My Juice Plus+ Story (long but worth the read)…

I heard about Juice Plus+ for years, as they are a long time sponsor of the St. Jude Memphis Marathon and headquartered about 20 minutes away from my home.  I honestly never really educated myself on the products and just assumed it was some type of juice or sports drink.

So what is Juice Plus+?  A whole food based nutrition, including juice powder concentrates from 30+ different NON-GMO fruits, vegetables and grains. It is not a replacement for healthy eating, but designed to bridge the gap between what you should eat and what you do eat every day.  The FDA actually considers JP produce (and not a vitamin or supplement), so you will actually find a food nutrition label on the products.  It is actual food in powdered form without any nasty chemicals, gluten, artificial ingredients or additives.

Toward the end of last year, my mother in law brought over some Juice Plus gummies for Hampton to take.  He loved his gummy vitamins so I added Juice Plus into the mix.  Fast forward a couple of weeks, I went to the St. Jude Marathon Expo for packet pickup.  I just happened to stop by the Juice Plus booth and picked up a sample of the Complete Protein, with no intention of really purchasing anything in the future.

I made a recovery smoothie with the protein after the race and could not get over how great it tasted.  Many of the plant based proteins I tried over the years were grainy, gritty and left a dirt-like aftertaste.  This was different… it tasted good, blended right in with my smoothie, no aftertaste and did not sit heavy on my stomach (like the whey based protein I was previously using).  I happened to mention to my mother in law how great the protein was and found out she was actually a distributor (which is why she started buying Hampton the gummies).  She brought us down half of her JP capsules to try to see what we thought. I really had not done a ton of research on the company or product, but I figured it was free, so why not!?!?

As a family, we started taking the capsules (Garden, Orchard and Vineyard Blend) December/January.  I was still skeptical and had low expectations.  However, I started noticing positive changes in my body pretty quickly.  Within about a week, I felt more energy and less blood sugar spikes throughout the day.  By the end of the month, I found that I was craving more fruits and vegetables in my diet, sleeping better, my hair/skin/nails all seemed healthier.

Digestion/GI Issues
Here is where I step out of my comfort zone and get real (and probably a little TMI)…  I have struggled since my teenage years with constipation and gastrointestinal issues.  However, postpartum, my issues magnified and became extremely uncomfortable.  Symptoms were severe constipation (for like 2+ weeks at a time), abdominal bloating, painful cramping, gas, acid reflux/heartburn, sudden weight gain and the list keeps going.  I have gone to multiple GI Specialists and they all circle back to IBS-C. The recommendations were diet changes, 2x daily Miralax, Rx laxatives and colon relaxers… all of which did not really seem to provide any long term fix.  I visited a nutritionist and have tried almost every elimination diet (Whole30, Sugar Detox, THM, The Plan, Low/No Carb, High Fat, High Fiber, Low FODMAP, etc…) and after almost 2 years of trial and error the only consistent results I found is that tomatoes/peppers/onions all caused me to have painful bloating.  Not helpful. AT ALL!

After about 6-8 weeks, I started noticing that my GI system was actually working AND I was taking Miralax less and less.  A couple of weeks later, I started skipping days taking the expensive prescription Linzess and my system was still working.  Around the 3 month mark, I decided to drop Miralax and Linzess completely for a few days (because surely it was a fluke), just to see what would happen.  I could hardly believe it, but I was pooping… EVERYDAY!!!!  I have not had to take any laxative or prescription anything since March!  My IBS-C is almost non-existent, bloating and cramping is rare, weight is completely under control, acid reflux and heartburn are gone.  I am not saying JP is a magic bullet, but it has been my savior.

Exercise and Recovery
Running and fitness are a huge part of my life.  I set some big goals for the year that have required more stress on my body through longer/faster workouts and increased weekly mileage.  The Juice Plus capsules and complete protein have become a big part of my recovery routine.  There have been several studies that show a reduction in oxidative stress and systematic inflammation when taking JP. In the past, I would find myself sore and tired after long workouts.  I was overtraining, under fueling and placing a low degree of importance on recovery.  Now I recover quickly, rarely feel soreness and (knock on wood) have not suffered a single injury!  I am working harder now than I ever have in my life, and feel better than ever. Flooding my body with fruits and vegetables is really healing it from the inside out.

Other Noticeable Improvements
While my GI issues and quick recovery have been my most noticeable improvements, there have been several other things I have personally encountered:

• The eczema on my legs is gone
• Immune system boost… rarely sick (even with all the germs H brings home and my body worn down from exercise)
• Even energy throughout the day
• Weight controlled!!!
• Reduction in cholesterol levels despite genetics
• Craving more healthy, green foods and less of the sugary processed foods

Family Benefits
Juice Plus is really a family affair for us.  We have incorporated the capsules/gummies and protein into our daily nutrition.  I have observed several changes for both Hampton and Davis over the last several months.

Hampton is rarely sick despite going to school/MDO and traveling constantly.  He has NEVER had an antibiotic (Praise the Lord)!! He has always been a pretty good eater, but now he will eat any and every vegetable in his sight… broccoli, sprouts, tomatoes, spinach, carrots, corn, beets, artichoke, potatoes onions, peppers… raw, steamed, roasted… he likes them ALL!!

