How do you interwebs?

Sorry about the blog quietness!  I have been having an issue with spam.  No, not the delightfully curious canned meat, but the kind of spam that is millions (ok, dozens) of weird comments attacking my blog with links for Viagra and discount Marc Jacobs bags.  Having a base level understanding of the interwebs to begin with, I really don’t know (also, don’t care) where to begin to stop that nonsense.  So, I shall embrace the spam, and celebrate their rogue comments.  At the very least, they are at least trying to understand and replicate my vernacular by drawing my attention with comments like “what’s up awesome friend” and excessive exclamation point usage.  You get me, spammers.  You really get me!

So here’s a quick recap of what the past week has been like.

•        I ran a few times with Matt.  It’s been weirdly hot though, and it tends to make us grouchy.  Matt also somehow became ensnared in a burr bush.  It wasn’t a great running week for us.

•        It’s been too hot to run with the dog, or even let her rock out at the dog park in the evenings, so we have been hiking in some of the forest preserves with her.  They have some off leash hiking areas that have a secret perimeter fence, so waffles feels like she’s free, and I don’t have to worry about her ending up 30 miles away.  It really has been too hot though!  She kept flopping down for breaks, and finally Matt just had to carry her, Congo style.

FREEDOM!!!

Freedom is exhausting.

•        OMG – we went in a CANOE!  THIS GIRL!  AND THAT DOG!  Matt did all of the paddling, while waffles and I cowered in the bottom of the canoe.  Then we realized the canoe was actually pretty hard to tip, and were brave enough to peek out.  And of course drink as much lake water as possible (her, not me)

we float in giant water bowl?

•        I got holographic nail polish!  I am so good at this whole being 30 thing.

The picture does NOT do this 99 cent nail polish justice.  It is much sparklier in person!

•        We saw Cheap Trick at Ravinia!!  AHHHHH!

•       And invented a second use for running shoes - wine holders!

•          I have bangs now.  I do this every couple of years for no reason.

•          I survived this mega storm!  It ruined my run, but at least I made it home in time.  I even managed to get my car into the garage for safe keeping (a first for me!)

•          Diana Nyad.  I love you.  I cheered her on all weekend.  For real, you make me want to run an ultramarathon. <3

So that was my week in a nutshell.  I actually have much to talk about in upcoming days.  None of it’s interesting, but it will definitely be words that you can read.  Or not read.  And pictures of my dog.  Hurray!

My fifth marathon.

Friday night, Matt, Waffles and I packed up the old versa an headed up to central Wisconsin.  I had wanted to write a blog post about my "taper week"  but you really don't taper when you don't train for a marathon.  I had the worst week ever last week, that reached its low point Thursday afternoon as i sat crying in the bathroom work.  Way to show you are the only girl in the office, right?  Anyway, by the time Friday evening came, i was so grateful for two days to get away from everything that i would have run any amount of miles just for the chance to escape.

So we made the 4 hour trek to Wautoma.  I ate in the car (totes the best way to prepare for a marathon) and as we got closer, the roads just got more and more rural.  I had booked us a room in the Super 8 motel which was both dog friendly and about a mile from the start/finish.  Matt kept teasing me, because apparently he thinks he is above staying at the super 8, but it was seriously the best decision ever.  There were SO nice.  We got in around 10:30, and the lady had even printed a little map for so we would know how to get to the race in the morning.  

Coach waffles with a last minute pep talk.

The other cool thing about Super 8 is they have continental breakfast every day starting at 5:30.  I had brought my own clif bar, because i eat one before every marathon, but it was nice to have coffee that wasn't instant.  When i was making my second coffee trip, a girl approached me to ask me which race i was running.  Apparently it was her first marathon, and she was trying to find someone to buddy up with to help her finish.  Her goal was around 5 hours.  I said that i had low expectations because i had skipped most of my training, but that i was pretty sure i could get her there! So, i told her i would meet her at the start line.  There were only 72 runners, so it was pretty easy to find her.

