Color Run 2013

I will admit that I have fallen off the running bandwagon a bit. I have only run a handful of times this summer (usually with the help of a dear friend, who encouraged me through running playdates with our kiddos). Today was one of the few. Way back, when I first started running, I put out feelers for friends/family who would want to join me in running the Color Run. At the time, it was 6 months-ish away, and I wanted to sign up to make sure I would stick with it through the summer. Although it didn't keep me running all summer long, it did help motivate me today!

The "Before" shot.

My mom, three of my sisters, and I got up bright and early this morning, pumped and ready for some fun! When we got there, it was a zoo. Hundreds of cars lined the freeway off-ramp, and every street there after. The parking lot was also filling fast, and we were almost an hour early for the first wave of runners. As we walked to the starting line, I began to get excited (as I always do before races). I couldn't contain it, so I bounced, sang, and danced to the music while we waited.

Since I was the only one in the group with any race experience, we decided to take it as it came. Run as much as possible, but take breaks along the way. They all did awesome!! Every single one of us ran across the finish line, and we did it with multicolored bodies and big toothy smiles.

If you are interested in participating in this run in the future, I have a couple of things to share.

#1- It's a blast!
#2- Wear glasses and possibly something over your mouth, the powder goes everywhere.
#3- Don't sign up for this one, if you're looking for a race to be timed and seriously run. Each of the color check points really slows you down, and because there are SO MANY people, it's very difficult to run at full speed.
#4- Bring the kiddos! If I would have known how kid-friendly this race is, Liam would have been running along side his mama. You can avoid the powder check-ins, if you're worried about the kids getting blasted (because they will!).
#5- Plan to stay awhile, or take the MAX. Next year, we plan to bring a bbq and have an after-race tailgate party afterwards. It took us almost an hour and a half to get out of the parking lot.
#6- Bring a change of clothes, towels, plastic bags, etc. The powder gets EVERYWHERE, and unless you want a multicolored car, you need to plan ahead.
#7- No matter how much you plan ahead, no matter how much you try, you will not be clean when you leave the track. I've taken a shower, a bath, spot scrubbed, and washed my hands several times throughout the day, and I still keep finding patches of neon green.

After!

The Color Run is a blast, it was an experience I'll never forget, and it was a wonderful way for my mom, my sisters, and I to have fun and be active together.

Best. Run. Ever!

Yesterday, I set off on my run with every intention of it being an average run. Average in route, length, time, pace....everything. It didn't turn out that way at all! As I ran one of my usual routes, I was feeling more worn out than usual, and I thought about cutting it short. I pushed myself past hill #1, which hit at about mile 2. As I neared hill #2, I wished I would have turned around. I was exhausted, my son was getting over, yet another fever, and my boys would be waiting on me for dinner. I decided I would get up this second hill (because, at this point, it was the quickest route home), then I would cut through the nearest neighborhood and head home.

As soon as I stepped on the little wooden bridge that signals that the incline is about to begin, I heard a skateboard coming up behind me. I moved over to let them pass, but I quickly realized that they were not passing me, they were keeping pace with me. When I turned to take a peek, I realized it was one of my past students, and he was looking at me. Awkward!

6.9 mile run

I said, "Hello." and fully expected a quick "Hi.", followed by him speeding on his way. Once again, did not happen. The boy said, "Hello, Mrs. Brooks! How are you?". I answered by telling him I was good and happy to be out and about. He then proceeded to tell me (me running, him skateboarding, together) how much I had changed his life. How he never liked school until he walked into my classroom. How he was actually excited for high school because of a love for reading, which he said he picked up while in my class. He ended the conversation by saying, "You will always be my favorite teacher!" and speed off.

I was shocked, touched, and rejuvenated. Not only had I run up the dreaded hill without a second thought, but I was in tears, and felt amazing. I ended up running just under seven miles (my longest, by far), with a pace around eight and a half minutes (a great pace for me), and I made it home with more energy than I had all day. I'm so glad I went on that run, that I stuck it out, that I saw that student, that I ran so far and so fast. I'm just glad!

An Unexpected Victory

When I got off work today, I was sad and excited all at once. Today is my last day of teaching this year's group of 6th graders, and it's always a bittersweet milestone. As I walked to my car, feeling a bit emotionally confused, my phone signaled that I had a voicemail. I got in my car, turned it on, and listened to the message. It was left by a women who helps to facilitate the Portland Park and Recreation $5 5Ks that I have been participating in. She began by saying, "I have some exciting news for you!"