If you have known Davis for any length of time, you know that he was not the most adventurous eater.  If it was green, he probably was not going to eat it.  Would you believe that he actually craves salads now… yes a real leafy green, vegetable filled salad!?!? He set big goals this year on his bike and knocked them out of the water without injury and quick recovery.  He is also rarely sick and if he feels something coming on, I double him up on Juice Plus and it’s knocked out fast.

I believe in the products enough that we have all of our parents taking the capsules daily!  Our family genetics present a tough challenge, and I want them all around and healthy as long as possible.

The best way to reduce your risk of disease is to eat healthy. The right fuel in your body makes it run better. Fruits and vegetables are two key food groups known to contribute to better health. Juice Plus+ simply puts more of the valuable nutrition from fruits and vegetables back into your diet to improve health and wellness. Give yourself a better diet and a healthier lifestyle by making one simple choice!

I have no idea what Juice Plus+ can do for your body, but I have been blown away by the impact it has made for my family!  I would love to share more with anyone that is interested and talk with you about how some of the Juice Plus+ products could be incorporated into your daily routine. 

 

Hello! Remember me?

Hello! Remember me?  The blogger that had a baby and fell off the blogosphere!  Life is crazier than ever, but I figured why not add one more thing back in the mix and bring back my blog.  To me blogging is an outlet and it gives me a place to document and revisit all of our adventures. Life moves so fast and I do not want to forget a single moment!

Just a few updates:

• Welcome to “Running a Wade…” After almost 7 years, I guess it is safe to say I am no longer a “Newly Wade”. So out with the old Blogger site and in with the new WordPress site.  (However, all my old posts have been migrated over.)
• #HandsomeHamp is now 2.5 years old!!! (Have I seriously neglected my blog for 2.5 years?!?!)  He loves all things boy, his mama, swimming, singing and sweets!  He brings our family so much joy and we have loved watching him grow from baby to toddler in a matter of months.
• Running is pretty much my life outside of work and family. It is my outlet and my “me” time.  I am setting new goals that are bigger than ever and I cannot wait to share my journey with you through the highs and lows!  Being a boy mom is THE BEST.
• Much to my husband’s excitement, I have finally conquered my fear of the mountain bike. I figured I better get a head start if I want to keep up with Hampton one day. I have just enough confidence and not quite enough skill to be dangerous J  Biking in the trails is exciting, challenging and ever changing.  No two days/rides are the same in the trails.
• I still love to cook and look forward to sharing great new recipes on my blog. However, over the past couple of years we have cleaned up our diet to focus on our nutrition and clean ingredients.  I have struggled through some GI related issues post-partum, and cleaning up our diets has been my one saving grace.  So you may not see some of the canned soup, processed ingredients that were in a lot of my favorite old school recipes, BUT I can assure you that you won’t even miss them.
• Traveling as a family is one of our favorite things to do. Traveling is much more complicated and time consuming with a toddler, but worth every minute!

I am so happy to be back!!! So, come RUN A WADE with me…

Race Recap: 2014 Little Rock Marathon

2014 Little Rock Marathon

Little Rock, AR

March 2, 2014

Official Time: 3:53:38 
  

Today’s run was probably the most miserable run I have ever endured.  I can handle the cold… I can run through the wind… and I deal with the rain BUT all three combined make for one very long, miserably, grumpy run!  I came into the race with no big time goals and no expectations.  Good thing, because nothing went according to plan. 

I left the hotel at 7am this morning in a tank top and CW-X capris.  The temps were supposed to start out in the upper 50’s and drop down to the 30’s by the end of the race. I left my windbreaker with Davis to bring to each stop just in case I needed it.  I got about a block down and realized the wind made it feel much colder then I expected.  I told myself I would be fine once I started moving and continued to make my way toward to starting line.  I arrived in Porto Potty Village about 7:15am and was able to make a quick stop with no wait (side note: the entire race course was plentiful with porto potties and no wait).  As I headed to my corral, the rain began.  It was not heavy, but just enough to get you wet and cold.  I texted Davis and told him I would need my jacket at Mile 1 and trudged on to Corral C.  The longer I stood waiting for the race to begin the colder I became.  My wonderful husband must have read my mind, because he called and was at the starting line with my jacket!  This turned out to be one of the biggest blessings of the day (as I later discovered this to be my only opportunity to get my coat). 

The starting line with buzzing with excitement and nerves.  Everyone was eager to get started and ahead of the looming weather.  After a prayer for the runners and the singing of the National Anthem, the wheelchair runners were on their way.  Like clockwork, the gun sounded for the Elite Runners promptly at 8am and at 8:05 Corral C was released.  The first mile went by quickly and I got to see Davis cheering me on just after mile 1.  I continued on and headed uphill over the bridge for a quick 4 mile loop across the river.  Miles 2 – 4 seemed to drag on and I was just praying that I would mentally settle into my run sooner rather than later.  Around mile 4 the 3:45 pace group caught up to me.  I made the decision to run with them as long as I could, knowing I would probably need to slow down a little towards the end of the race.  Running with the group helped me relax and forget about the long journey ahead.  We headed back across the bridge into downtown and I actually got a little warm, so I tied my jacket around my waist.  In the process, my headphones came out of my ear and I lost of over the over the ear pieces and an earbud cover, leaving me to run the remainder of the race with half functional headphones 🙂  I thought about giving my jacket to Davis when I saw him around mile 5 or 8, but miles 5, 6, 7 and 8 passed and Davis was no where to be found.  I assumed he went ahead to mile 13 for our bottle exchange (the pivotal point of Davis’ support).  I continued on taking a Salted Caramel Gu every 5 miles and downing my Infinit as needed.  I made it to mile 12 after going through a series of rolling hills and felt great.  At this point I started to get cold, so I put the jacket back on.  I pushed through the halfway point with a new half PR of 1:51! 

