Friday Five: Autumn Blast Half Prep

Hola, I thought I'd join in on the LAST Friday Five ever (sobbing) and document my prep for tomorrow's race. But first, I want to thank Mar, Courtney, and Cynthia for the awesome linkup. I've "met" so many inspiring folks through Friday Five.

Changes to the Race
The Autumn Blast Half used to be the Loveland Half and was my favorite race of the year. It was a beautiful course with a start/finish in the quaint town of Loveland, which included a few diners for Alex to relax in while I ran. Unfortunately, Loveland is under construction and the race was moved to the nearby town South Lebanon. Gone are the diners (for Alex) and the confidence (for me) that comes with knowing a course inside and out. On top of everything, I talked a friend into running it with me, so I'm really worried the new location will suck. Don't you hate that?

The Weather 
In years past, it's been gray and overcast with temps from the upper 30s to low 40s. This year will be a bit warmer: 53-62º from start to finish. That's quite a range. I plan on wearing a tank, shorts, and gloves. Oh yeah, and due to the warmer weather the trails won't be full of fall color. Bummer!

The Course 

The old course had a long-ish hill in the first three miles, then we turned onto a flat bike path. This year's course has one steep, quick hill (and downhill), then we go on to a bike path with rolling hills. I don't really know if it's better to get one terrible hill out of the way or if it will use up all of my energy. Elevation gain is about the same. 238 vs 243 ft. 

Goals
Man, I have no idea. I had a lackluster training season. It was really hot and I cut midweek runs short. My paces have been pretty quick, but I have no confidence. As I mentioned in Monday's weekly review, I originally planned to run my second sub-2, but who knows. A month ago I ran Indy Women's in 2:02 without paying attention to my pace, so maybe I can pull something off.

With the unknowns in mind, here are my rough goals:
AA: I'm just adding this to be funny. If I could control everything and if I feel better than ever, I'd love to run a pace with an 8 in front. 1:56-1:57 finish. Honestly, I haven't trained for this.
A: Perfect day: another sub-2. Maybe not a PR (1:58), but a 9:09 or better pace.
B: Reasonable goal: under 2:05 finish
C: Don't walk. But man I hope I don't have to resort to this goal. I think I'm beyond this now.

Tonight and Tomorrow
All I can do now is my 2 mile shake out run, finish packing, eat well, drink plenty of water, and get a good night's sleep before tomorrow's race. I'm more nervous that usual. I'm hoping I can channel that into a strong race... somehow!

Have a great weekend! Don't forget to visit Mar, Courtney, and Cynthia!

Friday Five: I illustrated a book!

Welcome to another Friday Five with Mar, Courtney, and Cynthia! Since this week is a Free Friday so I thought I'd talk about something a bit different: illustrating a children's book! 

Background 
The short chapter book (ages 6-11) is titled Princess Bella and the Dragon's Charm and it was written by Pete Planisek. He's written other short stories and novels – including a Frankenstein series– so a kid's books was a bit of a departure from his normal, gothic fare. I came on board after he'd tried out a few other illustrators. I used to draw all the time for work [portfolio sample], but nowadays I do more analytical documentation, so it was good to get back to artsy stuff.

Fancy author photo

Learning Experiences
Content Creation:
When we began working together I was traveling a lot for work and had freelance clients. It was tough to find time for drawing. Additionally, I truly believe in the phrase "if you don't use it, you lose it." My drawing skills had all but vanished in the years my job took a turn from art to planning. After several months of very little progress I finally hit my stride. We're going to work on a second children's book and I think it will be a smoother process (on my end) and I will produce better and more engaging art.

Chapter 4 evolution: version 1 vs. version 4 (click to enlarge)

Some promotional bookmarks

Layout + eBook:
For now, the book is an eBook. Pete is looking to publish physical copies as early as fall. Physical copies will allow library and classroom purchasing, giveaways, and lead to more in-store events. I'm looking forward to a physical book so we have more control over the layout. One thing about eBooks: you have to be very flexible with the layout to allow for different fonts, font sizes, and even page color. I did not lay out the eBook version, so I don't have any tips or tricks, but I am looking forward to seeing how the physical copy layout progresses. I have an InDesign file of how I want it to look, but we'll see what's truly possible! (I will post an update when physical copies are available.)

