Life Lately + Marathon Thoughts

Wow. When will Ashley stop posting snow photos all over social media? Uh. Never, guys. I haven't seen this much snow since the blizzard of 1993 when my hometown got more than three feet. The "official" total where we live is 36" by a trained NOAA spotter. I didn't measure quite that much, but I looked up the spotter's latitude and longitutde to find his location, and he's on a hill about a quarter mile from my house. Who knows!

If you don't follow me on Instagram, here's a photo-dump:

// Weight Watchers

I'm back on Weight Watchers strong today. (If you missed it, here are my thoughts on doing it for one month + how much weight I lost.) I never quit, I just got really lazy about it. Part of that is because I've been upping my mileage for marathon training (I'll get to that more below). I've been hungry, and it's hard balancing out how many points I should eat when I'm running more. Does anyone have any advice on that?

Still, I've noticed after being stuck inside that my bad habits have returned. I ate SO MUCH puppy chow. I drank bourbon hot cocoas by and outdoor fire. I have emotional eating issues. I eat when I'm stressed and bored. I eat while watching TV at night. I don't portion out my foods. These are all habits I need to work on if I want to reach my goals and if I just want to maintain a healthier relationship with food.

// Marathon Thoughts

Yes. I'm running a marathon. No, I'm not running a marathon race. Confused?! Don't be. My training buddy and I had a revelation. Let's train for the distance but SCREW the race. We both hate all the logistics. The hundreds of dollars. The getting up early. The stress of if the weather is dreadful on race day. You know, all of the stress. The people. Etc.

We have decided instead to map out our own course and + complete it this spring/summer.

We are still following this plan by Hal Higdon. We are on week 8, but the snow has definitely derailed some workouts. We actually have already mapped out a pretty solid route that will stop by enough places to get water, have bathrooms, and even celebrate along the way. I am excited to share that adventure with you guys when it happens. We are thinking June will likely be the time, but that could change.

I know I've written about it in the past, but I'm a runner. I rarely wear a watch. I am not in it for the racing. For the cheering sections. For the gear. For the metals. For the PRs. I don't care about all that stuff. I haven't since having Ada, it seems. I like moving. I like the meditation. The thinking time. And lately I've really enjoyed the friendship and fun of just being active with someone and talking.

// Track Season

Stephen's spring track season started last week. I heard another spouse refer to herself as a "track widow" at one point. I mean no disrespect to actual widows, but I do understand the sentiment she was expressing. He's just . . . gone a lot. During the week it isn't terrible until the meets start up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. But then on top of that it's every Saturday. Many times the days are like 12-hour days.

Perspective: I know people have it far worse. It's just a big change. I don't like changes when we're in a good routine.

I'm looking forward to the weather getting nicer because I plan to take the girls to parks, playdates, and other things to keep us all occupied. It's hard without family in the area. It'd be nice to just have dinner at the grandparents' house, go play with cousins (Ada and Eloise have no first cousins anyway), or get some babysitting every now and again -- whatever. I am thinking for next year (Eloise is still so small) that I may need to investigate an actual babysitter to help out even just with one night a week.

// Dump Meals

I am OBSESSED with these freezer dump meals, you guys. I wrote about this whole thing when I last shared about monthly meal planning and food buying. Would you like a post on this? The whole thing involves looking up a good recipe. Then you need to modify it slightly so it will work and fit inside a gallon freezer bag. Then you chop and dump in all the ingredients. You freeze it. And then you thaw it and cook the day you're planning to eat it.

So far, I like it so much better than cooking ahead and then freezing. I feel like the food comes out fresher. Tonight we are having a chickpea curry -- OMG IT SMELLS AMAZING -- and I'm going to make some 5-minute Naan for the side. If you haven't checked out that naan recipe yet -- please do. I have made all sorts of naans, but this recipe is SO fast and SO easy and SO delicious.

Happy Thursday!

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Rave Run

This morning I completed the first long run as part of my marathon training plan -- an 8-miler -- while meandering up a country road to the crest of a mountain ridge. The first 5K was rolling, but primarily uphill, while the second 5K was, conversely, a steady downgrade. I made up the rest of the mileage in town with a quick out-and-back and promptly collapsed from the summer heat and humidity. I think I finished in around an hour and 10 minutes.

Phew! Next week, I tackle the regionally infamous Laurel Festival 10K for the first time in many years. It will be a similar experience, but steeper and perhaps, gulp!, warmer. I am woefully underprepared since I haven't run these dirt roads in ages, but I'm glad to take on the course for the whole experience of it all.

You see, Stephen and I had explored moving back to Wellsboro several times and even made some great strides toward getting here. But without job offers or other means to return, we've accepted that at this point in our lives -- we'll stay put and try to grow our roots where we're currently planted. Still, it's when I got to the top of that gigantic climb this morning when I nearly started sobbing as I took in the scene below. They don't make hometowns like mine anymore, it seems, and it's difficult to accept that I took this place for granted growing up.  