I could not wait to share my excitement with Davis but as I scanned the crowd, I did not see him anywhere.  He is ALWAYS at the half way point because he knows how important it is.  At this point I slightly panicked… #1 Was Davis okay? and #2 What was I going to do without my 2nd bottle of Infinit?  I looked around and noticed most runners were running without a water bottle and relying on aid station support.  So I stopped at the next aid station and ask them to fill up my bottle with water, crisis semi-averted!  I continued on willing myself to run faster so I could get to the finish line and check on Davis.  There was a long climb from around mile 13.5 –  mile 16.  It leveled off a few times, allowing just enough time to recover, before continuing the upward climb.  What goes up must come down, so I enjoyed (except the pressure on my hips and quads) the mile long downhill.  Mile 17 led the runners down the Arkansas River Trail (a flat paved greenway) to Mile 21… THE TURNAROUND POINT!!!  Those few miles seemed to drag on and I found myself longing to be one of the runners on the other side of the trail, who were headed back in toward the finish line.  Around mile 18 I looked to my left and my hubby had taken to his bike to hunt me down.  He looked just as relieved to see me as I was to see him.  He handed me my bottle and I gave him a quick status update before he headed back to the hotel to change out of his freezing wet clothes and then meet me at the finish line.

It was an awesome feeling to hit to turnaround point.  From that moment on, I knew that I had less than an hour to go and every step was one step closer to the finish line.  I was able to distract myself by watching the other runners.  I kept hoping to see someone I knew so we could cheer each other on., but with all the hats/hoods, jackets and garbage bags, I did not recognize anyone!  By this point in the race, the temperature had dropped noticeably and the rain began to fall steadily.  We were running against the wind, which made the last 5 miles MISERABLE!  I have never been so cold in my life.  My fingers and toes were both wet and so cold that they were numb.  I hit mile 24 and noticed several full marathon runners were being forced to turn off and forgo the 6 miles on the River Trail.  I was a little confused, but a few minutes later a police officer came on his loud speaker announcing that the course was closing due to inclement weather in the area.  He said that buses were headed to the park to pick up runners.  To be honest… I had my janky headphones in and could not hear, so I had to ask a fellow runner who was a little more observant 🙂  I was confused and disappointed but I was determined to keep running until someone made me stop or get on a bus.  (I later learned that he was actually saying the course was closing in one hour- I need to pay better attention)  I could not imagine they would make me quite with less than 20 minutes left, but regardless this gave me the motivation to push through the last 2 miles a little quicker.  There were two short but steep hills in the last mile as we ran next to the river toward the finish line.  As I approached I noticed everyone was walking, but I felt good and just wanted to finish so I jogged up both and felt my watch vibrate signaling 26 miles.  I crossed through the “lipstick” aid station and was handed some awesome Maybelline 24 Lipstick (I had forgotten about this stop and was super confused and thought it was mascara at first).  The last .2 lasted forever, because it was actually .62!!  All the weaving and turns added almost an extra half mile to the course.  I only checked my watch 4 times the entire race (totally unlike me) and I had not looked since mile 18.  I knew I was doing decent and much better than I anticipated but I had no idea just how well.  I picked up my pace and crossed through the finish line strong.  There is nothing sweeter than crossing through a finish line and hearing them call out your name!  The volunteers hung the huge 2.5 pound EPIC medal around my neck… this was one of the biggest drivers in signing up for this race.  After grabbing a warming cape, I stepped to the side to check my Garmin.  I was in complete shock.  I knew I had another sub 4 finish, but I PR’d by almost a minute at 3:53:38.  My goal for the day was just to have fun and run a comfortable pace – not focusing on my time. While I cannot say the day was fun, I can say that every miserable mile was worth the PR and the shiny new bling 🙂

Overall, I give the race an A (despite the weather which is out of the Race Director’s control)!  The course was great with some challenging rolling hills and interesting scenery.  The mile markers and course directions were visible and clearly marked.  The volunteers and aid stations were top notch and the crowd support was amazing.  This is the race for all paces and they even give an early start for runners/walkers that need extra time to complete the course.  The race medals are huge and high quality.  The bling alone make this the perfect motivation for a first time marathoner.  Would I run it again?  Absolutely… I just hope next year’s weather is more favorable!

After a warm shower, a home cooked meal (courtesy of my fabulous Mother in Love) and some stretching/foam rolling, I am as good as new… remind me of that when I wake up sore on Tuesday 🙂

Race Recap: 2014 Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans Marathon

2014 Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans Marathon

New Orleans, LA

February 2, 2014

Official Time: 3:54:28

I want to start this recap out by thanking everyone who supported my efforts as a St. Jude Hero!  I met and exceeded my fundraising goals.  Your love and support mean the world to the children of St. Jude and their families! You are all HERO’s!  My awesome donors: The Martin’s, Cindy Walko, Paul Jewell, The Grantham’s, The Hasselle’s, The VanderSteeg’s, Maryellyn Duncan, Cristina Michta and The Cross’! 

