Tomorrow is our longest run with the Dave's Marathon in Training Group. Glass City is in 4 weeks! *Cue butterflies*

As many know, Jim's first 1/2 marathon will be at Glass City (Owen's Corning 1/2 Marathon). I had signed up for the full marathon, initially... but when he decided to run the 1/2... the thought of being on the course and MISSING his first major race -especially after his sickness- left me torn! I found the Canton race, the following weekend after Glass City. I decided to run the 1/2 with Jim (his pace/ his race) and do Canton as my race the following weekend. I am concerned about the elevation in Canton. The distance of 26.2 is difficult enough without adding elevation (that we don't have here). While I am training with a 4:05 pace group, I will not be holding myself to a time goal in Canton-- because of the elevation. My goal is to have a strong race & finish ANYWHERE between 4:05 to 4:20. While Canton's elevation gain is less than many western trail races, it's still more elevation than we have in any Toledo road race.

That said: my marathon is really 5 weeks away. While the training group has a 22 mile run, tomorrow. I am wondering if I should do 19 (that I couldn't finish, last week) or try for the 22. The podiatrist performed a small surgery in my left foot, this week. There is a significant "chunk" out of the bottom of my foot where he "removed a foreign object" that I explained I thought was a sliver of mulch from last summer. I had performed my own (numerous) surgeries then had my local doctor also try to remove it. He finally took care of it & left me QUITE tender footed! I have been putting double Band-Aids on it for training runs, this week. A long run may require a bit more padding. The podiatrist also removed a toenail from my right foot. It was bruised & very tender. I was waiting for it to grow out so I could clip it shorter.  Before removing my socks, I apologized in advance for my "runner feet." While my feet aren't super gnarly, they aren't pedicured, either. There are super short toenails, no polish & nothing girly. The doctor probed with questions about my training, my mileage, what race I was preparing for, etc.

I came to find out, my new podiatrist is a marathon runner! He has run several until he was recently diagnosed with MS. My heart sank when he told me this. He told me about running the New York marathon this past Fall. "I wanted to try on more with MS..." He explained how difficult is was, now, & how the wheels started coming off at mile 8.  My heart was empathetic. It is the news that no runner ever wants to get & the diagnosis that every one of us would keep trying to defy.

While I was empathetic to his condition, he was also empathetic to mine. He didn't want to 'disrupt my training too much by being too aggressive with his treatment.' That said: He shaved the callous off the bottom of my foot to remove the pressure from my left foot & proceeded to clip, clip, clip my tender right toe nail. I explained my sore feet were part of the reason I couldn't finish my 19 miler the previous Saturday. I almost started crying in the chair as I questioned the rest of my training getting side railed because of a stupid sore spot on each foot. He reassured me, took care of business & distracted me with training questions as I tried not to watch the scalpel approaching the bottom of my foot. Before I knew it, he was finished & commented on how tight my feet and calves were. We discussed stretching, yoga & training. He told me how to proceed until I came back to see him in 10 days.

UNTIL those 10 days, I have two long runs scheduled. I am THINKING that I may try for a 19 miler this weekend & a 22 miler the following weekend. This will peak my mileage & follow the training plan a bit closer to my actual (personal) race after Glass City. I will SLOWLY do mileage this weekend & see where the cards land (& how my feet hold out). 19 miles is the goal with anything more as icing on the cake.

I have a plan... I'm wiser to gear & pace. I'm nervous & excited to try, this weekend. I can't say that I will qualify for Boston, this year. I CAN see me qualifying for Boston, eventually. Running with the training group has held me accountable. It has taught me about speed work and given me a mental toughness I never had before. I still doubt myself; but I am realizing that I am a LOT stronger than I was a season ago! I also have the advantage of another runner in the family, now. WHAT A BOOST this has been to my own training! Having Jim along for some of my miles has been a real relief. I've been doing this running stuff solo for so long. It was great at the beginning. I needed the alone time when our kids were small. Now, I need the time with my husband & there is nothing better than confiding in your spouse, that also happens to be your running partner, on a run. Eyes ahead... planning your future... planning a race... grateful for every anxious, hilly, sweaty mile...

