggest adjustments for this tank & skirt runner.  So I’ve added gloves, a Buff and arm warmers to my running wardrobe.  I’ve also added more trucker hats and sunglasses to my collection so that I can protect myself during my runs. My 50K is in April and in Southern California, you don’t know what you’re going to get in April weather-wise—I’m hoping to be prepared for anything.

My Friends
I love to run and though the journey is my own, it is definitely fun with other people along the way.  Honestly, not everyone in my life understands why I would want to run a 50K, but they support me anyway.  Whether it’s from going on runs with me or little messages of encouragement and support, I am blessed to have the people in my life that I do. 

What are some of the things you can’t live without when you’re training for a race?

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1

Ultra Training: Week Five

Week Five of my Ultra Training was definitely an eye opener for me.  I learned some lessons and I’m grateful that I’m still in the beginning stages of my training. 

I learned that I need to eat better—not only am I feeling it on the scale, but also on my runs.  I’ve been indulging since my Disney weekend and I need to get back to eating better.  I also learned that I need to add cross training and hill training more consistently on my schedule—as much as I run, I still feel out of shape.  It’s frustrating to know that you are capable of more, but can’t quite get there.  But the miles are done for week five and I know that with a few adjustments on my training outlook, the upcoming weeks of training are going to be awesome.
  
Sunday
Sunday called for a short run—I woke up later than I had wanted, but I was able to get my run in.  Sometimes the runs aren’t good or bad—they just are.  This was one of those runs, but the miles were done and that was ultimately what mattered.

Monday
It doesn’t rain often in Southern California so I was excited to wake up to rain.  And even more excited to run it in.  I headed out for a short run and of course it stop raining when I got to my running spot.  I chased the rain clouds for three miles and enjoyed the cooler weather.  

Tuesday
I decided to switch up some of mileage this week based on what my schedule had room for and made Tuesday a short run day.  It was a beautiful day for a run and the miles felt good.  After a few days of being sick, I was definitely glad to be feeling better.

Wednesday
I decided to hit up the trails for my run and it seemed like all of San Diego wanted to join me.  My favorite local mountain was so crowded!  I hiked up the main path for a bit before venturing off to the side trails.  Anytime I can run with the dirt beneath my feet, it’s a good run. I also met someone visiting from Arizona at the top of the mountain-- he was doing all five peaks during his visit.  Sometimes the best conversations are with strangers.

Thursday
I was signed up for a Turkey Trot on Thursday, but my training plan called for a 5K plus two miles.  I headed out to Coronado to run my two miles before the race—if you’ve never run in Coronado, it’s beautiful!  And to watch the sunrise during my run was breathtaking.  I also had a good run with the Turkey Trot. 

Friday
Last year, REI started the idea of #OptOutside so inside of shopping, I knew that I wanted to spend some time outside.  I had a short run schedule, so when my friend invited me to San Elijo Lagoon for a short adventure, I was ready.  I had never been there and I love exploring new running places.  The trails were really pretty but I hadn’t anticipated soft sand (like what you would find on the beach.). The soft sand definitely made the run more challenging, but the views made it worth it. 

Saturday
Saturday’s schedule called for a long run—12 miles.  I decided to join some local runners who were doing a 14 miles run—it was a couple miles than I had scheduled, but I knew I’d be taking some walk breaks so I thought it would all balance out.  The route my friend had selected was challenging for me—it had a lot of hills and though the weren’t steep, I wasn’t ready for the steady incline.  As much as I struggled, I was also glad because it was a good reminder that I need to add some hill work to my training plan.  I need to make sure to diversify my mileage. 

Total Weekly Miles: 35.26

Until next time, happy running!

Jenn13.1

Ultra Training: Week Two

The past few days I’ve been so inspired by everyone getting ready to run the New York Marathon and running Wine & Dine at Walt Disney World.  It's easier to get your run on when you’re seeing so much awesome happen.  I finished week two of my Ultra Training and although my training is still in the very early stages, I’m feeling really good about it.  Week two was filled with running friends and new friends—those are the best kinds of weeks.

Sunday
I started my week off with the Rock n Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon.  Although all the fun was had, it wasn’t my best race.  You can read all about it here.

Monday
Although I was still a little sore from Sunday, I couldn’t pass up a Halloween #Runch with Jenny and Smitha.  Running with friends is the best.  It was an easy paced run and I was able to get in touch with my inner emoji.  

Tuesday
Tuesday called for a short run and I kept it short.  I used my short run days as “rest days,” keeping an easy pace for 1-2 miles.  It’s enough to keep my run streak going and my legs loose, but it’s not too much to wear me out.

Wednesday
I met up with Jenny for another #Runch date.  For some reason, I struggled a lot during this run.  I can’t quite pinpoint what wasn’t right but I also know that not every run will be a good run.  

Thursday
Another easy, short run.  Like last week, I added some strength exercises to this run.  I was actually able to get a few push-ups done—this is a huge improvement for me and I look forward to being able to do more.  

Friday
I usually start my Friday with a group run—it’s one of my favorite runs and I was bummed when I overslept and missed it.  Although running later than I had planned, I found myself on the trails of a local mountain to get my miles in.  When I was out there, I met a hiking club  that had traveled to hike the mountain.  We chatted for a bit and I learned the oldest woman in the group was 80.  I love that they still have adventures and I hope I still have that when I’m that age.