We got there early so i could get my race number (which took all of 90 seconds, so i don't know why i was worried) The t-shirt was long-sleeved (which i actually prefer!) and we got a cute water bottle, and the bag was one of those nice drawstring ones.  They had fruit and bagels for everyone, even the spectators, which was really nice!

pre-race dancing

While we were waiting for it to start, another girl approached me to ask me about my top.  She eventually said she was just making an excuse to find out how fast i run, because i looked like competition.  LOL!  I told her my seriously runner look was all a rouse, and she had nothing to worry about. But, i kind of consider this a BQ in looking awesome.  So yay, me.
Actually, a good chunk of my outfit was new, as in never worn before.  New shoes, bra, and shorts.  Hows that for living on the edge?

They said a prayer for Boston before the start of the race, and we were off!

I won't bore you with the mile by mile break down, but i will say this.  I was so focused on making sure Bethany had a good first marathon experience that i never had my normal "marathon breakdown"  There were no tears, no sitting down on a curb, no vowing to never run a marathon again.  I felt strong the entire time.  Thats not to say it was easy.  It was a hilly course - nonstop rolling hills.  Oh, and i didn't train to run a marathon.  My feet were killing me by mile 12 (it could have been that i was wearing new shoes too?  who knows)  But, despite the difficulty, worrying about someone else took my mind off everything.  I told stories, i made up little songs (like the "f*** you mile 22" song).  I know the last 6 miles were really hard for her.  They are hard for everyone, but i think they are especially hard during your first marathon.  We took frequent walk breaks, i did my best to keep us on pace.  It got a little warm (70!) and sunny.  The police were nice enough to drive along the course to bring us all bottles of water (aid stations were about 3 miles apart, so i was grateful for the extra water in the sun!) We finally hit the home stretch, and i just started yelling at her to run as fast as she could.  Then i started yelling at everyone else that this was her first marathon, and people seemed to get that, and just started cheering and yelling, and i was behind her just screaming "FIRST TIME MARATHONER RIGHT HERE"  in hindsight, the poor girl probably wanted to trip me.  But i will never forget the suck level of my first marathon finish, and everyone should have people cheering for them, even if its 10 people.  And those 10 people ROCKED.  I got her across the finish line in 5 hours and 1 minute.  I was a minute off, but hey - it was my first time pacing someone (and the course was long).  I think she was pleased anyway.  

The aftermath:  I don't want people to think that not training for a marathon is all sunshine and roses.  I am lucky to even finish the race.  My pinky toenail split right down the middle, and i have a sharp pain in my lower back that will not go away.  So, I am not sure if there is a market right now for the "Gingerfoxxx training plan: drink your way to a marathon finish"  But then again, maybe people would be on board with that....I also have the most brutal sunburn i have had in YEARS.  I put on sunblock, but i didn't expect it to be quite so warm and sunny, so i had just put it on around my arm warmers.  I took the arm-warmers off at mile 5 and my arms FRIED in the sun.  I can barely type this actually.  A rookie sauce mistake i will NOT make again.  But seriously, i CAN'T WAIT to run another marathon.  Only i will train this time!

The rest of the weekend:  Since i ran a conservative race, i didn't feel like i was dying the way i normally do.  Matt and i decided to go bar hopping in Wautoma!

THE MEGA-FRY!

When in Wisconsin, you have lots of cheese and beer.  It is known.
We also took Waffles out for a nice hike on some Wisconsin trails, since she was so well behaved at the race.

The next day, we took the long way home so that we could stop by the super remote cemetary my Dad is buried at.  I try and make it once a year, and i usually leave random things there - it's so fried green tomatoes.

Is it morbid to take photos at cemetary?  I always do...

Hopefully he like the race medal.  I thought it was cool!  We took our time on the way back, and hit up some farmers markets, and just cruised through country roads enjoying the scenery and fresh air.  I think the whole weekend did us ALL some good.

She likes the view on my shoulders....

So, in short Jailbreak was a great race.  The course is constant rolling hills, so its a little hard on the legs and feet.  There were 72 runners total for the full marathon, so it will be lonely.  If you need crowds, it might not be for you.  If you like trees, wild turkeys, and amish children waiving at you from a horse drawn cart, then this is totally for you.  I would like to run it again, especially because how fun Wautoma was.  I would run a marathon just as an excuse to visit!!