I posted on Facebook that I had my first DNF (Did Not Finish) training run, this past Saturday. I am getting belly-floppy right now just thinking about it. It was supposed to be a 19 miler. While I was confident that I could do the mileage, I knew "while" I was running that I needed not be be doing some stuff differently. I took a caffeine pill 15 minutes before we started our run. This is nothing new. I don't drink coffee but I do like a good caffeine kick. I could feel it kicking in during the run. It's normally gradual but I could feel when it got into my system. I took in a full lung full of air & felt my lungs fill to capacity early in the mileage. I wanted to keep a 10:20-ish pace. I tried staying with the group but they were at 11 min. I couldn't go that slowly. I left them & just slowly brought my pace up-- 10:45... 10:30... 10:15... 9:55... 9:45... Yikes! I tried slowing down but it felt so easy & effortless. After 10 miles, we met back at the shelter house. We dropped off the 1/2 marathoners & the marathoners were supposed to head out for another 9. In theory I should have been able to do it. In hindsight there were things I should not have done-- but I PURPOSELY did to "check" if I could. I remember thinking I would "try it today & check if I can do it for race day." In hindsight, I'm glad I tried it during a training run rather than on race day.

Mistake one: calf compression sleeves. I am an XS Zensah calf sleeve girl in the truest recovery sense of the word. On trail runs in the summer, however, I bought some large Zensah sleeves strictly for protection against thorns & grass "slashes". Nothing is worse than itchy grass cuts while you're sweating on a trail run. I wanted to know if last April's Glass City Marathon calf cramps were due to a different brand's calf sleeves cutting at my knees. Was it the brand or the compression? These Zensah sleeves were loose & being worn for warmth only. I find them invaluable on track night!!! How would they fair on a cold Spring day? They kept me warm but I don't think I need compression on a long run. I should have (& know better, now) worn capris on a cool day. That works for me. I see many wearing their own compression & it works for them. It works on shorter distances but it doesn't work for me. That said the Zensah arm sleeves were perfect, Saturday.

Mistake 2: knowing I was going too fast for a long run & thinking "just get it done", anyways. I have had a yucky feeling this week. I didn't know if it was a mild flu or (Jim says) allergies & sinus drainage. 🤢 Either way, I knew it & had control of my pace. I threw caution to the wind & it didn't work with the other factors against me.

Mistake 3: my feet. I have had a "sliver" in my foot since last summer. I have tried performing numerous surgeries on myself but have found nothing. Last month, I finally went to my doctor. She shaved off the callous & didn't see anything either. The callous has returned & there is a very tender spot on my left foot. I double Band-Aid it to no avail. I called the doctor, again, & she has referred me to a podiatrist. That's good because I'm having them look at a couple more spots. I had another encounter with frostbite, again, this year, on my left foot. It hurts as it was mild... My right foot had the tender toe nail that I double Band-Aided. It is what made me stop during my run & ultimately made me so cold I couldn't start running again.

Mistake 4: new shoes-- same brand, same style, same COLOR as previous shoes but these were laced a bit tighter than my others. It made my tender toenail amplified in discomfort. Nothing that tweaking these shoes cant fix... except that I didn't.

I feel bad that I didn't finish my 19 miler. People slower than me, did. I AM glad that I can still fix these mistakes & I'm glad that I tried these gear items on a training run. 19 miles is a long time to try your race day strategy. I did & have a plan of do's & do not's.

This week, I'm getting into that podiatrist. If such small discomforts are eating so much of my focus-- then I need to free up that focus for pacing.

I need to see the good in this DNF & regroup. I still have a few weeks to save face. I worry enough as it is. This race doesn't mean anything to anyone more than it does to myself. I just want to feel strong & comfortable as long as I can. The discomfort is inevitable. Staying mentally focused is my real strategy. Getting my "ducks in a row", now, means trial & error to see what needs to get fixed, tweaked, dumped & replaced. I'm still in a good place. 👍🏼

Canton is one week after Glass City. If I consider this week a duplicate of last week's training schedule, technically I'm still on track. If I can do 22 next week- nothing lost. If I only get 19 during Ed Dibble, I'm still on track & will do 22 the following weekend. I find comfort in a plan. 💕