My first thought, "They are taking me off the waitlist for the next run, and I finally have a secure spot." That would have been great news, but what she had to tell me was even better! She continued by saying that a women who had crossed the finish line before me, had accidentally finished after only two laps around the park. She then went on to explain, that this was great for me because this woman had been named the 3rd place runner in the women's division. Her mistake meant that I was actually the 3rd place runner in the women's division!!!

My first award for running!

She left me her contact information and told me to give her a call. When I got home, I called her back, at which point she informed me that I not only earned the 3rd place title, but that she had a medal to send me! I'm still a bit in shock over the whole thing. I started this running journey less than 3 months ago, as a slow, sporadic runner at best. I would have never thought I would come in 3rd place in a race!

It's funny! I didn't even stay for the award ceremony, never have, the thought never even crossed my mind! Now, I know I should. Maybe there will be more medals in my future; maybe I should consider myself a competitor in the races that I run. Man. I thought I was addicted to running before, now my competitive nature has been awakened. Runners beware!

Running Guilt

When I first started running, I was doing it to get a break from my hours of mommy time. Since going back to work (and even a little before), finding guilt-free running time has been like searching for the one specific Iron Man toy in the super hero aisle at Target......almost impossible.

Liam running his first 1K

Now that I'm back to work, my time with my boys seems far less stressful, but also a lot more precious. I already miss them so much when at work-even though I enjoy my work time more than I ever thought someone could enjoy a "job". As if going back to work wasn't enough to cut my running time down, my cubs and I have been passing around new, debilitating germs, that keep hanging on. What began as sniffles, turned into our first household ear infection, which was exhausting to deal with, and our sleep patterns have yet to return to normal.

Yesterday, we got Nolan on medication for his ear infection as well as his Eczema. He was happy-go-lucky all day....until I put on my running shoes, that is. Then the meltdown occurred and once again, I was rocking and cuddling an inconsolable infant. As I sat, bouncing my Teddy Bear up and down, shushing him, I started to feel guilty all over again. This time it was due to my goals and commitments to running. I have been slacking.

Although I made it through a 10K on Sunday, I somehow feel as though I didn't earn the right to finish it. I haven't been able to run consistently for almost a month, and I feel horrible about it. I committed to running 50 miles by mid-June and 100 by the end. Will I meet that goal? Probably not....and that feeling sucks. I'm proud to call myself a runner, I enjoy my time spent pounding the pavement, but how in the world do working moms do it?

I'm hoping I return to my previous running schedule when school gets out in two weeks, but by then some of my goals will be past due, and I'm worried I will have a lot of ground to make up. I want to run without feeling guilty about leaving my boys, I want there to be a "good" time to leave them, I want to meet my running goals, I want to have "me" time, I don't want to feel guilty for missing out on a workout, or two, or thirty.

Frustrated.

Rum Run 2013

Yesterday, I did the second hardest thing I have ever attempted (right behind being a parent). Running my first 10K! It was absolutely awesome!! But my day didn't begin that way. Here is how it went:

Nolan sleeping through it all!

I went to bed early Saturday night, to prepare for my first big race. So I should have been well-rested. Well, if I didn't have a toddler with a hacking cough and a 4 month old that thinks he needs to eat every two hours, I may have been well-rested. Unfortunately for me, not my situation. When Nolan (my littlest guy) woke up at 6 am, I was still pretty exhausted, but my excitement for the day got me up and ready.

Once again, things didn't go as planned. My husband overslept, my three year old was grumpy, and no one was ready to leave when we were supposed to be half way there. You could say I was a tad stressed at this point. I had been preparing, visualizing, and worrying about this day, since I signed up for the Rum Run in March, and I was not about to miss it!

Finally, we arrived at Tualatin Lake, where the race was being held. Nolan nursed, Liam had a snack, Joe packed the boys and the various supplies needed to keep to boys happy and entertained for an hour, into the stroller, and I headed over to check out the area and use the restroom (a must before any big race!). As the starting line began to fill with runners that looked far more prepared than I, my nerves started to get the best of me.

Liam cheering for the runners

My husband and I after the race

As a lifelong, competitive swimmer, I thrive off of the starting line jitters. It was actually kind of comforting that I was going through such familiar emotions. The race was so packed, that it had to have three start times, each a minute after the one before. To decide which wave you were a part of, you had to pick the section which corresponded to your usual pace. The first wave was under 9 minutes, the second 9-10 minutes, and the last wave was for runners whose pace is 10 minutes or longer. Since I have been running with a pace of nine to nine and a half minutes, I chose the second wave of people. I was nervous the whole time, that I made the wrong choice.

