Becoming a Better Sarah ~ 2015 Journal (The End)

stacy~** · Jun 19, 2015

You are doing great getting your runs in. I think everyone is slowing down/feeling sluggish in this heat (and humidity). Just keep on plugging away! It looks like your shorter runs are a bit faster which is what I always try for. Knowing I am not going as far I push myself a bit harder on those runs.

New shoes is a tough call. I think I need some new ones soon too. I was hoping to just rebuy the pair I have cheaper somewhere else (I was fitted at a running store) but I am wondering if I shouldn't try something else. Personally for myself I will probably always spend the money and go to a running store BUT that is because I am old and have to take care of my old bones more than you young kids do. (although I am sure you could argue that taking care of them now is just as important....but just the way I think about myself now vs. how I did years ago). This was only my second time going to a running store and before then I purchased shoes like you said you did.

ursalita · Jun 21, 2015

Hey Sarah! Nice review on the fit belt. Will keep your opinion in mind if I end up getting one. :thumbsup2

Good job getting all those miles in, you're almost there!

Regarding the shoes, I would spend the extra $$ and go to a running store. I went for the first time last year and it was really nice to have someone look at how I run and recommend the right shoe for me. Now that I know what I need I can pick up the same style online for less and keep an eye out for sales.

SarahDisney · Jun 21, 2015

stacy~** said:
New shoes is a tough call. I think I need some new ones soon too. I was hoping to just rebuy the pair I have cheaper somewhere else (I was fitted at a running store) but I am wondering if I shouldn't try something else. Personally for myself I will probably always spend the money and go to a running store BUT that is because I am old and have to take care of my old bones more than you young kids do. (although I am sure you could argue that taking care of them now is just as important....but just the way I think about myself now vs. how I did years ago). This was only my second time going to a running store and before then I purchased shoes like you said you did.

Thanks for the advice!
It's interesting ... I definitely do take the attitude sometimes that I can "get away" with some things because I'm younger - like maybe not treating my body as well (I only started stretching after my runs a few months ago...) and going the "cheap" route instead of spending more money on something that may be better for me.
But then I remember that I have a history of joint problems (knee problems since I was a teenager, and back problems that started a few years ago) and I wonder if maybe I should be a little more careful. I should probably start forming good habits now before I'm so used to the bad habits that I don't want to stop.

ursalita said:
Regarding the shoes, I would spend the extra $$ and go to a running store. I went for the first time last year and it was really nice to have someone look at how I run and recommend the right shoe for me. Now that I know what I need I can pick up the same style online for less and keep an eye out for sales.

Thanks for the advice! I definitely am leaning towards going to a running store, it's just really hard for me to justify spending the money right now. I know I want to do it eventually, though, so I'm probably going to try to get through the summer on my current shoes, and hopefully in a few months it'll be easier for me to spend that money.
But I do plan to only go once (or once every few years) and then just buy them cheaper online for the next few pairs.

wellesleyprincess · Jun 22, 2015

SarahDisney said:
General Stuff:
The heels of my sneakers are starting to get pretty worn out, which means it’s probably time for new shoes. I wanted to go to a running store and get fitted for my next pair of shoes (so that I know I’m wearing the right shoes) … but I’m not ready to spend that much on shoes right now (I thought I’d have a few more months with these). So now I’m left with the decision of whether to keep wearing my worn out shoes (probably not a good idea for much longer), buy another pair of cheap (but maybe not best for my particular feet/running style) shoes, or somehow find the money to get expensive shoes (which, based on how long these have lasted me, will be close to needing to be replaced in January). Add to that the fact that I need a few new pairs of running capris … it’s definitely a tough call.
Just a note on what I mean by "cheap" shoes - I usually buy Asics (so it's not like I'm wearing some random brand). They were recommended to me by a friend because of my high arches, and I'm currently on my 3rd pair (I think). I usually just buy whatever style is on sale at Kohl's or DSW. However, when I got my current pair, they weren't so comfortable at first (they're fine now), so I'm wondering if maybe certain models of Asics are better for me, or if I should try out a different brand ... and that's why I want to get fitted at a running store.

I definitely recommend going to a running store for the shoes. If there are two things I think people should actually invest in from the running store it's shoes and socks. The capris you can get at Target, Kohls, or wherever, and it won't make a difference (but do try to get moisture wicking fabric). True running shoes are different then the ones sold in department stores and you can feel the difference in quality and they will keep you healthier. Better quality shoes also last longer (at least from what I understand). I was always taught depending on your intensity, the brand of shoes, and your personal preferences last 300-500 miles. I tend to start rotating mine at 250, and retire the old pair at 400. (I'm pretty high mileage for these boards 25-35 miles per week, so a typical pair of shoes lasts me about 10 weeks before I start rotating a new pair if that makes you feel any better.)

SarahDisney · Jun 25, 2015

wellesleyprincess said:
I definitely recommend going to a running store for the shoes. If there are two things I think people should actually invest in from the running store it's shoes and socks. The capris you can get at Target, Kohls, or wherever, and it won't make a difference (but do try to get moisture wicking fabric). True running shoes are different then the ones sold in department stores and you can feel the difference in quality and they will keep you healthier. Better quality shoes also last longer (at least from what I understand). I was always taught depending on your intensity, the brand of shoes, and your personal preferences last 300-500 miles. I tend to start rotating mine at 250, and retire the old pair at 400. (I'm pretty high mileage for these boards 25-35 miles per week, so a typical pair of shoes lasts me about 10 weeks before I start rotating a new pair if that makes you feel any better.)

Thanks for the tips! I think that at 300-500 miles, a new pair should last me until January (although it might be time to start introducing a new pair shortly before the races). Right now I'm at about 10 miles a week, and I don't think I'll be over 15 by January, so a new pair of shoes should last me 6-8 months or so.