Track work out: I was a bit nervous at the thought of it. We had "ladder" Intervals: 1600/1200/1000/800/600/400
I have been able to do the other work outs; so, I took some caffeine & drove to the track. I was surprised at the ease of tonight's workout! I'm not sure if our (new) pacer, tonight, was going easy on us... or if it was the caffeine. It was possibly both. 😁 As we got to our last set we all wanted more! It was a free for all & we just cranked out whatever sprint we had left! There was no pace except a personal "mad dash finish" pace. It felt awesome!!! --I just can't believe how much I love track night. It was a huge cause of anxiety at the beginning. Now it is a confidence builder knowing I have hit these fast times with my group. I'm still reluctant to hit it hard at a 5K but I KNOW I have it in me. That is huge for me-- believing in my abilities. I was thinking about how I was screaming in my head, two weeks ago, 'I can't do this..." then I DID do it! It gave me confidence to do the PI race, last week... & it gave me confidence to show up this week. I am so excited to see how far I can still go this training cycle & then build on it the next training cycle. --What a difference to have a plan, guidance & a pacer! I'm feeling the strongest I've ever felt and biting at the bit to go faster & "hurry" the process to go farther while faster. Considering this is my first training group, I know it will take time to build on this training & get the results I want; but, I am eager to keep going! I'm not even done with this season & im looking forward to many more! 💕

Every week, I look at my training plan, on my refrigerator door. I refer to it often, during the week. --Every week, there is satisfaction as I move my little Post-It, sticky tab down a week to easily identify which week I'm "in." --Little by little, my heart quickens as I see the tab moving farther down the list to the finish... closer to race weekend.

That said: let's consider & plan, if you haven't already, race day weekend. :) I HIGHLY recommend downloading the RaceJoy app if you have a smart phone. It is a wealth of information and will make you aware of "everything" from road closures, bib number(s), expo time & location, course maps, countdown to race day, etc. It is knowledge at your fingertips as soon as you need it. That's a good thing!

Many of us are local. For those coming into town, provisions have been made to find you a place to rest.
RESERVE A ROOM AT A GCM PARTNER HOTEL

Are you coming into town early or staying for awhile, afterwards? Looking for something to keep you or the kids busy?
RACE WEEK ENTERTAINMENT

If you are a merchant and would like to sell your goods or services at the expo, provisions for that are also available. HEALTH & WELLNESS EXPO VENDORS

What next? Expo time! Numerous merchants will be on hand to offer services, races, memberships, race gear, etc. This is always a fun time to shop for races and gear.
HEALTH & WELLNESS EXPO — RACE DAY PACKET PICKUP & REGISTRATION

At the expo on Saturday, there will be more than packet pick up & gear to look at!
MEET THE UT FOOTBALL PLAYERS
WATCH THE AGILITY ANGELS DOG SHOW
FINDLEY DAVIES KID’S MARATHON
I must admit, I enjoyed the KID'S EXPO, as well! Information, organizations and activities geared toward kids will also be on site to help keep our young athletes and parents informed.

Other valuable information you can find on the Mercy Health Glass City Marathon webpage: where to eat! :) Toledo is known for having many places to eat. A few places are offering discounts! Visit any of the restaurants listed, during race weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and receive a 20% discount off your meal. You must wear your official event shirt, or your finisher medal from any of this year’s Glass City Marathon events.
RESTAURANTS OFFERING GCM DISCOUNTS!!!

Race Day: Mercy Health Glass City Marathon will have OFFICIAL PACERS COURTESY OF DAVE’S RUNNING.

And the reward for your training is...? Knowing you are helping local charities is always a "feel good." TOLEDO AREA NONPROFIT PARTNER FUNDRAISING  -Not to mention going to bed with self satisfaction that you accomplished something AMAZING! Some serious bling around your neck doesn't hurt, either! (I heard the medals are really BIG, this year. Who doesn't want heavy hardware?!)

As I finish a week of training, I feel grateful. I am grateful that I am involved in a sport with a supportive community. I am a mid-packer. I am slower than some & ahead of others. I will be a face in a crowd that most will never notice or remember. I will not likely ever be in the elite starting corral. So WHY do I continue to train? I have thought about this long & hard. During some especially tiring times, I question "why?" --I heard it explained this way: 'Running is the pursuit of mastery... but never really mastering...' --I have incremental goals. When I get near it, I want it more. Eventually, after time, I reach that goal. I am happy for just a tiny amount of time before I "need" to push past it. A new goal is set, quickly; and, I often have a race on my schedule to hold me accountable to a training schedule. I am ever pursuing faster times and longer distances. I hope you are, too. 

Sunday, April 23rd is approaching quickly! Wrap up your plans to join us at the starting line. A lot of organizing is going into this event to make it "top notch"... just for YOU! :)  Hoping your many miles lead you here.

The Mercy Health Glass City Marathon is approaching. Have you signed up? Did you sign up for the Owens Corning 1/2 marathon, Yark Marathon Relay, Medical Mutual 5K...? Did you sign your kids up for the Findlay kid races?