Are you looking for a way to donate?  Check out the link below:
http://heroes.stjude.org/rebeccawade

Davis and I headed down to New Orleans a couple of weeks ago for the Rock n’ Roll New Orleans Marathon. We were so excited for a weekend getaway in a city with beignets, good food and (most importantly) flat roads for running! We arrived in New Orleans around lunchtime on Friday afternoon. Once we finally navigated the downtown traffic and checked into the hotel, the first order of business was a stop at Cafe du Monde. Beignet’s are a perfectly acceptable form of carbo loading, right? After covering myself with a light dusting of powdered sugar, we walked to the Convention Center for Packet Pickup and the Health and Fitness Expo. Packet pickup was quick and organized.  The Rock n’ Roll race organizers really know how to put together a large and fun expo.  There are always so many vendors and great deals.  However, Davis always seems to walk away with more purchases than me J

After winding through each booth at the expo, we headed back to the hotel to rest and make dinner plans!  We decided to try Little Vic’s, a small Italian eatery in the French Quarter.  Our food was fantastic but the highlight was definitely their homemade gelato!  After dinner we made a trek down Bourbon Street and headed back to the hotel to turn in early.  After starting our day running at 5am and driving/walking  all day, we were exhausted!

Saturday morning we had plans to sleep in and venture out for breakfast at The Ruby Slipper Café.   I cannot sleep in for the life of me, so we were up and going earlier than expected.  After getting lost and then discovering that our intended destination was closed, we happened upon the Camellia Grill.  While the establishment is lacking in ambiance, the food and prices were awesome!  The entire restaurant is community-style “bar” tables and almost has a Waffle House feel.  However, rest assured the food is much better!  We spent the rest of the morning walking around Jackson Square and St. Louis Cemetery.  The weather was in the 60’s, sunny and gorgeous!  We enjoyed the warmth after the polar vortex weather we have been experiencing in Memphis.  Davis had one restaurant request while we were in NOLA… Willie Mae’s Scotch House.  It is only open for lunch, so Saturday was our only option.  Famous for their fried chicken and southern soul food classics, I was a little concerned about eating greasy food less than 24 hours before running, but… you only live once!  Davis chose their specialty and I opted for a fried chicken salad.  If you are in NOLA, you must check it out.  We walked… and walked… and walked some more before to find this gem.  BUT the chicken exceeded our expectations and was worth the 5 mile round trip walk and 30 minute wait for a table!  I was a little concerned with the large amount of walking we did that morning, so we went back to the room to rest for the remainder of the afternoon.  We went to an adorable French bistro (Mister Gregory’s) for dinner in the French Quarter.  I opted for my favorite European meal: jambon (ham) and beurre on a baguette!  One bite and I was taken back to our time in Paris last year!  Davis had a decadent grilled Croque sandwich that was topped with melted Gruyere cheese!  This was the clear winner, but I was afraid to order anything greasy after our lunch at Willie Mae’s.  I rarely eat heavy food like that and I sure was not planning to do it twice in one day before trying to race the next morning… so I settled for a bite of his 🙂

I laid out my gear for race day and armed Davis with a course map and specific instructions on where to meet me.  Normally, he bikes from point to point to see me every few mile, but he needed to get a long run in this weekend.  We planned one meeting at the halfway point to swap water bottles, but I would not see him again until I crossed the finish line.  I tend to slow down miles 22-25, so I was hoping that without any distractions, I would be able to push past these last few miles at my normal race pace.  I had been building up New Orleans to finally reach a new PR and goal of a sub 4 hour marathon.  The course was flat, I felt good and I was running for a reason (as a St. Jude Hero).  If I was going to meet my goal, this was my chance.

 I barely slept that night and I was already wide awake when my alarm went off at 4:30am.  I was so anxious to start (and finish) and really wanted to meet my goal!  I quickly showered and ate my standard race day breakfast of a cinnamon raisin bagel with peanut butter and half a banana.  I was so proud to put on my St. Jude Heroes singlet that morning and I was immediately reminded of the reason I was running this race!  After a good luck kiss from Davis, I headed out in search of the Starting Line and Runners Village.  When I walked out of the hotel, it was dark, very foggy and there was a slight drizzle of rain coming down.  The starting line was just over a mile away and it gave me a great opportunity to warm my legs up and get my head focused on the challenge ahead.  We had so many friends running the race, but believe it or not, I did not see a single person I knew until Mile 18!  I was hoping to find a few friends to start the race with, but I was on my own.  I was in corral 5 and before I knew it, I was approaching the starting line.  I was at the very front of my corral, holding the barrier rope.  It was quite an experience to start the race with my toes on the starting line.  This is something I had never done before and being at the front of the pack gave me a burst of energy and excitement. 