I think I am going to go to a running store within the next month or so ... hopefully. I'm just waiting for one or two things to fall into place before I make the decision, but that's where I'm leaning.
I wouldn't be surprised if when I get fitted for new shoes, Asics (which is what I've been wearing for the past 4-5 years) is one of the brands that is suggested - I usually do really well with Asics, it's just the model I have right now that isn't working great for me. I do want to find out if there's another brand that will also work well for me, though.
Socks, on the other hand ... I have yet to find running socks that I like that both are the right height (I don't like the low socks for running because I get blisters with them sometimes) and not ridiculously expensive. I keep looking, but on the rare occasion that I do find socks I like (which has only happened once or twice), they're too expensive. I'm a big budget shopper - I like to find good workout stuff as cheap as I can (my $13 Nike long-sleeve dri-fit moisture wicking shirt is one of my favorite examples of that), so it's hard for me to swallow buying things full price.
Capris I usually buy at Old Navy - I can usually get good moisture-wicking capris for less than $15 on sale. I just have to actually get to Old Navy (it's at a different mall than the rest of my stores)

SarahDisney · Jun 26, 2015

Progress Update: 6/26

Weight Loss:
My Friday weigh-in was up 1 lb.

Not surprising. This week I was pretty terrible … I made a meal plan and didn’t stick to it, didn’t track my food most days. I snacked a lot, didn’t put any effort into having fruits and veggies, and just generally didn’t have a good food week.
(Seriously … yesterday I was pretty much Cookie Monster, except with a better grasp of the English language)

Running:
I don’t think I’ve mentioned this before, so I’ll mention it now: unless otherwise specified, I’m a morning runner. But not so much early morning. My schedule is basically hit the snooze button at 7:15, roll out of bed somewhere around 7:30-7:45, grab a pre-run “snack” (for longer runs) and fill up my water bottle (I try to have 1-2 cups of water before I go out), get dressed, say my morning prayers, put on my shoes and put in my contacts, refill my water bottle and grab any during-the-run nutrition, and then head out somewhere between 8:30 AM and 9:15 AM. So not super early, but still pretty much first thing in the morning for me. So that’s just some general info about my morning routine that is only slightly relevant to this week’s runs.

Monday 6/22:
When you’re me and you’re totally distance and pace impaired, problems with the GPS tracking on your phone can be a nightmare. So of course, that’s what happened. I accidentally paused the GPS (I thought I was fixing the “no signal” problem … apparently not). Once I got it restarted it was fine, but it was still missing about 11 minutes. Once I got home I kinda got it fixed, but then the steps on my Fitbit got all messed up … I think everything is close to accurate now, but I’m not 100% sure.
4.91 miles in 1:02:19 hours (12’41” pace)
Fastest mile mile 2 at 12:06 and slowest mile was mile 4 at 13:15 (but part of this was standing still while refilling my water bottle – I don’t bother stopping the GPS when I do that, so it tends to mess up my pace for that mile a bit).
Not having the GPS working properly was definitely annoying, but I survived. The walk intervals I had set up made dealing with the heat a little easier, but there’s still work to be done.

Thursday 6/25:
I had a hard time getting started this morning – I just kept getting distracted while I was praying, and then I went to look at our new car, then I was reading something online … but I finally made it out the door a little after 9. It was less humid that it’s been recently, which was nice, but towards the end of the run it still got too hot for me.
5.1 miles in 1:01:57 hours (12’07” pace)
Fastest mile was mile 1 at 10:53 and slowest mile was mile 5 at 12:42. As you can see, I slowed down quite a bit.
The first half of the run was okay, even though I started out too strong. But the second half was brutal. I ended up taking extra walk breaks, and I called it about a minute early (I considered stopping even earlier, but when I took out my phone and saw 4.8 miles, I knew I had to keep going until I hit 5 miles). I don’t think it was the heat, I think it was the length of the run that really got to me (more on that in a bit). Overall, not my best run, but also not my worst.

I’m starting to think that 2 long runs is too much for me in a week. But I’m not ready to move to 3 runs every week yet, and I want to still get in the miles every week. So I’m thinking about 1 long run and 1 medium (45 minute) run in my 2 run weeks … I’ll still get in 8-9 miles every week, and I’m not out there for a second mentally & physically tough hour-plus run. I noticed today that things really started to get worse around 40-45 minutes, so I think this is a good length for my second run.
I think this summer heat is really teaching me a lot about what training schedule works best for me.

Here’s the updated Goofy Graphic:

And yes, you are seeing what you think you’re seeing …
Goofy Goal = MET!
With a few days left in the month, too. Anyone think I can make it up to Dopey? (It’s possible … if I run on Sunday & Tuesday, which is what I currently have scheduled)

General Stuff:
I’ve always been one of those people who feels a little left out. Even among my friends (back when I had lots of friends), I always felt a little bit like I didn’t belong as part of the group, no matter how much my awesome friends tried to make me feel included.
But here … it’s different. Both on the TRs & on the WISH boards … I’m definitely not the most popular person on the DIS, but I do still get a sense of community. I get a sense that people (both here and on my PTRs/TRs) actually are interested in what I have to say and care about me and my plans and my journey … and that makes me feel included, which is a really nice feeling. So thank you to everyone reading this for being here, supporting me, and helping me feel included!

Sarah's Funny of the Week:
This is a new section of the recap where I add something funny I said or did this week … just to add some humor to the recap ... and so that I never end on a totally serious note
Thursday morning, popped into my head pre-run:
The best time to shop for long-sleeve running shirts is in the spring. They're all on sale/clearance ... because I'm the only one nutty enough to wear long sleeves while running in this weather.
(Although for me it’s because I want my elbows covered and I can’t find half-sleeves … so it’s not entirely nutty … but it was still funny in my head when I said it).

stacy~** · Jun 26, 2015

Bummer on being up a pound but at least when you know you "earned" it and kind of expect it then it is not as hard to swallow. I like the Cookie Monster reference. We all have those days.