The run itself was quite a challenge. It was a mix of paved roads, dirt trails, paved trails, downhill, and uphill (the biggest incline being in the last mile of the race). Throughout the whole race, I had to remind myself that this was my chance, that this is what I have been training for, that I would be so proud if I could just make it to the end, without any walking, and with a time less than an hour. These were my goals. I wasn't sure that I could do it; that they were even possible for this newbie runner, but I was sure going to give it my all!

Liam and I

The race to the finish!

As I rounded the lake that would lead me to the finish line, I was so pumped up and proud of myself, that I was able to full-out sprint the last minute or so. This is shocking considering how exhausted I was. When I came around the last curve, I saw the clock counting closer and closer to the one hour mark. I had made it this far (without even a second of walking), and I was going to reach all three of my goals, even if it meant puking at the finish line. When I stepped over the line, the clock read 59 minutes and some change. I had done it!

But it all got even better! After this particular race, you are treated to a mojito, a beer, and a chicken and rice dish from a local Hawaiian restaurant. It was 9:30 in the morning when I entered the beer garden, and I'm not ashamed to say it! I earned every drop of that drink. I gave my beer to my husband, we all shared the yummy chicken, and Liam got a free smoothie from Jamba Juice.

My yummy reward

Run a 10K......check!

When we got home, I thought that my day couldn't get any better. Then I decided to check the website for my official race time. I had completely forgotten that I was in the second wave of runners, and that my time was actually a whole minute faster than I thought! I ran a 58:41 10K!! That gives me a pace of 9:28 a mile. I was shocked, and proud of my surprising accomplishment.

I decided to rest up today, but I'm even more motivated to keep running, get better, get faster, go longer, do more challenging runs, and smash through more goals! I have my sights set on a half marathon in October (thanks to friends who are forcing me to sign up) and the Hood to Coast next year (maybe this year even-I'm an alternate on a friend's team....eeek!). I can't believe how far I have come since starting this new endevour on March 14th. Running is awesome, and being a runner is one of the best decisions I have ever made!

First 5K Today, First 10K in a Week

Sunday was my first official race. I participated in the first of the seasonal Portland $5 5Ks. It was held at Fernhill Park in NW, and it was amazing! The park was beautiful, there were lots of fun things for the kiddos to do, there was a 1K run for little ones (which Liam participated in), and the run circled the park and required three laps.

Although I was a bit surprised that the run was not paved, I loved every second of it! Trail running is so much more difficult than running on a paved sidewalk, but it also offered some wonderful scenery and a bit more of a challenge. I'm glad that I didn't plan to take Liam in the jogger this time, it would have been a bit of a rough ride.

Speaking of Liam, he did a great job on his first run! He didn't finish the race, but he sure gave it his all, and he was all smiles. I'm so proud of my little man. I will check into the remainder of the $5 5Ks to see which will be run on a paved path, and Liam will join me on those. It was so nice to have the support of my boys today. They positioned themselves in a way that they would see me, wave, and cheer each time I finished a lap, and they were waiting for me at the finish line.

I'm proud of myself for sticking with running as long as I have, and for being an active, healthy role model for my boys. I'm also proud that I ran my first race with a time of 28 minutes flat (way better than I expected)! Next Sunday is my big 10K. I'm a bit nervous for it, as it is twice as long as Sunday's race. However, I have run practice 10Ks several times, this race is mostly paved (if not completely), and once again, my boys will be there cheering me on. I know I can do it!

Being a runner is awesome!!

Becoming a Runner, After Babies

I have always wanted to be a runner. When I was a kid (like most people), it came easy. I was fast too! But swimming became my sport of choice, and since it is year-round, I never got into running. I tried again about a year before having Liam. It didn't work. I was able to keep it up for a couple of weeks at the most. Once again, I tried after Liam was born, but being a mommy was exhausting and an imbalanced Thyroid was draining any energy I had left. This time, I have stuck with it for almost two months, and I love it!

I started running mainly to get my body back into pre-baby shape/weight after having baby #2, and although this is still a wonderful perk, I now do it because I enjoy it. I can't put my finger on what has made running "easier" to stick with this time around, but there are quite a few things that are different about the situation, and I'm sure they have all contributed to my success.