Release Party
On April 14 we had a book release at Barnes and Noble. Pete talked about his process and how this book differs from his others, while I gave a little insight into illustration (3:45). By the way, Pete broke his foot just before the release!

Freebies
We're in the process of creating an activity bundle to go along with Princess Bella and the Dragon's Charm. In the meantime, we have a few coloring pages and mazes for download.

Download PDF

Buying the (e)Book
The eBook is available for purchase on Amazon | Barnes and Noble | eJunkie
For more information, visit Enceladus Literary.

Race Recap: Medina Half Marathon

Happy weekend everyone! I'm going to use this week's Fitness-themed Friday Five with Mar, Courtney, and Cynthia to recap my latest race.

The Medina Half Marathon took place Saturday, May 28 at 6:45 am in Medina, Ohio. I ran Medina last year, told myself it was a one and done (too many turns! too many hills!), but at the end of March I signed up to run it again. The course is tough, but there is something about the cute town square and great crowd support that made it impossible for me to stay away.

Swag on the hotel bed. I love the shirt.

Expo + Pre Race

The expo went from noon - 7pm Friday. I really wish it went a pinch longer, because it's a 2 hour drive from Columbus and even with Alex getting home at 4:30, we had to rush to get there.  I've mentioned it before but I don't really care for expos. I suppose if I can find an amazing deal or get a bunch of freebies I'm excited, but I don't enjoy making small talk about something I know I won't buy. This wasn't a huge expo, but it was pretty impressive since Medina is a small-ish race. Best part: the volunteers. They were all so friendly and helpful.

(This was actually taken after the race.)

Alex and I headed to Chipotle after the expo, then to our hotel to relax. We watched TV as I debated my outfit for the next day. It was going to be a scorcher! Sometime around 10 I got into bed, read, and fell asleep. I slept pretty well until my 5:05am wakeup.

We arrived and parked in the free garage around 6:10. (Parking is a breeze for this race.) I used a porta potty, then we walked across the town square so I could use the indoor public bathroom. The lines for both bathroom areas were very reasonable and moved quickly. Around 6:35 announcements were made to line up. I said goodbye to Alex, started my podcast (Running on Om), and lined up near the 2:10 pacers.

Goals
My goal was to finish faster than last year (2:18). In the back of my mind I really wanted something under 2:15... and I knew if I didn't walk I could easily run a 2:10. Even though I'm not in peak shape (no way I could sub-2 on this course!), my baseline fitness is better than last year. Unfortunately, it was 68 degrees with 89% humidity at the start (76 degrees and 76% humidity at the end). So, weather + hills = a tough race

Course map: Really, the worst thing is all of the turning

The Race
After the national anthem and announcements I couldn't hear, we were off! I maintained an even pace, but got ahead of the 2:10 group. I knew it wouldn't be sustainable in the later hills, but I figured I'd make up time at the start. These first few miles only felt difficult because of the heat. I tried to drink my water every half mile and keep moving and we wound our way through a few neighborhoods. We didn't encounter full sun until the first hill around mile 3. Phew, it was hot.
Miles 1-4: 9:23, 9:32, 9:32, 9:28

Mile 5 was part asphalt and part gravel as we turned off the road to head towards Lake Medina. The lake is beautiful and this part of the course was different than last year. Instead of running out to the road we cut across some grass and ran on a lower path. This switchback/lower trail had a teeny tiny bit of shade, so I tried to hug the right side to stay out of the sun. At 6.2 we crossed a timing mat and came up to a water stop and gel station. I decided to walk and eat my gel. I walked! Already! This is where they took out the steep "big hill," but turns out they just replaced it with a long big hill. We were in full sun and so many people were walking already.

I walked again at 7 and without the excuse of eating my gel I knew it was a bad sign. I texted Alex "7. walking. dying." I realized I was starting to get dehydrated so I drank more water, then began running. The 2:10 pacers caught me around mile 8. I ran with them for a bit, but lost them.
Miles 5-8: 10:06, 9:49, 10:48, 10:43

Because I'm just going to moan about the heat, here's a rundown of things from mile 9–12:

• At every water stop I took a cup of water and poured it over my head. I also drank Gatorade. I think this helped me stay alive! 
• I went through every sprinkler or hose offered.
• At 11 I texted Alex: "11. walking. I have to pee. Dry lips. I'm salty." 
• Did I mention how hot it was? 
• And that we were in full sun for a majority of the second half? 
• Everyone around me took short walk breaks. That made me feel better. 
• At 11 I looked at my watch and realized even if I walked most of the final two miles I would beat 2:18.
• I'd probably be embarrassed about all the walking if I didn't have my sub-2 earlier in the spring. Like, "Guys I promise I can run a whole 13.1!"