My mornings sounds like yours....I get up between 7:15 and 8. I have coffee/breakfast and check-in with email (and here!) and try and hit the road around 9-9:30. Ok so maybe I am a little slower moving than you. On days when I know it is going to be super hot or I have a really long run I try and get out a bit quicker.

Nice job on your runs!! I think you are really, really improving. If you feel like you are pushing too hard then I think it is a great idea to change one of those longer runs to a mid-range run. Or maybe even change it to a mid-range run but add a longer cool down walk so you are getting the same mileage in?

Great job on meeting your goal with days to spare! I knew you'd get there.

The Dis board is a great community. I always look forward to your updates and am looking forward to meeting you and Beth in January!

wellesleyprincess · Jun 28, 2015

SarahDisney said:
Sarah's Funny of the Week:
This is a new section of the recap where I add something funny I said or did this week … just to add some humor to the recap ... and so that I never end on a totally serious note
Thursday morning, popped into my head pre-run:
The best time to shop for long-sleeve running shirts is in the spring. They're all on sale/clearance ... because I'm the only one nutty enough to wear long sleeves while running in this weather.
(Although for me it’s because I want my elbows covered and I can’t find half-sleeves … so it’s not entirely nutty … but it was still funny in my head when I said it).

I don't wear them this time of year but I do buy them and save them for winter. Although at this point, I've racked up enough race shirts that I probably shouldn't be buying them anyway. My favorite long sleeves are the Underarmour cold gear and the ones with thumbholes. I can't imagine running in them this time of year (I respect your dedication to your beliefs tremendously) but then I'm also in the South and last week it was close to 80 degrees and 80% humidity when I would run at 6 am so the less clothing the better.

SarahDisney · Jun 28, 2015

stacy~** said:
Bummer on being up a pound but at least when you know you "earned" it and kind of expect it then it is not as hard to swallow. I like the Cookie Monster reference. We all have those days.

Yeah, it's definitely rough, but a lot easier to handle when I know I haven't been doing well. The weeks when it seems like I'm doing everything right and I still gain are the really tough ones.

stacy~** said:
My mornings sounds like yours....I get up between 7:15 and 8. I have coffee/breakfast and check-in with email (and here!) and try and hit the road around 9-9:30. Ok so maybe I am a little slower moving than you. On days when I know it is going to be super hot or I have a really long run I try and get out a bit quicker.

I can't have coffee before I run ... I hate taking pit stops during my run

. I definitely try not to drag out my morning routine too much, because I know that the longer I wait to go out, the more likely I am to just give up and push the run off a day (although I'm getting a lot better at not doing that).
But like you, I try to get out a little earlier when it's really hot or I'm planning to do a long run.

stacy~** said:
Nice job on your runs!! I think you are really, really improving. If you feel like you are pushing too hard then I think it is a great idea to change one of those longer runs to a mid-range run. Or maybe even change it to a mid-range run but add a longer cool down walk so you are getting the same mileage in?

Thanks! I really like the idea of adding a longer cool down walk to get in the extra miles. That way I'm still getting the time/distance in, but I'm not pushing myself too hard. Thanks for the suggestion!

stacy~** said:
Great job on meeting your goal with days to spare! I knew you'd get there.

Thanks

I got in another 5+ miles today, so I'm getting close to the Dopey distance!

stacy~** said:
The Dis board is a great community. I always look forward to your updates and am looking forward to meeting you and Beth in January!

So, I'm hanging out with Beth last week, and she says to me, "Am I going to get to meet Stacy in January?"
My answer was a very emphatic yes. I certainly wasn't planning to abandon her and meet you without her!

wellesleyprincess said:
I don't wear them this time of year but I do buy them and save them for winter. Although at this point, I've racked up enough race shirts that I probably shouldn't be buying them anyway. My favorite long sleeves are the Underarmour cold gear and the ones with thumbholes. I can't imagine running in them this time of year (I respect your dedication to your beliefs tremendously) but then I'm also in the South and last week it was close to 80 degrees and 80% humidity when I would run at 6 am so the less clothing the better.

It's good to know I'm not the only one who shops for long sleeve shirts this time of year ... the more of us there are, the more likely stores are to keep selling them! I hate thumbholes, but lately I've been buying them because they're what I see ... I'm starting to get used to them.
I'm really impressed that you can go out and run in that weather ... I'm pretty terrible with the heat. I couldn't imagine going out in that heat/humidity in long sleeves ... that would be when I have to start running indoors (or just wear oversized t-shirts like a few of the women from my community do). So I definitely get why you're saving the long sleeves for winter!

SarahDisney · Jul 1, 2015

July Goals

Before I get to July goals, I just want to recap June’s goals:

Weight loss goal – 1.5/4 lbs
At my end-of-month weigh-in, I was down 1 lb from Friday. Which I guess is a good thing. So I’m down for the month, even if I didn’t reach my goal.

Running goal – 51.01 miles/39.3 miles
That’s right …

I didn’t want to set Dopey as a goal because I didn’t want to end up disappointed. But I think the fact that I hit 5 miles long before I thought I would, and that I was able to hit it again fairly consistently, made a huge difference.