Why do you race? Why do WE race? Will you qualify for the Olympics? Most of us would answer 'no.' -Does it change you? Most of us would answer 'yes.' Physically & mentally we become stronger. Does it make you a better person? Again, most of us would answer 'yes.' Many of us learn "grit." A tenacious resilience to get stuff done. Many of us learn joy- an "overall" positivity despite not always being happy in the cold or wind of daily training.

Training for a race keeps us on track for big goals in a month, a year & life long achievements.

How do you track those goals? Do you publicly share those goals?

Our local race has partnered with RaceJoy. RaceJoy is an app that you can download onto your smart phone. It allows people to get updates on your progress during race day. There is a free version as well as an upgraded version that allows friends & family to send you cheers along the way. It is a good way to receive race updates (expo time & location to information about road closures) as race day gets closer.

If you haven't already done so, download your free app in preparation for April. They call it "Race--Joy" for a reason. We are all joyful that we get to be part of the race... in the midst of the action... reaching goals, being happy as a community of runners & cheering each other on...

MORE INFO on the RaceJoy app & DOWNLOAD

Oh My Gosh- I did it! I thought I might have to walk or bail early, today. I didn't know what I'd be able to do after my chiropractor appointment, yesterday. I was SO COLD at the start, I could barely move. My toes & hands were freezing & were HURTING. I knew I would feel warmer after we started running & I didn't want to overdress for the run- that's worse than a cold start! -My calves were a giant cramp the first three miles & I just "held on" to the group. I figured I couldn't do sub 10's, today. I was just too tight. I opted to stay with my  original pace group averaging 10-10:30's for the long runs. At a water stop, some stopped. Some kept going. The 1/2 marathoners were running slightly sub 10 minute miles. I ran with them for a bit; but, I had to tell myself to "let them go." They were almost done & only had 10. I was going to have to run another 8 after we dropped them off. We regrouped in the parking lot & 3 of us, plus our coach, left for another 8 miles. We ran on State Route 64 (!!!) & some other busy country roads but our coach kept us safe & against traffic. I had plenty of energy thanks to #tailwindnutrition. No low spots in energy & no bonking or gut bombs. I find if I pack my #orangemud hydraquiver, I can easily take a few sips every mile. Yes- every mile insures I never run out of calories. 3 scoops of Tailwind in my bottle makes sure it has enough calories & is easy to swallow, unlike choking down gels. :p I wanted to surge a few times; but, part of training is using your brain to figure out strategies. I knew if I surged, I may tailspin, early. I ALSO thought about safety. If I left my group (3 guys) I'd be a solo runner on some country roads without my pepper spray or pistol. Stay WITH my "body guards" & I'd  likely have no problems. I stayed tucked in the middle of the pack, unless we were on quiet roads, then I moved next to Coach Eric. I'm so short compared to them, I couldn't see anything but their feet & shirt- not a great view for 8 miles. I didn't need to prove anything today, except to myself-- that I could do the distance, slowly, with no walking. Mission accomplished! Thanks to Jenifer Wiles for a FANTASTIC peanut butter bar waiting for me at  the finish. (Jim wants me to get your recipe.)  I figured out awhile ago that if I "cruise" I can keep going & going. I questioned it today. This cycle of training is making me realize I need to #TrustTheTraining I am training better than ever. I'm feeling strong even during a usually funky week. I can't wait for next week! <3

Late work night + late to bed + early rising for school drop offs = wanting to nap. I have a full schedule before work tonight, so I did my run before getting Jillian & then taking her to UT. It's silly the head games I need to play sometimes; but, they work despite me already knowing my intentions. 😜 I had 7-8 miles. I made a deal to only do 7. I didn't want to do that... so, I made a deal to "start." I didn't want to do that, either... Next deal: "Only do one 3 mile loop. (Making it less intimidating) It's only 'one'." I hoped I'd change my mind. I did. I took a couple of pictures, gave myself permission to go slowly & tried to cheer myself on in my mind. It worked. 7 miles done. ✅

During my run, I was reflecting on biomechanics. Contemplating only being able to go "so far" because of the way your leg bones grew in your hip sockets is demoralizing... & a "I beat the odds this far" story. I was jumbled, emotionally.

I still have a Jillian drop off at UT after lunch, physical therapy, a Jillian pick up then work.

While I'd love to qualify for Boston, someday... while I'd love to do an Ironman... while I'd love to do really long ultras... the ONE thing that matters most to me more than ALL of those is this: to keep running until I'm old... REALLY old... If it means going slowly, today, I will. I did. 👍🏼