Anyway, I was seriously jogging in the pages of a Runner's World Rave Run, and I could certainly get used to the difficulty with such a sweet reward. But I'm a bad blogger and decided not to tether my DSLR to my body or have someone bike alongside me or otherwise snap candid photos from all angles to show how badass I am. You'll just have to believe my word.

Instead, I found a few that sum up the places where I'm running/hiking this week.

sources: (1) (2) (4) (3) (5)

Stunning, no? I haven't told Stephen yet (hey, Stephen!), but I truly think I'd like to retire here. You know, in 30+ years. And to think I was so bored with Wellsboro growing up because it was a popular retirement destination! Now it's still that, but also an amazing cultural and arts center with tons of activities and events. To my friends who still live in the 'boro -- just know I'm ever-envious of you . . . to my core.

Except for the grocery prices (!!!), which I'll cover tomorrow!

I'll try to grab my parents' camera and snap some photos of the downtown during all the festival fun for another photo-dump later in the week. For now, I'm off to finish writing an article before Ada wakes from her nap (and rest these tired legs -- I also ran a 5-miler with the jogging stroller last night, ouch)!

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Marathon Training Plans

I know I keep talking about this marathon like it's happening, well, TOMORROW. Fall feels so far away. Thing is, the training for this beast will start before I know it (likely the beginning of June). I don't need specifics yet, but I am going crazy trying to figure out the best plan to follow this time around.

For my first marathon, I followed Hal Higdon's Novice II plan blended with the Intermediate I plan, with 5 days of running versus 4. With the exception of getting sick for a full week of training during the taper period, I didn't miss many workouts.

// I felt pretty good lacing up to the start and finished the race. Not at the time I wanted, but finished. Good enough the first time around.

For my second and third training cycles, I used the Intermediate I blended with Intermediate II. The honeymoon phase with the distance was over. I felt exhausted. I missed many more workouts and felt like I was constantly lagging behind.

// I'm not blaming the training plans, but for whatever reason, I experienced major burnout. I DNFed Wineglass and didn't make it to the start of Philly 2010 due to a nagging IT-band injury.


So, yeah. I'm sort of extremely phobic about choosing the wrong plan, getting injured, DNFing, and having to take another 11 weeks off from running.

If you ask 10 marathoners the "right" plan to follow to do a decent job in a marathon, you will likely get 10 different answers. "High mileage, building a strong base, is the only way to prepare," says one. "Psssh! You can do it in just 3 runs a week and PR," says another. "16 miles is the longest you'll need to run -- no joke," says yet another.

And what it all boils down to is personal experience (iffy and there's baggage there), goals (sub-4:00 WITHOUT injury, please), and individual ability (steady + strong, but not necessarily at high mileage).


How to Choose the Right Marathon Plan? I don't have the answer to this difficult question, but here are the plans I'm considering . . . and why.

// Hal Higdon's Novice II:

It worked for me once, it could work again. I default to Hal's plans because they have gotten me over the finish line more times than not and with continual PRs. Versus what I did my first time around, I might even heed the 4-days running "rule" with a fifth of cross-training and play it on the safe side. I would likely bump up one of the long runs to 20 so I could complete two of that distance before race day.

The plan is 18 weeks in all, topping off at only 35 miles, though. Compared to the 55 I did in my last training cycle, I am both extremely relieved and majorly skeptical. I could play around and make some of the mid-week runs longer, possibly blending it -- like I did in my first marathon -- with the Intermediate I plan.

// F-I-R-S-T:

A couple of you have shared this 3-day/week "less is more" plan with me that I actually remember first reading about way back in 2005. There's a book, Run Less, Run Faster, too. Honestly, this schedule is looking more and more appealing, as it emphasizes "hard" cross-training (think spinning classes, ashtanga yoga, and mile-long swims in the pool) to keep up cardiovascular endurance and keep bones/joints/etc. happy.

This 16-Week Plan that includes targeted, "quality" workouts (speed, tempo, long run) in, again, just 3 -- t.h.r.e.e -- days a week.  Some people have noted that, despite the name, FIRST isn't a beginning marathon program at all; the workouts are all focused effort. And others have told me that the only way to do well in a marathon is running, even if it's those junk miles. Could just three days a week cut it?

// Train Like a Mother:

My friend Nicki let me glance at her copy of this book last weekend at this plan that promises you'll "Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity." I like the idea of flexibility. There are "finish it" plans and "own it" plans for beginning to expert runners. Though with a race of this nature, I don't know how much flexibility would be good before I'd start that slippery slope into skipping too many workouts.



I'll write more about choosing the right plan soon. It's a big deal in my head these days, and for good reason. It will basically be my bible for 16 to 20 weeks, dictating much of what I do, eat, and experience (pain-wise, that is!). I actually got some excellent advice yesterday after I wrote this post, so I'll share that, too.

