I Can’t Eat, I Can’t Sleep…Countdown to 26.2!!

Posted by hellyontherun in Giveaway, Marathon, Race, Running and tagged with Giveaway, Marathon, Phoenix Marathon, Rain, Running, Weather February 26, 2014

All I’ve been thinking about is this Saturday.

I’M RUNNING MY FIRST MARATHON!!!

A part of me thought maybe I’d do one in my lifetime and another part of me thought there was absolutely no way. But, I’m TWO days away from attempting it.

This is my last training week. It’s crazy that the past 16 weeks have been in preparation for this moment and I can’t believe it’s coming to an end. It’s bittersweet. I’m beyond excited about the race; but, you’ll never get another first, you know? And that kinda makes me sad. But in a happy way. Am I making any sense?

I know this isn’t the end of anything. I’ve got so many crazy, fun, never-would-I-have-imagined-I-would-ever-do things coming up and I can’t wait to share them with you.

So as far as my marathon is concerned, of course I’ve been obsessing about the weather and everything else race related. I haven’t been too braggy about our beautiful Arizona weather because I know some of you are in the midst of Winterpalooza 2014, but I must admit, it’s been sooo pretty here lately. I’ve been happily running outside the past few days in shorts and short sleeved tops without a care in the world until…..THIS.

whyyyyyy??????

Steady your view on Saturday. Yes, the marathon gods have specifically chosen me to torture and torment. RAIN?? IN ARIZONA?? REALLY??

Of all the days……..

I’m trying really hard to not freak out. I mean, I’ve run in the rain before. Plenty of times.

I am not this runner.

I am this runner.

I totally researched my first marathon. There were several reasons why this one particular called out to me. One, the date. It’s in March when Phoenix is amazing, not too cold, not too crazy insane hot. Yeah…………didn’t think about rain..

The second big thing that appealed to me was this:

Helly likey.

Isn’t that a thing of beauty? I know some runners actually like hills (I’m looking at you Salt!); I’ll deal with them if/when I have to (see RnR AZ Elevation Map) but for my first 26.2 I was hoping there wouldn’t be many to tackle. This looks pretty good to me! : )

So of the two big reasons why I chose this race, at least one is a for sure thing.

Damn you fickle weather!!

–Have you ever ran a race in the rain?

–What unpredictable things have you encountered during a race?

A RunningLuv Giveaway!!!

Posted by hellyontherun in Giveaway, Marathon, Running and tagged with Accessories, Celebration, Countdown, Free Stuff, Giveaway, Marathon, Running, RunningLuv February 12, 2014

I’ve hinted at several giveaways this month leading up to my very FIRST marathon March 1st!! 🙂 Well, we’ve got one down with two more to go…

I love their business phrase 🙂

The second giveaway is Valentine’s Day inspired. It’s from an up and coming business called runningluv (they launched in 2013!) and they specialize in fashionable running towels. This product appealed to me because I’m a sweater and I also get really bad cotton mouth when I run I usually end up pulling up my shirt or reaching for my sleeve to wipe–not something I like doing while I’m running.

This towel is designed to wrap around your hand so you don’t have to have a grip on it while you run–so you’re hands free. A major plus as the last thing I want to do while running is hold something. The runningluv towel has different options of wear and when you purchase a product, they send an insert with pictures of how you can use the towel. I love this.

Such a great detail

So you can wear it with the towel hanging, wrapped around your wrist, or in a fancier wrap across your hand (I chose this method). There’s also have a tutorial on their website–Again, another great detail.

I used the towel on one of my 10k Tuesday runs and during my long 20 miler this past Saturday. Both times I was so glad I had it. During my 6.2 run, I mostly needed it to wipe the sweat of my brow. On my long run, yeah…I needed it to get the grossness of cotton mouth out.

How I wore mine.

It was funny because before my run club began that morning’s long run, a buddy had a regular hand towel hanging from her hydration pack. I asked her what it was for and she said for sweat and cotton mouth. I lifted up my hand and showed her the runningluv towel and she said, “I knew someone would think of something like that! I hate messing with my pack trying to get my towel!”

The runningluv towel is super soft and is a bamboo/organic cotton terry blend and the band is a moisture wicking lycra/nylon blend. The band stretches to fit most hand sizes.

There are quite a few colors and designs to choose from too!