After a quick countdown, the race started… I tried to settle into a comfortable race pace early on.  After the mentally exhausting race in Jackson, I knew I had to relax and focus on short term goals, instead of thinking about how many miles I had left.  Typically I drink Infinit Nutrition throughout the duration of the race and down 3 GU’s, one every hour (Miles 7, 14 & 21).  However, I knew needed to arm myself with extra fuel for the final 4 miles, so I decided to change up the routine and take a GU every 45 minutes (4 total).  The first 5 miles went by quickly and before I knew it I hit mile 8 and found my “sweet spot”.  I checked my Garmin for the first time and noticed that my pace was around 8:30.  Thankfully, I was well ahead of the 9:01 pace I needed to maintain in order to meet my goal.  The first half of the course was FLAT as we weaved through the streets of Downtown NOLA and the French Quarter.  The half and full routes run together for the first 12.5 miles and there was not one inch that was not CROWDED!  This was a huge race with over 12,000 participants.  

The half marathon participants turned off around mile 12.5 (why did I choose a full again?) and it finally thinned out a bit.  I could not wait to see Davis at the half way point.  He is always so encouraging and makes me feel like a Rock Star (thanks Babe!).  We quickly traded bottles and shared race stats.  The second half of the course came with a few rolling hills as we headed along City Park and Lakeshore Drive.  However, this was nothing compared to Jackson and did not seem to slow me down.  The weather began to get warm and muggy in the second half.  The light rain and fog continued throughout the entire run and made the day very humid.  However, my legs were feeling fresh and mentally I was so determined to meet my goal that I was not about to slow down until I crossed the finish line.  I reached the turnaround point around mile 19.5 and at that point I knew I needed to keep my current pace and not fall into my usual slump between 22-25.  One of the great things about this out and back section was being able to see friends.  It is always a huge encouragement to see someone you know and to cheer for each other.  It also helps knowing someone else is suffering right along with you 🙂  Misery loves company, right? 

I took my final GU at the turnaround and  told myself that I was not slowing down until I crossed the finish line.  I knew my goal was within reach and I was not going to come this far and lose it at the end.  Every step I took was one step closer to the finish line.  I watched the crowd and the runners on the opposite side of the course for distraction, and before I knew it, I was back in City Park.  As I ran my final miles through the park, I just kept visualizing the finish and Davis’s reaction when he saw me come through under my goal time.  This was the first race that he did not meet me during the second half, so he had no idea how I was doing or feeling.  As I neared the finish line, I could hear the music and the spectators.  I felt great and sprinted through my final half mile.  I glanced at the gun time as I crossed through the finish line and noticed the 4 hour mark still had not hit.  My corral started 5 minutes late, so I knew I had finally hit my goal!   My official time was 3:54:28.  The training and extra push in the final miles were completely worth it.  I was so excited and proud of myself for accomplishing something that I never in my life thought I would achieve!  I have never seen my husband more proud and excited for me.  When they placed the finisher medal around my neck, I just beamed with joy!  People ask me all the time, why I run… and this moment is the reason why!  No words can explain what it feels like crossing the finish line of a difficult race and the feeling NEVER gets old!

The Rock n’ Roll New Orleans Directors put on an extremely well run and supported event.  There were plenty of volunteers, adequate signs/traffic control and a fun course.  It was too bad it was so foggy, otherwise the sight seeing visibility would have been much better!  If you are looking for a relatively flat course to PR on, this is it!  Use the rolling hills in the second half to your advantage and do not let yourself slow down.  my only complaints: the lackluster bands on course (especially in the second half) and the post race transportation.  The course starts downtown but ends in City Park (about 5 miles from Downtown).  We started to run back to our hotel, but noticed they have LOTS of buses to transport runners and spectators back downtown to the starting line.  The line seemed to be moving quickly so we hopped in and waited… and waited… and waited!  By the time we finally got on the bus, 30 minutes had passed and due to the on-course road closures, we took a long round about way back downtown.  My advice, walk or jog yourself back.  We still had quite a ways after this drop off point to make it back to our hotel.  Fortunately, my legs felt good so I was able to run back to shake out my legs a little before the 6 hour drive home.  Would I do this race again?  Probably, but I have a few others on my running bucket list first!

Race Recap: 2014 Mississippi Blues Marathon

2014 Mississippi Blues Marathon

Jackson, MS

January 11, 2014

Official Time: 4:06:42



MS Blues Course Map

With the last minute cancellation of the St. Jude Memphis Marathon in December, I was extremely anxious to find a replacement race so that my training would not go to waste.  So what did I do?  I panicked and signed up for the NOLA Marathon the next morning.  However, a couple of weeks later, I found out that the Race Director for the Mississippi Blues Marathon was planning to reopen registration to accommodate an extra 50 runners… I jumped on the opportunity!  I figured I could use the Blues Marathon as my long training run for NOLA.  The Blues Marathon was on my short list, but I could not imagine running in the cold weather in January (It was rainy and freezing in the 2013 race)!  However I knew that if I was up for running the Memphis Marathon in the single digit temps, that this race could not possibly be any worse. 