Mile 12 was a great downhill until just before the finish. You basically turn the last corner and see a giant hill (really only 30ft) with the finish line looming above. I knew to expect it, but I forgot how difficult it was to keep running as I climbed to the finish. Fortunately, it's lined with tons of people (and the race photographers) so I did what I could to keep trotting to the finish. I sped up a little, but my pace just barely made it into the 8s when I crossed the line. They announced my name as I came into the chute. That was nice!
Miles 9-end: 11:17 (!), 10:49, 11:02, 12:17 (!), 9:54

My first race photo purchase ever! ($8 each)

Post Race
I collected my bee-utiful medal and met a Oiselle teammate. I was kind of brain dead, but she (Chelsea) was so nice! I grabbed my bag full of post-race food, then found Alex, and walked over to a shady bench and sat my butt down. We talked to an older dude for a while about the difficult weather and our love for Medina despite the difficult weather and course. After drinking my chocolate milk, toweling off, and changing into flip flops, Alex and I walked over to the beer and pizza after party. There were two shandy options and I have to admit even though I like beer, I don't really like it after a long run, but the grapefruit shandy hit the spot!

After party for a good cause! (Stand Up for Downs)

Stats and Thoughts
Yeah, it's a tough course for me and I definitely needed hill training. And sure, the weather was challenging. But whatever. I had a relatively good time and I'm proud that I cut 4 minutes off last year without much prep! I'm definitely in better shape overall and I think if I wasn't so burnt out on running in the weeks leading up to Medina I would have finished under 2:10. Dare I sign up for next year's race...?

Final Time: 2:13:58
Overall: 418/789 (53%) 
Gender: 196/439 (45%)
Age Group: 43/75 (57%) (grrrrr)

The medals are amazing. 2015 and 2016.

Up Next: Alex's goal race: the Clear Creek 10k trail run tomorrow.  I have no idea what to expect because there isn't an elevation chart. Luckily, I don't really care about my finish time or overall placement. I'm in it for the sweet fox shirt.

Friday Five: Prepping for Race Day

Hola, welcome to another Friday Five with Mar, Courtney, and Cynthia. If you're looking to join the linkup be sure to visit one of their pages for more information! I've joined in about 1-2 times a month for a little over a year now and it's been a great way to find new blogs and brainstorm new topics.

This week is a Free Friday and with the Medina Half Marathon looming (tomorrow!), I thought I'd take some time to talk about prepping for race day. Medina will be my 9th half, so I've got my race prep down to a science.

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Stalk the weather
I check the weather daily leading up to a race. In the case of Medina, the temps will reach 87 on Saturday. At race start (6:45am) it will be about 67 and by the time I'm finished running it will be up to 75. Ugh. I immediately know I'll be wearing a tank, shorts, and probably a hat. I will also carry my own water... just in case.

Google weather and wunderground.com

Plan my pace

Sometimes I make elaborate pace charts

This one is usually pretty easy. I gauge my current fitness, assess any race goals, and figure out my per mile pace using marathonpacechart.com. Medina is a bit tricky. It'll be hot, there are hills, and I'm not at peak fitness. I've prepared a few scenarios, but my ultimate goal is to finish at least 1 second faster than last year. Not a half PR by any means, but I think it's a good finish time for hills and heat.

Pack my bags / lay out my gear
I haven't had an in-town half since last May, so my race prep almost always includes a packed bag. I use my travel bag from last week's post and... overpack. Better safe than sorry. The night before the race (like everyone on Instagram), I lay out my gear and narrow it down to one ensemble and accessories. I ask Alex for his opinion about three million times and he usually votes for the brightest shirt (or the Oiselle singlet) so he can easily spot me.

Eat a decent dinner, drink lots of water
I'm not too picky about my food the night before a race. I normally eat a Chipotle sofritas bowl (because I can find it anywhere), but I also accept pasta. In Nashville I had Jimmy John's and Cheetos because that's what I found. I don't think it's a secret I like beer. Once upon a time I wouldn't let myself have any the day before a race, but I'm not that strict anymore. But if I do drink, it's one and done. I concentrate more on drinking water.

