Sunday, April 27, 2014

7 Days to your Best Race

Taper time. After 93 marathons, I have really now love the taper week: more time to catch up with housework, friends, and primarily to rest! 

My next marathon is Fargo ND May 9th. It will be my hopefully 94th marathon and 46th Sub Four Hour Fifty State. Below I will share some tips for the week leading up to the race! 

1) Focus on rest; I cannot stress this enough. Do not run more- less! Try to go to bed an hour earlier each night pre race week. Your entire body will be happier and your muscles will be able to replenish during slumber. 

2) eat well: Nourish your body with natural filling foods. Carbs are good and as running people we use them daily. Try to to overload the night before. I always eat early on race night- 4pm. This makes me feel lighter on race day . Try to drink a lot if water and Electrolyte drink during the week, the key is moderation and whole foods. 

3) Positive: Staying positive during this week is needed for a prime race. All the training and hard work is done. You are ready to race and to PR. The mind may worry, but throw negative thoughts away.  You are in Beast Mode. 

Tips: have packed your racing clothes and shoes days out. Try to use race week to prepare and to relax! Pack extra safety pins and your snacks ! 

Next week I will post another blog of what to think about during the marathon to help you to PR!

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Race Morning Zen



It is 4am and the race start is at 7! Freak out!! 

No. Stop. This blog will help you to remain in control to achieve the race experience that you want! 
I have ran 93 marathons and countless races and I have had my moments of anxiety and panic attacks over the years. With experience  I have learned to remain calm.

1) Know race start and finish points:
Easy enough, but make sure you know where to go in the morning and at the finish. Make sure to allow EXTRA time to get to the start! At least an hour before is my rule of thumb. Know this the night before.

2) Stash  extra TP for long lines- I have become great at finding bushes 10 minutes to race start - sure beats standing in line and less worry! 

3)Be prepared with gear! I keep a race duffle at my home. It has all my race needs ready and packed- I just have to rotate clean race clothes and new GU into it before each race. ( keep extra- safety pins, socks, a hat and gloves, bobby pins, and chap stick- this can double as anti-chaf, hair stick, and ointment in a pinch).

4) BE confident. You have trained . Miles ran. Go do it. One leg after another . This is the best piece of advice I could ever give. POSITIVE thoughts. 80% of winning the race is knowing you can. Throw negative thoughts away as soon as they enter your mind. I coach people in my job ( behavioral psychologist), and I use the same strategies with my racing.   

5) Use a mantra. This also helps to calm any worry! My favorites are "you got this", " just run", and " beast mode". Reciting these pre race and during  will help you  make it through rough patches of doubt - practice daily when you start to worry -take a deep breath, and recite your mantra. 


6) Eat the same food. I cannot stress this enough. Bring a small cooler and baggies full of normal snacks. Try to eat basically your same diet, while adding simple carbs 2 days leading up to the race . 
Bagels, toast, honey, GU Brew, pretzels, and peanut butter are great to add. Try to have the same GU ( my only brand I use is GU Energy) , with you on race day. Upset stomach worries are vanished with knowing your tummy will be calm. 
Try to eat also a few hours before the race and not too close to the start. 

My next blog will focus on specific race nutrition and great goods to fuel with. 

www.guenergy.com
www.seemeinthedark.com
www.karhurunning.com
www.swiftwick.com
www.swirlgear.com
www.healtheorganics.com


Sunday, March 23, 2014

2014 Races and Goals

I have some wonderful races coming up this year that I am excited for! My 100th marathon goal and also my Sub 4Hour State 50 will be in January 2015 at the Maui Hawaii Marathon ! I hope to run this with my coach Justin Gillette! 


I thank all of my support and ambassadorships: 
www.karhurunning.com
www.guenergy.com
www.swiftwick.com
www.swirlgear.com
www.seemeinthedark.com


HealthE Organics - Eno P-Nutty Protein bars  help me to fuel properly 

I will be racing all of the USATF-NE Grand Prix Races with my CMS Team along with individual marathons

April 
1) James Joyce Ramble in Dedham MA the 27th , 10k
www.ramble.org

May
1) Fargo Marathon May 10th
www.fargomarathon.com
2) Sugarloaf Marathon May 18th
Sugarloaf ME
www.sugarloaf.com/marathon