At the beginning of race week, my biggest concern was the weather.  It was predicted to be a warm but rainy race day!  I was not sure how my feet and toes would hold up after running in wet shoes.  I stressed about running 4 hours in the rain all week!  Little did I know this would be the least of my worries.  When I woke up Wednesday morning, I noticed that my throat was sore and my chest felt a little congested.  I slammed down some DayQuil and EmergenC and headed to the gym.  As the day wore on, I kept feeling worse and worse.  I actually headed to the Kroger Little Clinic at lunchtime in search of a sinus cocktail shot.  However, they turned me away because they stopped giving injections 😦  I called my doctor and made an appointment for the next morning.  The chills and body aches started mid-afternoon, so I headed home to rest.  Within an hour, my temperature went from 100 to 102!  I knew if I wanted any chance of running on Saturday, that I needed some medicine and FAST!  I felt absolutely horrible.  Davis came home and sent me back to the Little Clinic.  I walked in and the nurse immediately remembered me.  Within 25 minutes the doctor confirmed that I had the flu and a sinus infection.  He sent me home with Tamiflu, Motrin and orders not to run!  He said, “now you have a great excuse to stay inside and not run in the cold!”  I don’t think he understands the mentality of a runner… I am not looking for an excuse to get out of running… I am looking for hope and a reason to run!!  I went home and told a little white lie to Davis… I said “the doctor told me I would be as good a new in 48 hours” 🙂  I was afraid Davis would not let me run if he knew the truth (he was none too impressed when I told him after the race).  I faithfully took my meds, skipped the early mornings at the gym and got as much rest as possible over the next two days.  While I did not feel 100%, I knew I was not going to let a little flu keep me from running this race.

Davis and I headed down to Jackson, MS on Friday afternoon.  Jackson is a quick, straight shot down I-55 from Memphis.  When we arrived, we headed downtown to the Expo.  We were happy to find an abundance of free parking just behind the convention center!  It took about 5 minutes total to determine my race number, pick up my bib, half zip pullover and race bag (Blues CD, Harmonica and the usual swag)!  The expo was pretty small, but was run very efficiently! 

We left the expo and headed to dinner at our favorite restaurant in Jackson, Keifer’s!  Keifer’s is a great little Greek restaurant that has some of the best pita wraps that I have ever tasted!  Davis opted for his usual Beef Kebab Wrap with Mozzarella and I chose the Grilled Chicken Wrap.  Their feta sauce and zazeeki sauce cannot be beat!  AND if you are at Keifer’s you must try the cottage fried potato… it is unlike any potato or fries that I have ever had!  A little untraditional for carb loading, but it was a great meal!  After dinner we headed out to drive the course and make decisions on the places that Davis would meet me along the way.  Driving the course, I noticed the roads were in a less than desirable condition and also seemed quite hilly.  We checked into the hotel around 8pm and I started my pre-race ritual.  After getting a shower and laying out all my race gear for the morning, I was ready to hit the hay.  Unfortunately, our neighbors were just getting started for the night and seemed to quite enjoy playing their music loudly and running up and down the hallway!

Race Morning Gear

While I did not sleep great, I jumped out of bed as soon as my alarm sounded at 5AM!  I was ready to get this race started.  I checked the weather and was pleased to find a clear and sunny 60 degree forecast!  The rain was officially gone… Hallelujah!  I always struggle with what to eat before an out of town race.  At home, oatmeal and fresh fruit is my running staple.  I opted for a fold over peanut butter sandwich and a banana for breakfast (looking back now, I should have eaten a little more).  After mixing up my Infinit, grabbing a quick shower and suiting up, we were out the door! 

We stayed about 15 minutes out from downtown Jackson, so we made sure to arrive early enough to park in the parking garage.  Parking was $5 for the day and the location was conveniently located one block from the start and finish line!  I made a quick stop at the port-a-potty and did a 10 minute warm up jog, before making my way to the starting line.  I noticed there were several pace groups, but it did not look like there were any specific corrals.  I placed myself between the 4:00 and 4:05 groups… hoping to stay in front of the 4:00 group as long as possible.  The gun sounded and we were off.  The first three miles were a quick loop around the downtown area and back through the starting area.  The remainder of the race ran parallel to I-55 on Frontage roads and winded through neighborhoods.  I knew the course was supposed to be hilly, but I did not expect the relentless, unforgiving hills that seem to come one after another. I could not even enjoy the downhills, as I could see the next climb ahead.  I don’t think there was a level piece of pavement on the entire course. I felt great the first 10 miles and was consistently running around an 8:20 pace.  The half turned off around mile 8 and the course was a little quieter.  Once I hit mile 10, the sun was in my face and I started feeling the effects of the flu.  I knew when I started counting down the miles at mile 10, that it was going to be a looooong race.  I questioned myself multiple times and I kept debating walking or quitting.  My body would never give in to my mind thankfully. 

I hit the halfway point with a PR at 1:54.  I was elated to be on par to meet my goal of a sub 4 race.  However, my nutrition seemed off and I started feeling a sloshing in my stomach.  As much as I did not want to, I stopped at mile 16 to go to the bathroom and grab some water.  A minute later I was back on track and thankful to be in the single digit countdown!  Davis biked the course and did a great job of tracking me down every couple of miles for encouragement.  Once I hit mile 20, I knew that I was going to finish and even though I had slowed down to a 9 minute pace, my goal was still in reach.  Miles 23-25 ran next to the interstate and had steeper and longer hills than the rest of the course.  I grabbed some water and walked through each aid station, which is something I never do!  My body was so tired and my splits were over a minute and a half slower than my race pace.  These three miles cost me my goal!  Once I hit mile 25, the end was in sight.  After tackling one last hill at mile 25.5, it was a downhill coast to the finish line.  I was so happy to make the final turn and see the finish line in sight.  I crossed the finish line at 4:06:42 and immediately burst into tears.  This was both mentally and physically one of the toughest runs I had ever completed.  I am so thankful I finished my 2nd Marathon and while I did not meet my goal, I am still the proud owner of a shiny new PR and a top 10 age group finish!  The finishers medal is one of the best medals to date!  The sparkly guitar is over 10 inches tall and a real beauty!