Countdown to next marathon - August!!

Flashback

You might recall about month ago, a group of chicago running bloggers went on a fun run, ended up at the half acre brewery tour, and were scolded by the fashionable young man who thought we were a little too boisterous.

Well, Erin of LoopLooks coordinated a little fashion link-up where we could all put up our best attempt  of replicating his appearance.  And for reasons i will never understand, this is the only thing i have been able to keep on my mind for the past 4 weeks.  Seriously, i have been forgetting things left and right, but this?  This i remembered even in my dreams.  I have some serious priority issues.

So this was our friend.  I'm going to call him Stuart.  I highly doubt his name is Stuart, but i was too drunk to remember, and he looks like a Stuart.  I digress.

This is my homage to Stuart:

I know you're all doing a double take right now!!

Obviously, you can't even tell which is which.  Just to prove that it's really me, and not just a second picture of Stuart, here is a pic of me and Wafflito!

***Waffles does not approve of this outfit or this photo.

Needless to say, I can't believe i felt the need to write a whole post about this.  Obviously, i lead an exciting life.  Although, while its not a competition, i obviously won, AND i get bonus points for holding an even more obscure beer than the beer guy.  Thats right, Matt and I scowered all the Binny's in Chicagoland and found the last two Ommegang special edition Game of Thrones "Iron Throne Blonde Ales" in Downer's Grove.  YEAH we went to Downer's Grove for nerd beer!

So i out-beered and out-hipstered the beer hipster.  At least i am succeeding at something!!

A week of fretting.

Are you a fretter? 

Synonyms 
1. fume, rage. 6. worry, harass, goad, tease. 7. erode, gnaw, corrode, abrade, grind, rub, rust. 10.harassment, agitation, worry.

When i start to worry about something, it takes over my life.  I've been this way every since i was a little, and as a 6 year old, i would express concern over the way my parents were managing the household.  I was that kid.  Some people have perfected the art of "going with the flow" but not me.

Neither the weather or I can get our shit together this week....

I might be looking at some major changes on the horizon, (or maybe i won't? I'm just fretting after all!)  But regardless, worrying about potential change is eating at my insides.  And any possibility for change in my routine has my whole week out of sorts.  Normally i have all my meals prepared so i can just grab them and go, my running bag is packed, my blog posts are typed.  This week?  No.  I am running in wool socks and eating stale jelly beans for breakfast.

What is the most horrible feeling your feet have ever experienced?  Because until you try running on a treadmill in thick wool walking socks, you do not know pain....

As i was running out my door this morning, late, disheveled, and shooting reddi-wip into my mouth justifying it as breakfast (it's like the cousin of yogurt, right??) It occurred to me that i might not be the only one who falls apart in the face of change.

So, before my car keys end up in the freezer, and my feet end up chafing down to the bone, Do you also worry needlessly??  How do you snap yourself out of it?

When the going gets tough....

The tough buy hats.

So now i am very easy to spot!  If you see me on the lakefront this winter, say hi!  And tell me to move my ass!  I could use the encouragement/threatening demands.

Gearing up for winter marathon training.

As the temps continue to hover in the upper 20's, anyone running in Chicagoland is well aware of the need to put way more consideration into what we wear for a run.  Gone are the days of throwing on a tank and shorts.  The irony being, for the Dublin marathon, it was in the 40's, and i wore a tank and shorts, with arm warmers.  Now that it is 15 degrees cooler, i wont even look at my running shoes without wearing pants, a long sleeve shirt, a jacket, two pairs of socks, gloves, an ear warmer, a hat, and possibly a scarf.  How does 15 degrees make such a huge difference??

Last year, when i started marathon training about this same time, i showed up looking like this:

No.  Seriously.  All of this is cotton, by the way.  Just throwing that out there.  This is a laid out inventory of all that was worn.

The only thing i wasn't wearing is that flask in the corner.  That was for after.  

Obviously, i do NOT like being cold.  

I am pleased to say I am better prepared this year then i was last year.  Other than the amazing upgrade to actual running tights, rather than american eagle sweatpants with SEQUINS on them, I also now sporting proper hand protection technology.

Not because i'm prepared....haha, no.  Because Erin is prepared!