June
1) Ribfest 5miler
Merrimack, NH June 15th


2) Mt. Washington Road Race
June 21
www.mountwashingtonroadrace.com
Gotham, NH

July
1) Morgan Valley Marathon
Morgan Ut
July 25
www.morganvalleymarathon.com

August
1) Moose's Tooth Marathon
Anchorage Alaska 
August 17th
www.bigwildliferuns.org


2) Green MT. 15k
Burlington VT
www.gmaa.net
August 31

September 
1) Lone Gull 10k
Glouster MA 
September 14
www.lonegull10k.com

October
1) Atlantic City Marathon
October 19th
Atlantic City, NJ
www.acmarathon.org

November
1) Manchester City Marathon 
Manchester NH
November 2nd 
www.cityofmanchestermarathon.com

Cannot Wait
Wishing for health and strong mind for all races 

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

39.3 Race Miles

The weekend started with the RnR DC Marathon Saturday . Weather was perfect 45 and cloudy . I ran conserving energy and speed as I was also racing 13.1 Sunday. I had even splits of 138 for a finish of 3:16. Happy and that was my goal. AG placed third out of many and 13th of 1700 women pretty cool!! 

I then ran to the airport - compression socks on- to make it to Boston.
Sunday was my CMS Team race - USATF- NE 13.1 New Bedford MA. 
We car pooled to the start. The race was wonderful, on the coast by the ocean, rolling hills. I felt very tired, but my legs were fine. On point for a 130 till mile 8, then the weight of the races sat in! Finished strong, but could not push it .

I need to work on my nutrition and add a few pounds before Fargo Marathon in May. This will help me from fading as I did in both races. I am going to add protein powder and additional vegan foods!) strong and need to be much stronger to get my sub 3:05! 

Thanks to 
www.guenergy.com
www.karhu.com
www. Swirlgear.com
www.swiftwick.com
www.seemeinthedark.com
and www.healtheorganics.com


Race support I thank you 

Monday, March 3, 2014

Motivation - Runners Paradise - Taper coming up

Lovely weekend! Saturday first belted out 12 miles on the treadmill with speed work. Awesome workout. 

I then traveled the Greater River Running Company store outside of Boston. Great store. Picked out a zip up from www.janji.com and Swirlgear ! Loved my time and gear! 

On then to USATF NE High School Indoor Championships . What an inspiration these young racers were. My co workers daughter won the huddles ! So much fun .

Sunday did a hilly 20 mile run with the CMS Women's coach. Felt strong and ready to tackle and get a fast time for The RnRoll DC Marathon and then The New Bedford half marathon in 2 weeks! 

I am the running ambassador for Healthe Organics and they named a protein bar with me- Eno Protein Bar. They are so tasty and I am very proud to be a part of their company. 

Taper in one week. State Sub 4 number 45 and marathon 93

www.seemeinthedark.com
Love my shirt ! 

Monday, February 17, 2014

2014 Racing

I want to thank everyone Friends and runners a like whom have supported my and my running thus far- you are one of the largest reasons why I am out there every day! 
For 2014 I am proud to announce my running ambassador ships :

1) HealthE Organics.
FB page is the same
A new start up company based on nutrition for runners, bikers , and all athletes.  Right now specialized Bars are amazing! 

2) See Me In The Dark
www.seemeinthedark.com
FB: above
A company based from Miami - reflective clothing for everyone to BeSeen on the roads and races. Wonderful custom shirts and hats!!! Thank you Mickey Witte!

3) Karhu
www.karhurunning.com
I have been with Karhu for almost 2 years. This is the only shoe I will wear for training and racing. Efficient and perfect for speed or long distance! Karhu has shown me much support and massive luv. 

4) GUEnergy 
www.guenergy.com
I am part of the GU crew and GU Energy team . Roctane GU gels one of my favorites along with their GU recovery drinks. They have various GU floors, chomps, and drinks. Too cool.

5)Swiftwick Socks
www.swiftwick.com
so happy to be an ambassador for Swiftwick! They are ' magical' socks. I will only train and race in these- no blisters, total comfort. A local TN based company that is now in Denver and Austin. 

6) Swirlgear
www.swirlgear.com
A company founded late as year in Chicago focused on Women Athletes and in providing sweet clothing for all. Quality product with very cool and different colors! 

Truly Thanking everyone again . I feel faster and stronger than ever. Coaches justin And Jake Gillette I could not do it without your expertise . My team mates from CMS are an amazing group and again together this year will be amazing for the USATF-NE Grand Prix circuit . 
Beast Mode. Sub 3:00 marathon.