Race morning ritual: always the same

Questioning my choices at the start

My race morning meal is way more important. I always (!) have the same thing: peanut butter and two slices of wheat bread. If the hotel has a toaster, great. If not, whatever. I still eat my bread. I also drink at least 16oz of water while I'm getting dressed and ready. After I'm dressed I go to the bathroom (and hope for my PRP...you know). Regardless of PRP, Alex and I head to the race about an hour early because I am always super paranoid about parking and bathroom lines. I usually have some type of "ughhh why am I doing this" chat with him, we park, I find bathrooms, and then I go to the bathroom roughly 2-12 times before the race begins. Alex will give me a smooch right before I go line up and we make tentative meeting plans for after. Then I stand on the line and wonder, "How am I going to feel at mile 6...?"

What are your tricks for preparing for race day?
Do you have any superstitions or rituals you must follow?

Five Favorites That Make Life Easier

I'm back with another Friday Five with Mar, Courtney, and Cynthia. I messed up the theme two weeks ago and wrote about food/drink instead of fitness, but this time I read the calendar correctly and I'm on-theme (for real) with Five Favorites That Make Life Easier.

Great Underwear
Fruit of the Loom Microfiber Low Rise Hipster
Yup, I'm going to start with undies. I used to wear fancy-ish underwear exclusively. I stocked up at Victoria's Secret and loved my Calvins (among others). VS has certainly lost quality over the past 10 years: my pairs were wildly different sizes and they'd fall apart after a few washes. I stumbled upon a pack of Low Rise Hipsters at Target and I haven't looked back since. I get them on Amazon now when I need to hit a shipping threshold and they're normally between $8.50 and 9.99. They don't ride up when I'm running (or sleeping. I hate night wedgies.) and they look fine under tight pants. The fabric is soft and a little shiny, so they look dressier than they are. Amazon randomizes the (solid) colors, but I've never received a pair I didn't love.

Durable Weekender Bag
Orla Kiely Large Overnighter
Like the underwear situation, I used to have a fancy-schmancy Kate Spade Saturday weekender bag. Over the course of several business trips I realized it wasn't cutting it. Sure it looked ok (it was black. Basic.), but the strap was thin and it dug into my shoulder. Plus, there wasn't a zipper closure so sometimes if I bumped the bag, the clasp would open. Once again, Target to the rescue. I found a waterproof Orla Kiely bag. It holds more than my Kate Space one, has great interior pockets, and came with a packable tote bag. And it was only $49! It's so durable. I love that I don't have to worry about banging it around while traveling.

Running Shorts with Pockets 
Oiselle Distance Shorts or Toolbelt Rogas
I carry several things with me on long runs: keys, credit card/ID, iPhone, and gels. I used to pack some of this stuff in a Nathan handheld water bottle with a phone pocket, but it felt like a lot of junk to carry for 10+ miles. If I didn't take water on a run I'd shove my key or phone in my sports bra and hope for the best. No thanks. In came Oiselle and their pocket situation. If they can put a pocket on something, they usually do (including hats). I love the freedom pockets give me to carry whatever I want on a run. Toolbelt Rogas were my first love, but lately I'm digging Distance Shorts.

More Appealing Drinking Water
Nuun
I'm terrible about drinking water. I routinely come home from work to realize I had coffee (and probably a little beer), but not a single drop of water. Last year I found La Croix, but unfortunately it's kind of pricey if you want more than 3 a day and the waste factor kind of bugs me (even though we recycle). So, seeking alternatives that didn't taste like crap, I decided to try Nuun. I'm still not in love with the new formula (am I alone?), but I was able to stock up on some old tubes for super cheap. I have one or two 24-32oz glasses of Nuun water a night and feel pretty ok with myself. By the way, my favorite flavor is Tri Berry and they sell Nuun at Target now. (I guess I also love Target?)

Easy Book Tracking
Goodreads
I don't know if it makes sense to list a website, but whatever. (I do what I want.) I read a lot and I don't write down the books I read in a handy journal like my mom. I rely solely on Goodreads to keep track of what I've finished and my ratings. I read a mix of borrowed books and my own books and if I was asked what I read in the past 6 months without the ability to look at Goodreads, I might remember about three books. I am thankful Goodreads allows me to free up a good chunk of brain space to remember things that really matter. If you're on Goodreads, let's be friends.