And now, on to July goals…
I’m not doing a major running goal again, but I do have a few “assorted” goals:
Total Exercise Minutes: 1200 - Exercise minutes consist of whatever my Fitbit says + any exercise that doesn’t register on Fitbit (things like Pilates, Yoga, and basically anything without walking/running don’t show up on Fitbit).
Weight Loss Goal: 2 lbs – it’s a small goal, but one I hope I can accomplish!
Running Goal: At least 10 runs over the course of the month – I don’t care about length or distance, I just want to get out there and make an attempt to run at least 10 times this month (I’m actually planning for 11, but leaving myself some room just in case I have to cancel a run).
Other Goals:

Sign Up for a Race – the race doesn’t have to be in July (in fact, July races won’t work for me), but I realized that I want to do another race before Disney, and I want to sign up for it soon – so I’m setting July as my deadline for signing up for my next race … whenever it happens to be. I would like to do an 8K, as I think that would be a great “stepping stone” between 5K and 10K, but since those aren’t quite so common, I’ll probably end up with a 5K (and I’m cool with that).
Do the Research on Getting Fitted for New Shoes – While I don’t think my current shoes will make it to the end of July (I plan to start alternating them with my old shoes, which are actually in slightly better condition, but still at the end of their lifecycle), I don’t know that I’ll be getting new shoes yet, because I want to go with my sister, and she’s in school all of July. So unless we can go on a Friday (not likely because of my schedule), it’ll have to wait until August. However, I do want to do all the research – find out where people recommend going, what the procedure is, what I need to bring with me, etc – so that when I am ready to go, I can just get up and go and not have to worry about anything.

So, those are my July goals. I’ll keep updating at the end of every week so that you can track my progress!

SarahDisney · Jul 3, 2015

Progress Update: 7/3

Weight Loss:
My Friday weigh-in was …
1 lb down from last week,
the same as my end-of-June weigh in, and
0.5 lbs down from my beginning-of-July weigh-in.

This week I just tried to make better choices … I know that’s a very abstract thing to say, but I wanted something a little more low-key, and I think this was it.
I was actually a little surprised not to be up this week, because I ate a lot of chocolate … maybe the running helped with that? Either way, other than the chocolate, I made some good choices, but there’s still a lot of room for improvement.

My goal for next week is no more than 3 “cups” of coffee (for me a cup is actually 16 oz, because that’s how big my coffee cup is, but its fine). I’ve never been an every day coffee drinker, and lately I’ve been having a lot more coffee than I should, so I want to try to get back to only having coffee if I really need it or I haven’t had in a while. This week I was actually pretty good early in the week – only had coffee on Sunday – but then Wed/Thurs/Fri I was back to every day, so I really want to try to build on what I had earlier this week.

July Weight Loss Progress: 0.5/2 lb (25%)

Running:
This week was scheduled to be 1 long run and 2 short runs.

Sunday 6/28:
The weather was cooler than it had been of late, so I decided that this would be the perfect day for my long run. It wasn’t easy, but I just went out there and did it, took walk breaks when I felt I needed them (in addition to my regularly scheduled breaks). I actually ended up adding another half a minute to the end of the run just because I wanted to reach the entrance where I usually come into the park.
5.28 miles in 1:04:39 hours (12’15” pace)
Fastest mile was mile 2 at 11:58 and slowest mile was mile 5 at 12:37. I definitely slowed down for the last 2 miles, but I didn’t mind. I think I’m learning that pace and running vs. walking don’t matter – it’s just getting the minutes and miles in, and it doesn’t matter how easy or hard it is, as long as I do it. With enough practice, it’ll get easier, I just have to get that practice in.
This was my first time passing 5.25 miles, which was nice. It might not sound like a huge accomplishment, but I'm actually now more than 2/3rds of the way from 5K to 10K!

Tuesday 6/30:
This was scheduled to be a 34 minute run, but I decided to just go for 3 miles. I think that was the right decision for me – I think that having that 3 mile goal and wanting to get to 3 miles, however long it took, really motivated me.
3.02 miles in 36:12 minutes (11’58” pace)
Fastest mile was mile 1 at 11:27 and slowest mile was mile 3 at 12:40.
2 miles to 2.5 miles was the hardest segment for me, and I had to take some extra walk breaks (I scheduled a 30 second walk break after each half mile), but I knew I was okay with that and ended up running the last half mile with no problems. I probably should have gone for 5K, but I didn’t think about that until after I had already stopped the GPS and switched back to walking … no big deal. If I can do 3 miles, I can do 5K, and I don’t need one run to tell me that.

Thursday 7/2:
This run had the potential to be rough – I didn’t sleep well the night before because I was in a lot of pain (not running related, just something that happens to me occasionally), and I was out of tech shirts and had to wear a regular t-shirt – but I wasn’t going to let that get me down! Once I got to the park and started running, right out of the gate I knew I was going fast, but I felt like I could probably keep it up for the next 28 minutes, so I kept going. The result?
2.60 miles in 28:41 minutes (11’01” pace)
Mile 1 was 11:00 and mile 2 was 10:59. I actually took an extra 20 second walk break during the last half mile – without that break I most likely would have been below 11 minutes (something to hope for next time!)
I had a little knee pain, and I’m still adjusting to my new capris, but mostly this was a great run throughout – I felt good, I kept up my speed, and the result was my fastest pace ever!

July Running Goal Progress: 1/10 runs (10%)

General Stuff:
I bought a pair of capris! They were a little more than I wanted to spend, but I realized that I kinda really needed to get them this week. They’re gray and black … I wanted more colorful, but then they wouldn’t match all of my shirts … what I really need to do is get rid of all the running clothes I have and start from scratch so that I can get matching fun shirts & pants ... but it's easier/cheaper to just get plainer bottoms and work with what I have. I tried on a medium and a large (different styles – they didn’t have the large in the style I liked better), and while they both fit, the large felt more comfortable, so I went with that. It felt nice to have the option of the medium, even if it’s not what I ended up getting.

Sarah's Funny of the Week:
This week’s funny comes to you courtesy of my awesome sister (and travel/runDisney/everything else companion), Beth:
“Life gets soggy very quickly. That’s probably a metaphor.”
(This was the one day this week that we had breakfast together ... she was talking about her cereal)

SarahDisney · Jul 5, 2015

I’m Off to the Races … Once I Pick a Race

(Three updates in less than a week? I'm on a roll!)