Saturday
I woke up early Saturday morning to head out to the trails.  I was so dark when we started and I was certainly glad to have my Run Lites gloves.  It was a little eery when you could shine the light into the distance and see critter eyes staring back at you.  My legs were a little tight, but it felt good to get some solid miles in on the trails.  We were also able to find a few little pockets of fall.

Weekly Total Miles:  37.55

I’m still getting used to having a running schedule but I feel a lot better about it this week.  Again, I am trusting the process.  I’m looking forward to seeing what week three brings.  We've had little glimpses of fall here and I'm hoping for cooler weather soon. Maybe I'll find that in week three. 

What's the weather like where you live?  Have you brought out your fall/winter running clothes yet?

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1 

Ultra Training: Week One

Last week I posted about my new adventure—training for my first 50K.  After talking to my coach, Jenn from Sole Health and Wellness, she came up with a plan to get me there.  I officially started training on Sunday.  Here’s how the first week of my ultra training went

Sunday
The Saturday prior to my official training start, I was scheduled to run a 5K.  I ended running longer than I planned that day, so after consulting with Jenn, my scheduled mileage was shortened a bit.  After my run, I was extremely grateful for that—I hadn’t slept well the night before and every mile felt like a struggle.  

Monday
Monday was a short run, but after purchasing a pair of Altra trail shoes, I took to the trails to get my feet dirty.  I was still a bit tired and my leg is still a bit from my fall a couple weeks ago, but the run felt pretty good.  I did some stretching and foam rolling when I got home—that definitely helped.

Tuesday
Tuesday was shorter run than Monday and turned into #Runch with Smitha down by the harbor.  We explored a new route and had fun seeing different parts of San Diego.  

Wednesday
Wednesday’s schedule was similar to Monday’s, but for some reason I struggled.  Big time.  I ended up running a mile less than scheduled—I was disappointed but also knew I had to listen to my body.  I have a half in a few days and didn’t want to overdue it prior to the weekend.

Thursday
Another easy mileage day and I was definitely feeling better today.  After my run, I incorporated some strength exercises into my workout.  I’ve decided that during this training process, I don’t just want to become a better runner, but also a stronger runner.

Friday
Friday runs are always fun because I start my day with the #Run619.  This week’s run was  Halloween themed and included prizes. (I won a gift card for Heartwork Coffee Bar!). I ran at an easy pace and it felt pretty good.

Saturday
Saturday’s plan was 1-2 miles and I had time for just that.  I was leaving for Rock N Roll Los Angeles early that morning and with all the last minute packing, I found myself running close to home.  I got in an easy paced 1.5 miles and then I was on the road. 

Total Weekly Mileage: 17.71 

Overall the week went pretty well—I realize it’s the first week, but I’m feeling good about the entire process.  The biggest challenge for me is having a schedule of mileage.  I’ve always just gone out for a run and ran what felt good.  This is my lowest mileage week in a while, but I am trusting in the process.  The structure of having a training plan takes some getting used to, but I’m excited.  I know that once I incorporate more mileage and different type of of runs into the training, I will be so glad that I have a plan.  

To help keep track of my runs and how I felt during/after them, I’ve started using my Believe Training Journal.  It’s proving to be a great tool, helping me look at what could have made a run better and what mileage I’m getting in.  

How do you train for a big run—with a plan of do you just wing it?

Until next time, happy running.

Jenn13.1

Adventure Awaits--Jenn13.1 to 50K

I love to run.  If someone asks, "Do you want to go for a run,?" I don't hesitate to reply with a giant "Yes!"  I love what it has done for my health, I love the amazing people I've met through running and I love the way it challenges me.  Yet, even with all this love, I was beginning to miss the level of excitement I used to have with running.  I was increasing my pace and increasing my distance, but something was missing.  

Too early for holiday themed memes?!

When I started my Run Streak this summer, some of my runs included "new to me" places, many of which were trails.  I loved the trails and had a blast every time I ran them.  I was also watching the journeys of my friends who were training for ultra races and it intrigued me.  I did some research and thought about it-- I decided I wanted to run an Ultra.  I finally found something that got me excited about running. 

Running the trails of Mount Laguna.

After looking at Ultra races next year and talking to some people about various races, I have decide to run the Leona Divide 50K in April 2017.  One of my biggest downfalls when I ran my first marathon (and only) was that I did not properly train.  I am changing that for this new adventure and will be working with Jenn from Sole Health and Wellness.  I've worked with her in the past and she is great at what she does-- she's tough enough to get me to do the work but not so tough that I dread doing it.  That is exactly what I need.  She's also run ultras so she will not only have the knowledge of all her credentials but also from her experience.  She just ran her first 100K-- how awesome is that?!

With Jenn and Smitha before the LA Marathon. 

I don't expect this experience to be easy but I'm excited about it.  If I'm being completely honest, I have some "fears" about it, primarily seeing critters on the trails or falling. But I've decided that my dreams are bigger than my fears and I can't wait for April.  

My training officially starts on Sunday, October 23rd.  I'm looking forward to sharing my journey with you as I go from Jenn13.1 to 50K.

Have you ever run an ultra?  Any advice for a newbie?

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1