Top Five Breweries in Ohio (According to Me)

Rhinegeist

Hello! I'm back with another Friday Five linkup with Courtney, Mar, and Cynthia. This week, I'm staying on theme (food and drink) to bring you my Favorite Breweries in Ohio.

I have to preface this by saying Ohio has an insane number of breweries. While some have the omnipresent industrial lighting/reclaimed wood thing down to a science, their beers are a mess of hops trying to cover a failed attempt at a drinkable beer. I may not have the fanciest palette or rate drinks on Beer Advocate or Untappd, but I have solid favorites in Ohio. In no particular order...

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Rhinegeist, Cincinnati 
Columbus started getting Rhinegeist cans and drafts a few years ago. Their label design is clean and simple, which immediately appealed to me. They had a few standard brews like Panther (Porter) and Franz (Oktoberfest), but it was Peach Dodo (Gose) and the Cidergeist that really won me over. On top of the tasty varieties and clean branding, we visited the brewery last year and it's amazing (see photo at top). The old factory space has a fantastic atmosphere with plenty of seating and games.

Some special bottle releases from Jackie O's

Jackie O's, Athens

Jackie O's Athens roots put them in the heart of the beautiful Ohio University campus. A few years ago they started canning their popular styles and my office was hooked. Eventually, they began to bottle super special brews like Bourbon Barrel Oil of Aphrodite (Stout) and Dark Apparition (rich beer with chocolate and coffee) in collectable batches. Their bottle releases go quickly, but luckily my boss is a big fan and gets his hands on all sorts of goodies. I've had a least a dozen (maybe two dozen?) different styles from Jackie O's and they never disappoint. Their taproom and brewpub are both worth a visit if you're in Athens. This is my favorite non-Columbus brewery.

Some HHB can and bottle releases in the past year

Hoof Hearted Brewing, Marengo and Columbus (2 locations)
Okay first, say the name out loud. Ha. (The first time we tried HHB was at a North Market Microbrew Fest and I didn't get the name until I said it out loud.) I have a special place in my heart for Hoof Hearted because I got to re-skin an arcade cabinet for a beer collaboration between my boss and HHB (Konkey Dong. See cabinet here.) Besides, their beers are fantastic. They have some of the most exciting styles, ridiculous names, and their artwork is bananas. They recently opened a Columbus restaurant/taproom, but it's a bit too sterile for my taste (not enough silly art). Luckily, their beers make up for it. Some of my recent favorites: Rosé Gosé, Koffury, Saizzurp, and of course, Konkey Dong.

Love the bottle art on the Dire Wolf

Wolf's Ridge, Columbus
First off, Wolf's Ridge is the kind of classy place you bring out of town friends. (Or at least I do.) We got a beer flight on our first visit and I remember thinking the beers tasted very fresh and clean, but nothing stood out. Flash forward a year later to the opening of their taproom when a co-worker got us a personal tour with the (newer) brewer. It was night and day. The beers were still fresh and clean, but now they were memorable. They have some standards like Clear Sky (cream ale), but the standout for me is the Dire Wolf (Russian Imperial stout) and it's myriad of combinations. My favorite so far? Dire Wolf Canis Mexicanus. They have a good thing going and I hope they keep pushing the boundaries without losing quality. 

Zauber flight, the bar, and more beer

Zauber Brewing, Columbus

Alex and I started visiting Zauber when they were a teeny tiny growler fill manned by the owner. I was pretty pumped when they opened a full-sized bar and even more excited when they added food and a coffee shop. My co-workers and I go to Zauber about twice a month for lunch. While the food is tasty, I'm in it for the beer. I love German and Belgian beers and their selection is A+. If you love a wheaty hefeweizen you cannot miss with Vertigo. They also do small batches of new styles and combinations. I don't mind spending big beer $ on their small brews. Sometimes I feel a bit boring saying Zauber is my local favorite because it's right around the corner, but they don't make crappy beers. They nail it every time and I'm never disappointed.

Ohioans: Do you agree? Do you have a favorite?
Non-Ohioans: What is your favorite brewery? Winery? Or whatever! 