One of my goals for the month of July is to sign up for a race before Disney. I actually found a bunch of races I like after Disney (including 2 that have portions inside mines, one of which is actually on a Sunday and at a mine & museum I went to a few years ago), but not as many as I thought I would before Disney. But there are some I’m considering, so I figured I’d list some pros and cons here. I’ve limited each race to a maximum of 2 pros and 2 cons … so it’ll be more of an issue of weighing which pros and cons are more important than how many there. I’d love some input on what you think is and isn’t important on my pro/con lists!

Right now I’m thinking either 2 local races (or 1 travel race if I find a travel race I like), but … we’ll see. I just want to pick one race to start.

8/6/15 – NYRR R-U-N 5K
Pros:

It’s coming up soon … which means it’s a more concrete plan and not something abstract in the future
It’s an evening run – I don’t have to be there until 5:30 PM, so there’s no early wakeup, and it starts at 7, which means I should be done around 8, and I can go for a quick drink after and still be home by 10 (yes, I’m 28 and I like to go to bed by 11. I’m strange.)

Cons:

It’s a “social run,” and since I’m running by myself (its Beth’s last day of school and I don’t really know many other local runners) and I’m kinda shy, it might be a little awkward
I don’t know if my new shoes will be “broken in” by then (I don’t even know if I will have had time to get new shoes), and I don’t think my current shoes are race-usable

11/26/15 – Turkey Trot, Prospect Park (Brooklyn, NY), 5 Miles
Pros:

5 miles seems like a good transition point between 5K and 10K
It’s local and accessible by subway, so I don’t have to worry about transportation, hotels, how to get there, etc

Cons:

9 AM start in Brooklyn means being out of the house by 6 (6:30 if I can convince Beth to take the LIRR and/or we do packet pickup in advance)
I’m really not sure if Beth will be up to 5 miles by November

11/26/15 – Oyster Bay Turkey Trot 5K
Pros:

5K will be a manageable distance for Beth
Cheaper than other Turkey Day races

Cons:

Getting to Oyster Bay will be a pain in the neck and will take 2+ hours (at least)
The race/course itself doesn't interest me much

11/29/15 - NYCRUNS Riverside Park Cocoa Classic 5K
Pros:

Free hot cocoa!!
I think I would enjoy running in Riverside Park (the race is a block east and about 25 blocks north of where I used to work)

Cons:

No idea if the hot cocoa will be kosher (some brands are actually not – and if it isn’t, it’ll put a bit of a damper on the race)
Advance packet pickup is Saturday only, so I’ll have to get there early day-of for packet pickup

12/6/15 – NYC RUNS Running Festival of Lights, Chanukah Gelt 5K
Pros:

It’s about a month before Disney, which I think is a great time for a “last” race
I kinda like that there’s a Chanukah-themed medal involved

Cons:

For strange reasons I really can't go into, I might not be comfortable in the crowd of people participating in this event
I’d have to be in Brooklyn for an 8 AM start, which means leaving the house around 5:30. I’m really not wild about doing that in the winter when it’s still pitch black out.

These are all local races. I’m sure there are more races out there, both local and within easily travelable distance (I’m thinking of Philly or Boston, but I could also do Baltimore or DC pretty easily), but … I don’t know where to look. I don’t know how to find out about races. So right now I’m just searching one or two websites or for very specific things … but I know there are races out there that might interest me that I haven’t found. I just don’t know how to find them!

Anyway … please feel free to give me your thoughts on which pros/cons you think should be deal makers/breakers for me! I know that picking out races can be a very individual thing, which is why ultimately I have to make the decision and I can’t ask y’all to make the decision for me, but I’d love some input from my seasoned, not so seasoned, and beginner runners!

stacy~** · Jul 5, 2015

You got some really great runs in last week! Congrats! Both a new farthest distance and a fastest pace shorter run? You should be super proud of both and it really shows you are improving!

Coffee only 3 times a week. That would be totally not possible for me but I am trying to limit my use of junk in my coffee and drinking it black (which I really like ok....just not as much as all the sweet flavored coffee cream that is terrible for you). Making smarter choices is a great step and sounds like it is working. When I am eating well I would say that is the policy I use. I need you to motivate me back to it.

New work out clothes are always fun!

In general I am not a "fun run" person so I get you in not wanting to do those. From the info you listed my choice would be:

11/26/15 – Turkey Trot, Prospect Park (Brooklyn, NY), 5 Miles

Biggest Pro in my mind is that it is 5 miles. I think running in a 5 mile race (which you are ready for) will give you much more confidence going into the RunDisney weekend than a 5k will. I know you are concerned about Beth but given that the RD event is just around 6 weeks after that I would think she would be close to 5 miles and maybe she could walk the end if needed. ALSO in general I am not a fan of Turkey Trot races because I think a lot of non-runners come out just because it is a "Thanksgiving" thing to do but given the extra 2 miles I think you won't have as many of those people to run around they will all be at 5ks.

You could also come to Ohio and run the 10k while I run the half at Kings Island in Cincinnati.

wellesleyprincess · Jul 6, 2015

I vote for Turkey Trot! Like Stacy I think the 5 miles could be a big confidence boost or at least really let you know where you are.

I would vote against the NYRR race in August. This just comes from blogs I've read, but NYRR tends to be very serious, very PR focused group (like me ;-) ). I'm sure it will be fun but it would also be very different than Disney. Also they tend to be large and I think you'd worry the whole time about making it back.

One other thing to look into if it matters to you is if the races give participants medals. At least in my area unless it is a 10 miler or longer, most don't. (You have to place to earn your medal or trophy.) If that matters to you or your sister, be sure to check in advance so you don't get disappointed.