Here are some things that seem to have helped me to become a runner after having two handsome boys:

Liam and I on our first run together

1. Sign up for races. This has helped me to stay motivated and pick up the pace since the beginning. About a week after starting to run, I signed up for a 10k. I knew it would be hard to go from a non-runner to a 10k in a little over two months, but by reaching for such a high goal, I have been motivated to add more distance to my runs, as well as quicken my pace.

2. Connect with Other Runners. Join running groups, make running dates, sign up for runs together. All of these situations help to hold you accountable, as well as make the workouts fun. Since becoming a runner, I have joined three running groups, which has been invaluable in many ways. They motivate me to be better, they give me advice, and they give me opportunities to run with others.

3. Think of it as a Break. I get ready for my run about a half an hour before my husband gets home. The second he walks in the door, I'm gone! I think of my runs as my baby-free time. Since I go as soon at my husband comes home, I don't have time to talk myself out of it. I think that it was key to my success, that I started this while still being home on maternity leave. This was the time where I felt like I needed the break from my boys the most. Then I got into the pattern, and it has just became the schedule.

4. Start Slow, but Build Up Quickly. My first run was a little over a mile, with 3-4 walking breaks. I was slow and exhausted by the end, but each day I ran just a little bit more and tried to cut out my walking spurts. Within two weeks, I had run a 5k, but still had some walking breaks. In another two weeks, I was going a little less than 5 miles, but with no breaks. And now, about two months into it, I have run several 10ks without stopping.

5. Run Where You will be Kept Accountable. Not everyone can do this, or would want to, but I'm a teacher in the town I live in. I purposefully run in neighborhoods where my students live. You might think I'm crazy, but I do this for two reasons: 1. I will keep my form in check if I know someone may be watching me. 2. When I pass people I know, I work harder. I don't want to look like an idiot, and I don't want to look slow, so seeing people keeps me focused. Also, waving to people as I run, or having co-workers honk as they drive by, makes me feel good about what I'm doing. It's great motivation, if you can get past looking hot, sweaty, and disheveled around people you know.

6. Keep a Schedule. I decided that two days on, one day off, would be the best schedule for me. It worked well for motivation, with my family needs, and keeping my body going. Some days, I replace a run with a long walk with the family, but I'm active both days that I'm scheduled to run.

7. Join MapMyRun.com. I love this site. It's a great tool for tracking progress, keeping to your schedule, sharing your activity, and keeping you motivated. I love seeing my stats go up (or down when it comes to pace). Mapping my runs has been helpful in deciding how far to go, where to go, and how good of a work out it will be or was.

Although keeping with it has been easier this time around, it's still a bit of a battle once I'm out on my runs. Here are my tips to having the best possible runs:

1. Take an ipod. I know, I know.....many of you are thinking, "Duh!". But it really is an important piece for my running success. It keeps your mind off of the run you are on, and makes the time pass much quicker. Also, make sure that the songs you have chosen are motivational to you, and will push you to go farther and faster. I realized that some of my song choices are too slow/just not motivational, and it made that run less successful.

2. Pick a specific place to run to. Break your run up into smaller runs in your mind. I tend to think, "Just get to the school.", then once there, I think, "Just get up the hill". I do this throughout my run to make it seem like less of a struggle. Each time you run, either try to run a little bit faster, cut out a break, or go a little bit farther. But don't wear yourself out! Don't over do it, because it will take longer to recover, ruining your hard work.

3. Look directly in front of you when you run. I try not to actually look ahead while running. I keep my focus on the ground in front of me. For me, this helps me to not think about the obstacles ahead, and I tend to not notice things like elevation change as much as if I were to see the hill coming from a mile away.

4. Drink a cup of water before, and several after your run. I only drink one cup before I go, because having to pee while you run is not fun and can shorten your distance considerably. However, it's important to stay hydrated, so stop for a drink if you need to, and definitely drink a lot when you are done.

5. Get the right equipment! Thanks to my running buddies, I have learned how important it is to have all of the right supplies to be a successful runner. Good shoes can fix almost any ache/pain and the wrong clothing can make your run extremely uncomfortable. This is where having running friends is so helpful! They can give you advice and suggestions of stores, brands, sizes, opinions, and other information needed to make an educated decision.

I will do my first official run in a few short weeks, and I'm so excited. I'm proud of myself for the progress I've made, and can't wait to see what I'm doing in a couple of months more!