Friday Five: Random Stuff (Spring 2016)

Happy Earth Day! I'm back with another Friday Five with Mar, Courtney, and Cynthia. This week is a Free Friday, so I thought I'd chat about some things I'm loving right now:

Spring Blooms
Spring is hit or miss in Ohio. The weather has a tendency to go from rainy 40s to hot-hot-hot 80s and skipping past the amazing 70-degree days, but we've gotten lucky this year. Minus a few snowy and cold days earlier this month, I've been able to get outside and take lots of photos of the blooming trees in my area. It's one of my favorite spring activities.

Calligraphy videos
Are you on Instagram? (I am.) Before bed I have a habit of scrolling through recommended posts. I usually get a bunch of runners, mountain vistas, and chihuahuas, but recently I've come across calligraphy clips. They are so soothing. I love watching these artistic women write one or two words in a quick clip. It's making me want to pull out my markers and give it a try...

Teenager wisdom. My kids say this to me. A lot. 👀😂 #kellyletters #brushlettering #brushcalligraphy #brushtype #sharpie #lettering #handlettering #letteringvideo #chill #chillin #chilling

A video posted by Kelly Klapstein (@kellycreates) on Apr 20, 2016 at 6:43am PDT

Makeup clips
Somewhat related in artistry: makeup clips. I have NO IDEA how I came across my first contouring video, but they are mesmerizing (a word I keep using on twitter). I can't do makeup for crap. I mean, I've got the basics down and can look respectable for a night out, but I'm not good at it. Plus, my face sucks up all makeup and breaks out like crazy the week following. No bueno. But these women are masters! Sure, some of them look orange or a little fake after, but most of the time they look flawless. Three things: First, I can't believe how many layers they apply. Second, how do they look close up? And third, where did these brushes come from?! Regardless, I'm in awe! (Oh and I know: I'm late to the party.)

#contouring and #highlight @lillyghalichi @lillylashes used in Luxe @narsissist creamy radiant concealer - custard @urbandecaycosmetics #urbandecaycosmetics concealer pencil in M16 @narsissist highlight - hot sand @artisbrush #artisbrush used @sigmabeauty brushes used @anastasiabeverlyhills #browdefiner in med brown @lauramercier loose setting powder #anastasiabeverlyhills #ghalichiglam #makeupbrushes #makeupartist #makeupvideo #makeupvids #motd #contouring #highlightandcontour #urbandecaycosmetics #urbandecay @repostlyapp

A video posted by The Girls Outfits® (@thegirlsoutfits) on Apr 19, 2016 at 2:39pm PDT

Walking to Work
I've been trying my hardest to walk to work every day. I failed today (it's raining), but Alex encouraged me to set a challenge (kind of like a run streak) to walk to work for a whole year. I asked about inclement weather and he suggested I use all of my waterproof layers from camping. haha We shall see. But I'd say I'm walking 75% of the time. By the way, I read a book as I walk. I'm a clumsy person and I trip more without a book!

Current pair, Papillio (top), leather Tevas (bottom)

In search of: comfy sandals 
Directly related to walking to work: my search for comfy strappy sandals. I have a pair (see above left), but I wore them too many times in the rain or on beaches and the inside leather sole is warping. I'll still keep them in rotation, but I need another pair to support my feet on the walk. I've tried walking in normal sandals, but it hurts my feet and as we know, happy feet are very important when you're a runner!

What are your favorite things these days?
Are you searching for the perfect _____ ?

Friday Five: Prepping for the ORRRC Half

This Sunday is the ORRRC Half. I thought I'd use this week's Friday Five with Courtney, Mar, and Cynthia to talk about mentally preparing for the race. 

Background
My original goal race was February's Paradise Coast Half in Naples, Florida but it was canceled due to course conditions. I was a little relieved because most of my training took place in 20-30 degrees and the race would have been mid-60s to low 70s. On the flip side, I was bummed because it meant I would need to find a new race and jump into another training cycle.

ORRRC Course
I'm not sure what to expect. We run through town for 4 miles, then jump on a bike path. The turn around is at mile 8 and then it's a straight shot back to the finish. Here's a scary quote about elevation: "The course is not flat and some runners state that it seems like you are always going slightly uphill until the last three miles which is a welcome downhill." [source] I also thought this was interesting: here is the elevation chart from Strava, but with two different scales. One looks easy and the other looks terrible. Which will it be?

Elevation - scale matters

Weather
Planning my outfit has been... interesting. Last week, the forecast was mid-40s to 50s (perfect!), but unfortunately a cold front is coming. Now the starting temp will be 27-30 degrees. Chilly temps make my knees creaky, but at least I run better in cold vs. heat.