I've cut back on coffee too this summer, but still need a cup a day. (It's more ritual than actual need for caffeine at this point.)

SarahDisney · Jul 6, 2015

stacy~** said:
You got some really great runs in last week! Congrats! Both a new farthest distance and a fastest pace shorter run? You should be super proud of both and it really shows you are improving!

Thanks! It's always nice to set some new records ... so how close do you think I am to being half-marathon ready?

stacy~** said:
Coffee only 3 times a week. That would be totally not possible for me but I am trying to limit my use of junk in my coffee and drinking it black (which I really like ok....just not as much as all the sweet flavored coffee cream that is terrible for you). Making smarter choices is a great step and sounds like it is working. When I am eating well I would say that is the policy I use. I need you to motivate me back to it.

I've tried very hard not to be an every day coffee drinker. My default coffee is with skim milk, but occasionally I'll put in some sort of flavored syrup ... which is part of what I need to cut down on.
And apparently I need to motivate you to wear your Fitbit more, too.... I've noticed that someone disappeared from my friends list 7-day step count area thing.

stacy~** said:
New work out clothes are always fun!

All new clothes are fun. Its why I spend so much time at the mall.

stacy~** said:
In general I am not a "fun run" person so I get you in not wanting to do those.

I don't mind fun runs if I'm with other people and its a theme I really like. But doing some random social fun run all by myself does not particularly appeal to me.

stacy~** said:
11/26/15 – Turkey Trot, Prospect Park (Brooklyn, NY), 5 Miles

Biggest Pro in my mind is that it is 5 miles. I think running in a 5 mile race (which you are ready for) will give you much more confidence going into the RunDisney weekend than a 5k will. I know you are concerned about Beth but given that the RD event is just around 6 weeks after that I would think she would be close to 5 miles and maybe she could walk the end if needed. ALSO in general I am not a fan of Turkey Trot races because I think a lot of non-runners come out just because it is a "Thanksgiving" thing to do but given the extra 2 miles I think you won't have as many of those people to run around they will all be at 5ks.

I really like the idea of 5 miles (or an 8K, which is about the same distance) as a stepping stone ... when I did the 5K last year, I had only just hit 3 miles a few weeks before the race. But now that I'll probably be "ready" further before the race, I like the idea of doing a transition distance.
I'm also a little worried because Beth is not adapting to the running as well as I had hoped she would, but I'm hoping that part of that is the heat and she'll be better when the weather gets better. But I think it probably would be
I don't really mind non-runners at a race ... it's a decent chunk of the people at Disney. It bothers me if they start before me and I have to pass them, but once I'm past them, I don't mind anymore.

stacy~** said:
You could also come to Ohio and run the 10k while I run the half at Kings Island in Cincinnati.

Well, I could, but ... I kinda want my first race of each "major" distance to be at Disney ... so I have to wait until January for my first 10K.

wellesleyprincess said:
I vote for Turkey Trot! Like Stacy I think the 5 miles could be a big confidence boost or at least really let you know where you are.

Thanks for the input! I definitely think getting in that 5 mile race before my first 10K will make me feel better (or tell me that I need to put in more work!)

wellesleyprincess said:
I would vote against the NYRR race in August. This just comes from blogs I've read, but NYRR tends to be very serious, very PR focused group (like me ;-) ). I'm sure it will be fun but it would also be very different than Disney. Also they tend to be large and I think you'd worry the whole time about making it back.

So ... technically I've done NYRR races before. Just not in 20 years. We were family members when I was a kid, and we did some kids races. Of course, those are probably less competitive, but it did teach me a little about NYRR.
I think that if I ever plan to do a lot of races, I will probably end up at a NYRR race at some point, so I figured that because it is a "social run," maybe it'll be a good introduction ... but I'm really not wild about the idea of the race.

wellesleyprincess said:
One other thing to look into if it matters to you is if the races give participants medals. At least in my area unless it is a 10 miler or longer, most don't. (You have to place to earn your medal or trophy.) If that matters to you or your sister, be sure to check in advance so you don't get disappointed.

That's definitely something to think about. I think the Prospect Park Turkey Trot gives out medals to all finishers (at least they did last year ... they don't have all the info posted for this year's race). I think I'd be willing to do a race without a medal if I really like the theme or course ... but it is something to think about!

wellesleyprincess said:
I've cut back on coffee too this summer, but still need a cup a day. (It's more ritual than actual need for caffeine at this point.)

I've never been an every day coffee drinker, so it's a little easier for me to cut back. I love coffee, but I don't want to get to a point where I "need" to have a cup every day.

SarahDisney · Jul 7, 2015

Just a quick shoe half-update...

I called a running store (New York Running Company in Columbus Circle) to ask them a few questions about the process. I feel much better now and will most likely end up going there for the shoe fitting (there are other stores I'm considering, but I think this one is my first choice because I know the area a little). I might go in Thursday if I have time, but more likely it'll be next week (I hope) because this has turned out to be a busier week than I thought it would be.

But anyway ... hopefully by the end of next week I will have new shoes! (Well ... maybe)

stacy~** · Jul 8, 2015

SarahDisney said:
Thanks! It's always nice to set some new records ... so how close do you think I am to being half-marathon ready?

Well most beginner training plans are 16 weeks long...so I would say 16 week away. Really though you have to be mentally ready and only you know when that is.

I've tried very hard not to be an every day coffee drinker. My default coffee is with skim milk, but occasionally I'll put in some sort of flavored syrup ... which is part of what I need to cut down on.
And apparently I need to motivate you to wear your Fitbit more, too.... I've noticed that someone disappeared from my friends list 7-day step count area thing.

Haha! I told you I am terrible at wearing the Fitbit. As soon as I need to take it off to charge it never makes it's way back on. I'll try to get it charged today. Thanks for calling me out.