Thankful to cross the finish line.

AMAZING Finisher’s Medal

 Post race, the finisher’s tent was stocked with water, Gatorade, chocolate milk, pizza, soup and cookies!  Unfortunately, I cannot seem to stomach eating much after a long run, so I just enjoyed some chocolate milk for recovery.  We actually made a pit stop back at Keifer’s on the way out of town (I told you it’s our favorite) for Davis to grab some lunch.  Halfway home, I was starving a regretting the decision to pass up a pita wrap!

Overall, the Blues Marathon was well organized and the plethora of volunteers more than made up for the sub par crowd support.  To say the course was hilly is an understatement.  The elevation profile does not look bad, but trust me… the hills are tiring.  The roads were not in the best shape and I found myself dodging potholes and unevenness in the road quite a bit towards the end.  The weather turned out to be fantastic.  At the start of the race it was around 50 and warmed to the low 60’s by the conclusion.  I cannot believe I was wearing a tank top and capris in January!  Would I run this race again?  Absolutely (yes I am a gluten for punishment)!  The location is very convenient and the finisher’s medal is top notch!



Elevation Profile… 929 Feet of Climbing

Race Recap: 2013 RnR St. Louis Marathon

2013 Rock n’ Roll St. Louis Marathon

St. Louis, MO

October 27, 2013

Official Time: 4:14:52

 

Well, the St. Louis Rock n’ Roll Marathon is over!  I have so much to say about it and don’t know where to start, so this will probably end up a little scattered and long.  This was by far one of the most amazing experiences I have ever experienced. 

Summary/spoiler alert: I finished in 4:14:52!  I had a fantastic run and thankfully met my goal!

The Day Before

Davis and I drove to St. Louis on Friday evening and crashed as soon as we got to the hotel.  We stayed at The Courtyard Downtown St Louis and could not have been more pleased with our room and the location.  We were 1 mile from the Start/Finish Line and 1.7 Miles from the Expo.  We woke up well rested on Saturday morning and I was anxious to hit the expo to pick up my bib and race swag!  We walked through downtown St. Louis and stopped for a quick breakfast at Rooster.  I had a bowl of greek yogurt with fresh fruit and granola.  Davis carb loaded (who’s running again?) with a delicious breakfast dish filled with potatoes, eggs, cheese, meat and gravy!  It looked divine, but I did not want to risk an upset stomach on race day 🙂 

I have never been more excited and proud to walk into an expo!  When they asked if I was running the full or half, I almost could not believe the words “Full” came out of my mouth. Was I actually doing this?  After grabbing my bib, I got in line to move up my corral.  When I signed up, I estimated a finish of 4:45, but training went better than expected and I wanted the challenge of a 4:15 finish.  The volunteer at the desk seemed surprised that I would want to move my time up… is this not normal?  We proceeded through the expo, grabbing all kinds of freebies and coupons.  Of course I could not leave the expo without spending some $$$ and taking advantage of a few great deals, so I picked up some Merino Wool Feetures socks, insoles for both of our shoes and a new SPIbelt!

We left the expo and decided to drive the course so I could have a better idea of what to expect and pick out specific places for Davis to meet me.  We finished up the afternoon with lunch, a stop at Trader Joe’s to stock up on Cookie Butter (heaven in a jar), and to grab a couple of bagels from St. Louis Bread Company for race day breakfast!  We headed back to the hotel to rest and plan for the morning of the race.  We decided to venture out to “The Hill” for an early Italian dinner at Anthonino’s Taverna.  We sat at the bar so we could watch the Cardinal’s World Series game and had some of the best ravioli of our life!  St. Louis’ Italian fare definitely did not disappoint.

After dinner, we decided the head back to the hotel and turn in early.  I carefully laid out my gear for the morning and set multiple alarms.  I laid down expecting to toss and turn, but I surprisingly fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

 

Race Day

My alarm sounded promptly at 5:00AM.  I was feeling a bundle of emotions… nervousness… excitement… anxiousness!  After suiting up, fueling up and snapping a few pictures, I kissed Davis for good luck and headed out to make my way to the starting line.  The weather turned out to be absolutely perfect for marathon running, but the morning was rather chilly.  The mile from the hotel made a perfect warm up.  I made a quick pit stop at the port-o-potty and then quickly found Corral 7.   I remember standing in my corral and looking around at all these runners and thinking we must all be crazy.  After singing the National Anthem, the gun sounded and the elite athletes were off.  We inched forwarded as each corral was released and within 10 minutes, there I was crossing the starting line of my first marathon.