Weather forecast

Goals
A Let's pretend I'm Forrest Gumping the crap out of Sunday. My A goal is a pie-in-the-sky 8:55 pace for a 1:57 finish. I would love to see an 8 in front of my pace, but it's going to take work.

B This is a more realistic goal that accounts for a few slower miles. 1:59:59, or a 9:09 pace. I absolutely know I can do this. If I don't, it means I lost a mental battle.

C If the day is going poorly I don't want to revert to my normal "don't walk" C goal. No, I think I still need to keep my eye on the prize. I'd like to come out of this with a PR. To make that happen, I need a 2:02:23 or better finish (9:20 pace).

Summary
I want to avoid a mental block on race day. I've run 6 halves and half of those have been great and the others have included pity party walk breaks. This winter I trained consistently and I am a stronger and faster runner than when I set my current PR. I can do it, so I'd better make it happen!

Thanks for reading. I'll let you know how it goes... ;)

Would you listen to music or go without?
What would you wear?

Friday Five: Next 5 Races

Hola! It's been a month, but I'm back with a Friday Five linkup with Mar, Courtney, and Cynthia. This week is a Free Friday so I thought I'd share my next 5 races! 

I have three half marathons between now and the end of May. It's a big change as I normally run 2-3 a year. I can put too much pressure on halves, so a bad race feels like a waste of a training cycle. I'd like to get to the point where I can treat most halves as fun runs or training runs, so I've added a few more to my race schedule.

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I may have signed up because of this design (/nerd)

April 2: Iron Furnace Trail Run (4.5 miles)
This is during my taper, so no need to sign up for the half (plus they claim it's "One of Ohio's hardest half marathons." Yikes!) Iron Furnace is an hour and half away in Lake Hope State Park and as long as the weather cooperates we'll camp the night before. Looking forward to trail running, even if I don't use my new Altras.

April 3: The Scarlet Sprint (5k)
Alex found out about this FREE race while working on campus. It's super close to our house (we live near The Ohio State University) so we'll be able to walk there. We'll see how I feel after Iron Furnace. I may try for a sub-25:00, but there isn't a course map so who knows if it's really 3.1 miles.

April 10: ORRRC Half Marathon 
This became my "goal" race after the Paradise Coast Half was cancelled. It's relatively flat, but there are some rollers at the beginning. I have no idea what to expect and we're going to drive to Xenia the morning of instead of staying at a hotel (it's an hour away). I don't know how comfortable I am with that, so I may change my mind. I would be lying if I didn't say I was nervous about this one. Sub 2 would be great and I know I CAN if I'm ON, but will it be my day? (/crying)

April 15: Buk-i-Run (5k)
Another Ohio State race and a glow run. It was cheap and it takes place on a Friday night. If it doesn't feel competitive maybe I can convince Alex to run me to a PR. This is another race we can walk to from our house. Score!

April 30: Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Half Marathon
I signed up last week after some lady-friends convinced me. We're staying at the host hotel so we'll be in the middle of the action. This hills are scary, but I intend to either run with a friend or take it easy. I don't really like large races, but I'm going to soak up the music and after party, and generally try to have a blast. We're doing a bar crawl Saturday night – probably my first since my bachelorette party – so that should be interesting.

Left: my medal from 2015, Right: this year's medal (credit: Facebook)

+1 Bonus - May 28: Media Half Marathon
I just signed up and I'm pretty excited. I ran it last year and loved the town, crowd support, and swag. I didn't think I'd do it again this year, but I couldn't resist. My 2016 goal: run it all and beat last year's time. It's a hilly course, but they changed the back half so we miss the steepest hill. I'm kind of over medals, but look at this year's!

Are you looking forward to an upcoming race?
Have you run any of the above? 

Friday Five: Florida Favorites

Happy Friday! I'm back with another Friday Five linkup with Mar, Courtney, and Cynthia. This week is a Free Friday so I thought I'd outline some of my favorite excursions during our trip to Florida. 

We spent three days in Tampa before meeting up with my parents to drive down to Naples. Before vacation, I pinned a bunch of stuff to my Winter in Florida Pinterest board. The weather was gorgeous (upper 70s) and we were able to visit several fun sites.