All new clothes are fun. Its why I spend so much time at the mall.

I don't mind fun runs if I'm with other people and its a theme I really like. But doing some random social fun run all by myself does not particularly appeal to me.

Right, I mean I guess Disney runs are fun runs (as well as other amusement parks). I was referring more to ones like the color, glow, mud, etc. runs. Those seem to be very big around her for non-runners and those just aren't for me.

I really like the idea of 5 miles (or an 8K, which is about the same distance) as a stepping stone ... when I did the 5K last year, I had only just hit 3 miles a few weeks before the race. But now that I'll probably be "ready" further before the race, I like the idea of doing a transition distance.
I'm also a little worried because Beth is not adapting to the running as well as I had hoped she would, but I'm hoping that part of that is the heat and she'll be better when the weather gets better. But I think it probably would be
I don't really mind non-runners at a race ... it's a decent chunk of the people at Disney. It bothers me if they start before me and I have to pass them, but once I'm past them, I don't mind anymore.

Sorry that Beth isn't coming around so quickly! Wasn't more RunD events her idea (not that she had to twist your arm)? Really though she has plenty of time to get 10k ready by January so I wouldn't worry yet.

Even though I have little race experience I think a race with a good mix is nice so you would fall somewhere in the middle. It's nice to know there are slower runners/walkers behind you and also nice to have more serious runners in front of you to chase.

Well, I could, but ... I kinda want my first race of each "major" distance to be at Disney ... so I have to wait until January for my first 10K.

Just figured I would throw that out as an option for you! I originally wanted my first half to be at Disney but when my Princess half 2015 group cancelled on me and that trip feel apart I didn't know if I would ever make it to an event there so I just decided to let that dream go.

I wanted to let you know I am very thankful that you started posting in this WISH area and I somehow followed you here. I've been lurking around and hope to start posting more. I'm thinking after our trip I might start my own journal to document my runs, training, etc. It seems something like this would really help me stay focused.

Glad you found a running store you are excited to try out. I can't wait to see what shoes you get! Exciting!!

SarahDisney · Jul 9, 2015

stacy~** said:
Right, I mean I guess Disney runs are fun runs (as well as other amusement parks). I was referring more to ones like the color, glow, mud, etc. runs. Those seem to be very big around her for non-runners and those just aren't for me.

I definitely get that. I think they're a nice way to introduce people to running, but ... I can see where I runner may not enjoy having colored powder thrown at them while trying to run around the slow walkers.

stacy~** said:
Sorry that Beth isn't coming around so quickly! Wasn't more RunD events her idea (not that she had to twist your arm)? Really though she has plenty of time to get 10k ready by January so I wouldn't worry yet.

More was both of us. Increasing distance was her idea ... I was going to keep going with the 5Ks for a few more years.
I think it's also because she walked the 5K, she didn't realize how hard running would be for her. But I think she'll be okay - she says she'll probably do walk/run intervals at the race, so she just has to start adding distance even if she can't add longer running intervals.

stacy~** said:
Even though I have little race experience I think a race with a good mix is nice so you would fall somewhere in the middle. It's nice to know there are slower runners/walkers behind you and also nice to have more serious runners in front of you to chase.

Definitely. I think one of the things that was rough for me at the first 5K was that while I was waiting in line for Minnie I got passed by pretty much everyone, so there weren't really many people behind me. But I think that this time because we'll be in an earlier corral (I hope), it'll be a little better. And I'll always have people in front of me. I'm slow.

stacy~** said:
Just figured I would throw that out as an option for you! I originally wanted my first half to be at Disney but when my Princess half 2015 group cancelled on me and that trip feel apart I didn't know if I would ever make it to an event there so I just decided to let that dream go.

I appreciate the suggestion.

Truth is, if Disneyland 2016 doesn't end up happening, I may do Hershey Park that year as my first half. Because I like free chocolate (not that I know if they give out free chocolate, but I can just go on the tour and get free chocolate), and its not nearly as far of a trip. But I'm still hoping for Disney.

stacy~** said:
I wanted to let you know I am very thankful that you started posting in this WISH area and I somehow followed you here. I've been lurking around and hope to start posting more. I'm thinking after our trip I might start my own journal to document my runs, training, etc. It seems something like this would really help me stay focused.

I'm glad you found me here! There's a great group of people who hang out on this area of the boards, and I am glad that I started getting involved here and that people are inspired by what I'm doing.
I think starting a journal is a good idea - I actually have a paper journal that I use, but I feel like also posting here keeps me more accountable. If you decide to start a journal, I'd love to read all about your training & stuff!

SarahDisney · Jul 10, 2015

Progress Update: 7/10

I apologize if there are any typos in here ... I've been so swamped today that I didn't have time to proofread.

Weight Loss:
My Friday weigh-in was down 1.5 lb. Which puts me down 2 lb for the month and … at my goal! We’ll see how long it lasts (seriously, I yo-yo like crazy), but it’s a nice way to start my morning.

My goal for this week was no more than 3 cups of coffee. Sunday was a religious fast day, so coffee in the morning wasn’t actually an option (and I didn’t really want to have at 9 PM). But, I was also making a fresh batch of cold brew (I finally got more unflavored grounds!), so I put the last bit of the old batch in my coffee cup so that I could use the container for the new batch. And that meant coffee on Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday were coffee free, but Thursday morning I was up at obscene hour of the morning (it was ADR day), so I had the coffee even though I wasn’t sure I needed it. Friday was supposed to be a no coffee day, but after an hour’s worth of meetings at which I had no idea what I was saying anymore to the third person I met with … when they offered me coffee and said they had cold brew on tap, I kinda had to say yes. But it's still only 3 cups, so I guess that means goal met!

July Weight Loss Progress: 2/2 lb (100%)

Running:
This week was scheduled to be 1 long run and 1 medium (45 minute) run.