I recieved (stole) these sweet Saucony running gloves at a recent Chicago Running Bloggers holiday party, and now that i have taken them out for a few spins, especially this week now that the temps are actually below freezing, i though i would share my thoughts.  

First off, they're pink.  And they match my running shoes.  So thats exciting!

Secondly, the mitt part is actually a second layer.  If you get too warm, you can flip it off.  You'd be surprised how warm your hands will actually get - i ended up flipping the mitt off within 2 miles, and it was pretty darn cold.  

There are also mini hoods for your thumb and index finger, you know, in case you need to text someone while you're running.  I find this to be totally pointless, as i am not usually using my phone on a run, and if it was an emergency, i would just take the glove off rather than fiddle around with the tiny little finger hoods.

Probably the best feature is this little snap that keeps the gloves attached when you are not wearing them.  I can't tell you how many single gloves i have floating around.  

I lied.  The best part is this blinky light.  Granted, i am never alone running in the dark, it's always nice to have a blinky light.  Always.  

All in all, i am a big fan.  They kept my hands surprisingly warm, and the biggest improvement was that they kept my hands dry.  I tend to end up being a snotty mess when i run in the cold, and cotton gloves usually end up wet, gross, and cold.  

In summary, cotton gloves work.  Although, sometimes you need two pairs.  But running tech gloves are awesome.  And apparently you can find them at places like Marshalls and TJ Maxx for a very reasonable price.  

I have proven that you really don't need anything but shoes to train for a marathon.  But having some tech gear is definitely a bonus.  And sometimes more fashionable.  

I MEAN, SERIOUSLY????

***For the record, Saucony has no idea i even exist.  I stole these gloves from Cary during the yankee swap.  Winning.

race hair

For reasons i will never understand, more than one person has asked me how i do my hair for distance races, because it always stays intact, and looks stylish.  While i can't agree with the stylish part, i can agree that my hair does, in fact, stay put during half and full marathons.  And i assure, you i am out there for a fairly long time.  

So, while i would best describe my race hair as "ginger yeti" meets "refugee",  here are the steps to do it yourself!

***please excuse the eyebags, i have not been sleeping well!

Step one, take a bunch of selfies in the bathroom mirror, because no one will help you do this.

2. Take the front section of your hair, which is usually shorter than the rest of your hair.  (or if you have bangs)  Pull them back to one side, and twist the hair as you go.

 3.  Secure it with a bobby pin

 4.  THIS IS THE KEY! put a second bobby pin in to secure it in place.  One bobby pin will betray you half way through the race...

 5.  To be honest, a lot of days i just wear my hair like this.  It keeps my bangs out of my eyes, and is super easy, and looks like i care more than i do about my appearance.  

 6.  Pull the rest of your hair back into a high pony tail, and MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING TWO HAIR TIES!!

7.   Wrap the hair ties around the pony tail twice (or three times if you have thin hair) Sorry for the blurry photo - this process is super intense.

 8. Pull the pony tail through for your third (or fourth) time, but stop half way.  You should be left with a peacock fan on your head, and a little tail sticking out the back.

 9.  Back shot.  Notice the tail.  If you have short hair, you probably won't have much of a tail, and can stop here.  As you can see, my rapunzel hair still has about 8 inches of tail hanging out...

 10.  Take the leftover tail...

 11.  Wrap it around the base, covering the hair ties....

 12.  And tuck it in the back into one of the hair ties!  It should hold - i promise!

 13.  You are done at this point, but feel free to accessorize!

 14. In the summer, i tend to add a BIC band.  It helps keep the fly-aways in check, and also acts as a barrier to keep sweat out of my eyes.  And they are sparkly.  In the winter i usually don't sweat so much, or its so cold i wear a headband that covers my ears.

 15.  Congrats, you look like a hot mess, and we can be TWINSIES!!!

***Disclaimer.  I have no background in fashion or cosmetology or hair.  I do have a masters in industrial design though, so we will pretend that my structural expertise certifies me to post about marathon hairstyles that won't budge.  Also, keep in mind i am not running 6 minute miles, so this hair-do has not been speed tested.  And, at the rate i am going, it will never be.