It was still fairly dark at the start as we winded around Downtown STL.  We had a magnificent view of the sunset coming up over the famous Gateway Arch.  The first 5 miles of the race flew by.  Davis met me via bike just after the 5 Mile mark where I ditched my jacket and gloves.  I checked my pace and I was somewhere around 9:15.  I was feeling great and trying to relax and not over think the run (or how much longer I had to run)!  There were bands and cheering stations every couple of miles on the course, which were a nice distraction.  I grabbed a Salted Caramel GU around mile 7 and settled into a nice 9:30 stride.  I stopped around mile 11 for a quick bathroom break, knowing that this would be my only stop until I crossed the finish line.  Around mile 12, the “halfer’s” turned off and headed toward the finish line.  The course became ALOT less crowded and a little lonely.  Thankfully my biggest cheerleader was waiting for me at mile 12.5 with a fresh bottle of Infinit and words of encouragement.  He quickly headed back to the hotel to mix up my final bottle of Infinit to pass off to me later in the course.  I grabbed another GU around mile 14 and continued over several rolling hills.  Davis had planned to meet me again at mile 15 before I entered a long stretch in Forrest Park, but my pace was much quicker than we anticipated and unfortunately he missed me! 

Once I entered Forrest Park, it was a long, winding and hilly 7 miles.  This was my least favorite part of the race.  The course would take you to the end of a parking lot and then you had to turn around and come right back out.  On the bright side, you passed so many marathon runners and everyone was shouting out words of encouragement.  When I came out of Forrest Park around mile 22.5, Davis was waiting on me with my final bottle of Infinit and my final shot of GU.  He had planned to bike back to the hotel, throw his bike in the car and jet to the finish line.  However, the course was not too crowded and he decided to bike with me for a few miles, just in case I needed some extra encouragement 🙂  Since he had not seen me in 10 miles, he had no idea what kind of shape I would be in.  I think he was pleasantly surprised to see a smile on my face.

Once I hit the 23 mile mark, I finally let myself start counting down the miles.  Up until this point, I had tried to not even think about how far I had to go.  Thinking about running 26.2 miles is daunting, but if you take it one mile at a time and just zone out and forget that you are running it makes it seem much more achievable.  My legs were feeling great and while I had slowed down a little, I knew the finish line was within reach.  My goal was to push a comfortable pace and enjoy the last few miles.  Once I hit mile 25, Davis headed to the finish line and left me to run in my final mile.  At this point, I ran with absolutely everything I had left.

I remember turning the corner and seeing the Arch at mile 26 and knowing that I was almost done.  I was trying to soak up every last minute.  There were so many spectators and runners lining the sides of the course. I took in the energy of the crowd and was smiling so hard my face hurt.  Just as I was about to cross the finish line, I heard my name and hometown called out over the PA system.  Finally 4 hours, 14 minutes and 52 seconds after I started this race in front of the St. Louis Gateway Arch, I finished with tears in my eyes, a smile on my face, and a tremendously full heart.  This moment is without a doubt one of the best moments of my entire life. 

I was given my finisher medal and quickly shuffled through the finisher area for pictures and some recovery fuel (chocolate milk and banana).  The minute I saw Davis, I threw my arms around him and burst into tears.  You know your husband loves you when your happiness is his happiness.  I truly think he was just as proud and excited about my finish as I was.  I could not have accomplished this goal without the love and support of my husband, family/friends and my amazing running buddies in the Breakaway Marathon Training group!

Most of the day was pretty surreal, but I will never forget that moment running through the finish line, thinking about how far I’d come and knowing that, yes, I’d just run 26.2 miles!

Meet me in St. Louis!

One month from today, I will conquer one of my biggest fears and, god-willing, cross one of my biggest physical accomplishments off my bucket list.  I am officially registered for the St. Louis Rock N’ Roll Marathon on October 27th! It will be my first full marathon!  I have so many emotions that seem to change by the hour.  I am anxious, excited, scared, proud and honestly just plain shocked that I am so close to reaching a goal that I never thought I would actually cross off my list in my lifetime!

 

 

 

I would have told you that you were crazy if you told me I would be running a full marathon a year ago.  Davis and I completed the St. Jude Half Marathon is 2009, but did so with a run/walk strategy, clocking in at just over 3 hours.  I never in my life thought I could run an entire 5K without walking, much less complete a half marathon in 2 hours and hopefully soon a full marathon!

 

I had been training for months running the same course every week, but I finally bit the bullet and joined Breakaway’s Saturday morning running group.  I never saw the purpose of running with a group, but now I get it… This amazing group has pushed me outside of my comfort zone and has supported me at every mile.  If it was not for this group, I do not think I would have ever pushed myself to run more than my standard 10 mile course.  I have gone back and forth for months, wavering on whether or not I was ready for a marathon.  I missed the registration cutoff for several races close to Memphis, but after a great run on Sunday, and with some loving encouragement from my hubby, I bit the bullet and signed up before I could change my mind again!

 

The Marathon course highlights many of St. Louis’ scenic neighborhoods, historic areas and parks with several lots of rolling HILLS 🙂  There will be a live band at every mile and the course will finish downtown in front of the St. Louis Arch!  So wish me luck and send up a few prayers that I am able to thrive both mentally and physically on Race Day!  The countdown is on… 30 days!