Monday 7/6:
Normally I like to do my longer run at the beginning of the week, but since Sunday was a religious fast day for me (no food or drink until about 9 PM), I figured it would be better to save the longer run for a day when I was able to hydrate properly the day before (I don’t know if it makes a physiological difference, but it does make a psychological difference to me).
Since I had a pretty decent (some might even say good) running week last week, the way my luck goes, that would mean this week should be a terrible running week. So, what were the stats on my first run of the week?
0.87 miles in 45:17 minutes (52’14” pace) (according to Fitbit)
That’s right, my Fitbit app wasn’t recording my distance most of the time! When I hit my first walk break at 6:30 I thought it was weird that I hadn’t gotten my half-mile alert … and lo and behold, it was recording my pace (11’40” at that time), but no distance. Weird! I started MapMyRun, but also kept Fitbit running because sometimes it straightens itself out when I get back on the computer. No luck for this run, though. So what I did was take my average pace from MapMyRun and multiply it by the 45 minutes of my run (MapMyRun only recorded the last 38), to get my approximate stats …
3.73 miles in 45:00 minutes (12’03” pace)
I’m not going to bother with fastest and slowest miles because it won’t be exact, but looking at the splits, I was definitely much faster in the beginning and slowed down as I went along.
It was not an easy run, and the GPS issues didn’t make it any easier (and I really need to remember to set MapMyRun to give me 0.5 mile alerts!), but I finished it and took a long cool down after to get in some more miles. Overall … I survived, and that’s all that matters.

Thursday 7/9:
Today’s long run was an exercise in what happens when Sarah is up at 4:30, out of bed at 5:30, and basically dragged out of the house at 6:45. Today was ADR day, so we were planning to be up early for that … and I was up even earlier because, well, insomnia. After ADRs were done, I grabbed a snack and figured I’d be ready for my run in about an hour … and then like 20 minutes later my sister came upstairs to see if I was ready to go. So I went out about 45 minutes earlier than expected, and it ended up working out fine (the running part, at least … the rest of the day was pretty off).
5.57 miles in 1:05:19 hours (11’43” pace)
Fastest mile was mile 2 at 11:20 and slowest mile was mile 4 (which is when I took my refill water bottle & refuel break) at 12:34.
For reasons I can’t quite explain, MapMyRun (which I was using because I’m mad at my Fitbit app) was giving me speed instead of pace … and for all of my run, my average pace was 5.1 – 5.2 mph, which was pretty cool … until I looked at the pace and realized it wasn’t as consistent as I thought. But it was still a good run, and I was very happy to get over 5.5 miles (and without even having to add extra time)!

This week I think I really learned the importance of having the right shoes. I don’t know if maybe it’s some psychosomatic thing because I’m in the process of getting new shoes, but I had problems with my shoes all week. Monday’s run was my current shoes, and they felt big the whole time! Thursday’s run I wore my older shoes (which are in slightly better shape), and they felt weird (I can’t really put it into words) and I got a blister. So … I’m excited for the possibility of new shoes.

July Running Goal Progress: 3/10 runs (30%)

General Stuff:
It’s been a weird week. I can’t really explain why. I’ve been busier than usual (which could end up being good or bad, we’ll see in a few weeks), but at the same time I’ve felt a little out of it all week. I’ve been pretty good at getting in exercise, but other than that, the whole week has kinda been a giant blah. I’ve gotten most of my to-do list done, but I’ve just felt really out of it, and I don’t know why. And I really don’t love feeling like that, so hopefully next week will be better.

Sarah's Funny of the Week:
Conversation with my mom:
Me: Next time you go to Hershey, bring back lots and lots of chocolate with mint, and no chocolate without mint.
Mommy: So that you don’t eat it?
Me: Exactly!
(I have issues with mint … I can’t eat it, I can’t eat anything that’s been near it for extended periods of time, it’s a little weird)

Neoflynn · Jul 14, 2015

so ive been following along for awhile but finally thought I would add my two cents to something so here goes

SarahDisney said:
Do the Research on Getting Fitted for New Shoes – While I don’t think my current shoes will make it to the end of July (I plan to start alternating them with my old shoes, which are actually in slightly better condition, but still at the end of their lifecycle), I don’t know that I’ll be getting new shoes yet, because I want to go with my sister, and she’s in school all of July. So unless we can go on a Friday (not likely because of my schedule), it’ll have to wait until August. However, I do want to do all the research – find out where people recommend going, what the procedure is, what I need to bring with me, etc – so that when I am ready to go, I can just get up and go and not have to worry about anything.

You already have the right idea, you will definitely want to find a specialty running store in your area most of them will have some sort of fitting process and will the specifics may vary the general process should be the same, They will most likely have you run on a treadmill and will film it so they can slow it down and analyze how you run this is important in getting you into the right type of shoe, they may measure you or ask what size you where then they will have you try on probably 3-4 different pairs and maybe have you run on the treadmill or in the store to see what you like better my best advice during this is don't judge the shoe on looks only how it feels. My one recommendation on what to bring would be to wear whatever socks you normally run in, as socks can actually make a difference in how the shoe fits. Lastly Ill throw my own personal recommendation out there, not sure if they are in your area but if you have a Road Runner Sports I would recommend using them not only do they have an awesome fitting process but they also have a 30 day return policy on the shoes so if you get them home run in them a few times and then find out they don't work for whatever reason you are not stuck with them.

SarahDisney said:
11/26/15 – Turkey Trot, Prospect Park (Brooklyn, NY), 5 Miles

This one gets my vote as since you are looking to transition from 5k to 10k the increased distance should give you a nice barometer of where you are at and you have already done the distance in training so that shouldn't be an issue for you

Becoming a Better Sarah ~ 2015 Journal (The End)

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