What I will say is this:

In my searches far and wide on the internets, it seems like everybody and his/her brother has written up "the best ever" plan. Heck -- I know people who have run sub 4-hour times with even the more nonexistent of buildups! Please respect the distance and be careful when choosing your own plan, modifying multiples, etc. I usually stick with the big name people with credentials. But that's just me.

How do you choose your training plans? For any distance, really, but especially for the marathon? Any plans to share with me?

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Run. Eat, Rest, Sleep. Repeat.

This post may not be terribly interesting to many of you, but we've received several emails asking us what our Sunday long run days look like. So, I drafted up a schedule that most closely resembles what we do after our runs longer than 18 miles. It isn't 100% what we do every single time, but it's pretty darn close.

(And, yes -- we really watch that much TV!)

Run. Eat, Rest, Sleep. Repeat.

6:30 AM: Wake up. Wow. It definitely doesn't feel great waking up this early on a Sunday. Especially since I never (ever, ever) get to sleep in. But I always thank myself later.


6:45 AM: Drink a glass (about 8 ounces, not too terribly much) of water and toast an English muffin -- spread one side with peanut butter, the other side with jam. Add sliced banana. Instant breakfast. NOM.


Our other favorite light breakfast is a serving of oatmeal with banana.


7:00 AM: Get dressed (sleeveless shirt and 3/4 length warm weather tights -- to prevent chafing), find watch and hat. Pour a large (OK, gigantic) glass of water and grab a ClifSHOT (raspberry, no-caffeine variety). Set these things out on the back porch for later.

7:15 AM: Swig one last sip of water. Out the door and start running.

(There are many, many, MANY days that I hate the idea of running long so much that I almost give up. It's not like I jump for joy every time I need to run for three hours. It's hard work. So, this time of the day is the most difficult. Just getting out there.)


8:15 AM: Water break at park. Quick stretch. (All in less than 15-20 seconds.) One hour down. Wonderful!

9:15 AM: Water/ClifSHOT break at house. Quick stretch. (All in less than 20-30 seconds.) Two hours down. Only 1/3 of the run to go!


10:15 AM: DONE RUNNING! WOOOHOOO! Celebrate. Ouch. Wait. Everything hurts like crazy. Drink some homemade Gatorade (we buy the powder and water ours down considerably) and head for a shower/stretch session.

10:45 AM: Yes. That was a lonnng shower. But it's the one time per week that I spend more than 7 minutes in there. Take an ibuprofen and use a bit of BioFreeze, if necessary. Dress in some compression tights (to help ease the pain/facilitate healing in legs) and make something to eat. We both ice (or take ice baths) our legs on occasion, too. I spend most of this time moaning and complaining that my legs hurt. But I'm really pumped that I finished!


OK. About the food situation: Usually I don't feel like eating a ton after a super long run. But eating aids in recovery. It's super important. If I'm not terribly hungry (or just feeling kind of sick -- which definitely happens more often than not), I make myself a smoothie. Then I eat when I am hungry, usually after an hour or so.


This past Sunday, however, I had an appetite and chose to eat crispy kale and sweet potato with chocolate almond milk. Stephen rarely has the queasy stomach problem, so he most typically replenishes himself with some eggs, toast, fish, etc. No food is off-limits for him.


11:00 AM: Spend the next couple hours on the couch or in bed. Watching TV or a movie. Legs elevated. Head to pillow. Nibbling on additional foods as necessary/desired.


1:00 PM: Grocery shop. Get out of the house for just a bit to move legs. Pick up additional supplies. Treat ourselves to tasty treats from Wegmans -- my current favorites? Half moon cookies and veggie sushi!

3:00 PM: Back in bed (or on couch . . . or outside on couch, depending on weather). Watch a movie. Read. Write blog posts. Nap, if the mood strikes.

Really, resting doesn't get old. In fact, it's one of my favorite parts of the week. So much of the time, I'm busy either at work, running errands, or just plain running that a little horizontal time is what I need to recharge for the upcoming week.


5:00 PM: Make and eat dinner. This meal is typically large. Very large. This meal is typically packed with as much health as we can stuff into it. What we made this past week was our all-time favorite sandwich: The Lover. Followed by a great dessert, of course.


6:30 PM: Gentle, short walk or some yoga. It's good to stretch things out a bit. Check in with pain levels. But when my body told me to go on a bike ride this past Sunday, I told it -- NO! Sometimes I get this I-can-do-anything attitude on long run days. I remind myself, though, that my body is in recovery. There are millions of micro-tears in my muscles . . . and that bike ride could do more harm than good.

7:30 PM: One last couch-fest. And lately a weekly gchat date with Ashley. :)


9:30 PM: BED. Going to bed early is key to waking up on time Monday morning. Usually falling asleep at this hour isn't much of a struggle for me -- but when it is, I like to wind down by reading. Current books on my shelf include Born to Run and Operation Beautiful.


We hope this helps take some of the mystery out of our long run days. Of course, now we're wondering if our day looks like yours! What do you do after a particularly hard/long workout? Let us know! Even if you aren't in training for a marathon, you may have special rituals or activities you do after a key sweat session. Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

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