Run to the Beach Half Marathon

I was feeling better after having the flu at the beginning of the week,well enough to run on Sat April 20 in the Run to the Beach Half Marathon. I went into the race with the goal of just finishing. I was also dealing with some hamstring tightness and also Achilles tenderness both on my left . So my goals were not to lofty.

Saturday morning ended up being very chilly and windy off the lakes. The race was held around the Portage Lakes area in Akron and Green, Ohio. The Portage Lakes are multiple lakes connected with little channels and lots of lake front homes and bars/grills. It started out in the Portage Lakes State Park.

I left the house thinking I was going to wear a pair of shorts, compression socks and a short sleeved shirt but the wind and colder temperatures had me doing a quick change at the race to wear a long sleeves 1/2 zip top instead. I did wear gloves since fingers get very cold.

It was a combined start time of the Half marathon and 5k racers. A couple disappointments at the beginning was no mention of the Boston Marathon bombs or tribute and they did not explain that faster runners up front and slower runners/walkers in the back.

Around the 2 mile marker we pasted our spectators and I saw Terri there cheering me on...Brought the biggest smile to my face to see her and have her support.

The race had us on all terrains- road, trail, grass, crushed gravel, and ending on sand. During the races as I rounded some of the lakes , the head winds were so wicked and there was sleet/mini snow balls that were coming at me sideways.

I encountered something new on this race. Around mile 10 there was a relay exchange area. I thought to myself.."Jen you ran 10 miles, you could stop now and get a ride back with someone".....WHAT!!!! I have never had those thoughts!!! I said to myself " Jen you are NOT a quitter and you will not stop, you have 3 more miles, now go"...and I did. Now if I was injured or physical could not go on, I would have stopped. But this was mentally challenging me to quit. Not gonna happen.

I ran the whole time with brief 5 sec walks here and there , mainly at the water stops since I don't have the skill yet to drink and run without snorting in the water.

The volunteers and the cops directing traffic were great. The post race foods were so so. Subway sandwiches,apples, and Little Debbie snacks...what no chocolate milk or bananas?

I finished at 2:09:04.....12 sec faster than my first half. I will say this was my toughest race for many reasons but makes it even more rewarding.

I would run it again next year and hopefully try to break my time! Besides I want to win one of the cool age groups awards...see the last pic.

Words cannot describe...

What I am feeling.

I came down with the flu Sunday night..fever, chills and bad body aches. I was sleeping off a fever in bed on Monday when my mom called to check in on me. She said " Did you hear about the explosions?" Ummm no I have the flu I don't know what is going on with the world. I turned on the bedroom TV and my stomach sank. I cried for all involved.
I send my thoughts and prayers to all involved and for those injured, lost and deceased.

This is not right.....this is at a fellow running race....The Boston Marathon....beyond that, it is not right because it just is not right period. I sound idealistic but it is what I feel.
We are supposed to love one another, support one another as humans. Not break down each other and not hurt others or kill each other.
I wish for a better world for us all.

In the words of John Lennon singing one of my favorite songs

Imagine-John Lennon
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace

You, you may say 
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world

You, you may say 
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Friday Five

1.Lack of blogging!  I know I know, I have not blogged for awhile, not that I haven't wanted to. I have wanted to but it seems like I am busy with lots but yet not. Anyways I will try to blog more and maybe even more pictures.

2. Running a 5k tomorrow the Black Squirrel 5K in Kent Ohio at KSU. This race is different for me. I am actually going out to run this for speed. Most races I run my best, but tomorrow I am going to try and push myself where I have not gone before.

3. My knee and ankle are doing better. My ankle still is sometimes sore around the Achilles area due to when I broke it last year. My knee- I have no clue but after I run I ice. Trying to be nice to it.

4. Running a half marathon on 4/20. A pop up half marathon. Run to the Beach at Portage Lakes. Not sure how I will do on time but it is local and smaller venue. I wanted to do one where I didn't have to travel to get home afterwards. I am getting nervous about running a half in middle of July with heat and humidity.

5. It is Friday!!!!

Have you ever done a Half marathon in the middle of summer?

Friday Five

Good morning it is FRIDAY!!!!!!!

We are headed to Columbus for the weekend to spend with our good friend Lori! We miss here and want to hang out with her , oh and she is wanting to cook for us Easter dinner! Well of course we said yes!