So…..One lucky reader will receive a FREE runningluv towel of their choice!!! Check out their website to see which one you’d choose : D

The deets:

First click on this a Rafflecopter giveaway

Then, comment below and tell me which color/design you’d choose.

For extra entries:
1. Like my Facebook page Helly On The Run
2. Like runningluv on Facebook
3. Follow me on Twitter @hellyontherun
4. Tweet about the giveaway
5. Follow me on Instagram @hellyontherun

Giveaway ends on February 19th.

Wanna win already? Use code HELLYONTHERUN15 for 15% off your entire purchase at runningluv.com!!

Again, thank you so much for your encouragement and support throughout my training. The road to my first marathon is getting closer and closer and having you along the way has made it the most fun!! 😀

~helly

*I did receive the runningluv towel free of charge but the opinions expressed in this blog are mine and mine alone.

Marathon Training Recap Week 13

Posted by hellyontherun in Running and tagged with Goal, Long Runs, Marathon, Marathon Training, Pace, Taper February 10, 2014

I’ve been waiting a long time to say this…..

IT’S TAPER TIME!!!

And from what I hear, this is inevitable:

So this is what the past week looked like:

Sunday, February 2nd-Rest Day. I foam rolled and rested from the previous day’s long run.

Monday, February 3rd-Cross Train. Typically, I get on the bike but I decided to switch things up and spent some time on the elliptical. 5 miles. I also did a Blogilates abs video.

Tuesday, February 4th-I’ve dubbed this day 10k Tuesdays as I’ve been doing 6.2 on these days the past few weeks. This run particularly felt AWESOME. I don’t know what it was; I felt good the entire way. Last week when I did these 6.2 miles, I felt the same and had a great time. I have no idea how I did better today but I did!

Top: 1/28
Bottom: 2/4

Wednesday, February 5th-Speed Work. Wednesdays are track days so that’s where I was. My husband left out of town for work earlier but I was fortunate that my brother was visiting and he baby sat while I ran. It was extra motivation to go faster to relieve him lol!

Thursday, February 6th-Blogilates Abs video. I typically cross train but couldn’t make it to the gym since the hubs was away. I did a different video than usual, a more difficult one, and boy did I feel it the next day.

Friday, February 7th-Rest Day.

Saturday, February 8th-TWENTY MILES. Yes, today was that 20 miler in training plans. I was actually pretty pumped to do this. I had everything ready to go in the morning so I wouldn’t be rushed. There were quite a few in my run club who were also doing 20 miles and some had gone at 5 to get a head start. I knew I’d need that extra hour of sleep so I began at the usual 6 a.m. and planned to run on my own.

We run along a canal and we started south which is what I prefer. I decided that I’d split the twenty so that it wouldn’t get boring–6 miles south out and back for 12, and 4 miles north out and back for 8.

The first 6 went pretty smoothly. I absolutely love love love my Ultimate Direction hydration pack. I’m able to carry my phone, car keys, and my fuel with ease and with no discomfort. At mile five, I sent my husband an update and at six is when I broke open the Gu and had a bit.

Six miles was the first turn around point so it was nice to have reached a target. I felt breaking up the 20 miles really helped me mentally. Realizing this, I made mini check points that would continuously help me have something to look forward to. I’d fuel every 4 miles after the first 6, I’d send an update to my husband every 5 miles, and I’d have the turn around points.

So at mile 10, I had a little more Gu and I updated my husband. At mile 12, I reached the beginning of the 4 mile out and back point. At mile 14, more Gu. At mile 15, updated my husband. Mile 16, turn around point. Mile 18, more Gu. Mile 20, DONE!!

yay!

I was shocked at how good I felt and wished the marathon would’ve been today. I hope hope hope I feel this good on March 1st.

My goal was to stay around 30-45 seconds over my marathon pace of 10:00/mile and not stop. I met both goals 🙂 I do think that my marathon pace is pretty lofty. I mean, I felt good the entire way of this 20 miler but thinking of having to average 30 seconds faster makes me pretty nervous. At the end of the day though, all I’m looking forward to is finishing. I don’t have a goal that I’d be devastated not meeting. I think that’s important for first marathons (or first races in general).

–How was your running week?

–Do you make a goal for every race? (I try not to but I alway do lol!)

–Are you a good taperer? What tapering advice would you give me?