Lettuce Lake Park, Tampa
Our hotel in Tampa was across the street from Lettuce Lake, so we had to check it out. We started on the far end of the park and made our way along the boardwalk trail which follows the curve of Lettuce Lake. The park includes an observation tower, some small shelter houses, and a nice visitor's center. Along our hike we saw about a dozen different birds (including an eagle), a few alligators, and some turtles. Next time I'd rent a kayak and paddle the calm water. (Parking: $2)

Photo Credit: Oxford Exchange

Oxford Exchange, Tampa
I hesitate to add something non-nature-y to my list, but hear me out. This place is like a Stefon skit; it has everything: bookstore, coffee shop, exotic tea cart, eyewear fittings, quirky gifts, co-working office space, and an excellent restaurant featuring local ingredients. It has old-world charm, but new-world niceties. Originally built as horse stables, the building became an arcade of shops in the 1920s. In 2012, it reopened as Oxford Exchange. It's a little over-the-top, but it's a lovely concept and beautiful inside.

Sunken Gardens, St. Petersburg
Sunken Gardens is a 100 year old garden located on the other side of Tampa Bay in nearby St. Petersburg. It contains an impressive variety of plants, trees, and even some exotic birds. It took about an hour to walk the meandering path with many stops for photos (unfortunately, I left my Nikon at home). Pro tip: several printed tourist guides have admission coupons and Groupon also had a deal. I didn't find out about those until after our visit, but it's ok. The garden was absolutely beautiful and I want them to have our money! (Admission: $10)

Air Boat Ride, Everglades
When my parents suggested an airboat ride I was kind of indifferent. Our guide at Wooten's Everglades was young (and kind of reminded me of Jacob from Twilight ha) and fed us tidbits about the area, plant life, and animals. The water was high due to record rainfall and my parents said the ride was a lot more exciting than their previous visits. I had a great time. I have no idea why I was so indifferent in the beginning! (Boat ride: $28)

My photo makes it look like we were alone

Naples Pier, Naples
The pier is located on the beach with the ritziest mansions. Yes, the beach and pier were both crowded and yes, parking was tough to find (and cost a few dollars), but it was worth the visit. It was one of the most beautiful beaches I've been to in the continental United States. (I'm a beach snob after our Hawaii trips.) Apparently, you can see dolphins off the pier on a good day and it is a go-to place for sunsets. After our visit we drove up and down Gulf Shores Blvd to see the giant houses.

Friday Five: Five Things February

Naples Pier  [source]

Welcome to another Friday Five with Courtney, Mar, and Cynthia. Today's topic is Fitness, but I'll go with a general Five Things Friday as I don't have any fitness wisdom to impart this week.

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1. Travel
We leave next week for our trip to Florida! Alex and I will be in Tampa for a few days and then my mom and step dad will scoop us up on their way from Gulf Shores to take us to Naples where I'll be running the Paradise Coast Half. I've found some amazing things to do (my Pinterest board). I'm looking forward to sunshine, warmth, and relaxation, but I'm dreading a hot race.

2. Books
I won the book Letters to Rachel by R.W. Mitchell on Goodreads last month.  From what I can tell it's self-published. I'm about 70% thru and it's fantastic! It's a modern-day story of a British woman living in Barcelona told through back-and-forth letters. I'm a complete Anglophile so I feel right at home with the British slang and cultural references. It's a light read and the characters are so fun. It's also making me want to take up letter writing, which I haven't done consistently since college.

3. Packed Schedule 
My February calendar is officially packed. Chelsea (Pittsburgh City Girl) contacted me yesterday about Warm Up For Boston. It's the day after the Fight for Air Climb and one week after PC, so my legs might be dead, but I'm looking forward to joining her for some laps during her 26 miler. Not running for time, just running for company and fun. Also, how cute is the penguin medal?

Last year's medals for PC and FFAC and this year's WUFB penguin.

4. Dog
Tobias has been pretty cute this week. Here's a photo from this morning of him staying warm under a blanket... while sitting on my work stuff.




5. Wishlist
Oiselle came out with some new things for Spring and I have a wish list a mile long. I also need gels and Nuun like whoa. I bought a Nuun multipack and all I've got left is orange and it's just ok...

(Apparently I like blue and black)

That's all for this week!  Be sure to visit the host's blogs to read more about this week's fitness theme (Stay Safe During Winter Runs, Cost Effective Fitness in DC, and Five Race Distances and What’s To Like About Them).