It seems like forever since I have posted some good posts. I will get back into the swing of things, I promise...pinky swear!
In the meantime enjoy my Friday Five~

1. I am on rest week this week due to some right knee/leg irritation. I am not sure what caused it. Last weekend on Saturday  I did 2 miles speed work in 18 minutes (fast for me) then met Carri for 3 miles of some trail running. On Sunday Michael and I ran almost 9 miles at a good pace of 10:30ish. I felt good afterwards but not sure what I did. It is feeling better and hoping to run this weekend while at Lori's. I saw this on my speed work run Sat.

2. Saturday night we celebrated Terri's birthday with her daughter and family. It was a good time of steak chili and cards! Damn that Shanghai....you get me every time.

3. I know everyone has their views and opinions but I stand for equality. Everyone deserves the same rights.

4.I still have to post about my 15K Shamrock races from St. Patrick's Day. Here is a cute to get you through till that post. Yep that is me peaking out of the crowd to wave to Terri!

5. My nephew Nick is in Fort Benning GA in Army basic training . He is due to graduate May 2. Mys sister and I are road tripping to GA for a week. Sister time!! I am excited. Now we will have Noah who is 17 with us but he will just have to endure us sisters!
This picture has nothing to do with my nephews but just a candid pic of Puma being cute.

Have a great weekend and Happy Easter to all!!

Before and After

What a difference about 70lbs can make. I feel much healthier and stronger. I still sometimes see the before picture of me in the mirror but I know in time that will change.
One step at a time.

Stride box Review

I signed up for my first subscription box. I was very excited and intrigued to try one out. When I saw they came out with Stridebox I knew I found the one I wanted to try. A box made just for runners ! I chose the $15/month subscription. They also offer gift boxes and one time purchases.

I can tell you I was like a kid a Christmas waiting for my first Stridebox to arrive!
It came , it came!!

Here is the March StrideBox

Here is a nice breakdown of what is in the box:

Given Brand Wrist Wallet -$10.95
PowerICE- $8.99/6 ice bars
PickyBars- $22.99/10 bars
Click Espresso Protein Drink- $2.95/packet
Kind Bar- $1.99/bar
GU Energy Gel- $11.60/8 gels
Run Guard-$3.95/travel size
Win Sport Detergent- $1.00 trial size

Wow, quite a deal for $15

My thoughts:
I was and still am excited to try some new products. Several items I have seen or heard about and never had a chance to try- Click, Win Sport detergent and the Peanut Butter GU. Items that are interesting is the PoweICE-will be good come summer time for refreshing replenish! The big item in the box would probably be the Given Wrist Wallet- seems like a cool idea but already tried on the wallet and it is big on my wrist. I have small girlie wrists. I will still give it a trial run!
Overall I am very happy with my first StrideBox and look forward to more to come. What a neat idea to try products to see if you like them before buying them in larger quantity. I am one happy runner with StrideBox!

Disclaimer- The links to the different product websites were done by me. I received no compensation for this  review. The views and thoughts are my own.

Picky bars

A While ago I won a giveaway hosted by Callie at thewannabeathlete. Thanks Callie for the giveaway and the chance for me to try these bars.

In the mail I received 4 bars ...for me!!!

I was excited to read that these bars are made by athletes who know what we want and like in nutrition.
You can find more about them on their website Picky Bars.

So far I have tried the All in Almond and Need for Seed
Here is some information from their site:
Picky bars will

• Be what we consider "ideal size:" 200 calories or less.  Great size for <30min post-workout recovery, one hour before exercise (or cut in half for 20-30 min before), or the perfect snack size between meals.)
• Have a 4:1 carbohydrate/protein ratio that is ideal for recovery and maximizes absorption of nutrients.
• Be gluten and dairy free (for the sake of those with intolerances, or for people who just want variety in their diet)
• Have balanced macro-nutrients (25% fat, 60% carbohydrate, 15% protein) for hunger control and happy digestion.
• Select carbohydrate sources that promote level blood sugar, sustained energy, and nutrient absorption.
• Use whole foods that are geographically nearby whenever we can.
• Minimize soy content (less than 1%) since most people get too much of it daily without realizing it.
• Provide a mixture of nuts and seeds for nutrient diversity (e.g. cashews are good for vitamin K while almonds are high in vitamin E).

Here is what I think:

-I love the lower calories.

-I love that there is no fake tastes after you eat the bar.

-I love that I can see actual food in my bar-like chocolate chips!

-I love the gluten free

-I love that it just plain old taste good!

I really have no cons or dislikes to the bars.

I think I may have just found my new post run bars for nutrition and fuel!