2013 Recap- The Year of Discovery

Wow. I kind of let this blog slide while interviewing for residency, running, yoga-ing, supporting my boyfriend throughout his own travels, and taking care of our dog. But what a year it has been!

In June of 2012 I ran my first 5k since high school. I crossed the finish line in 25:19 and was happy to have just finished. Fast forward to June of 2013 and I was beginning to entertain the idea of running a half marathon (keep in mind I was running probably 2-5 miles per WEEK). I committed to running with a group that fundraises for pediatric cancer and threw myself into the training process. I had a very athletic upbringing and was able to tack on miles easily, probably too easily because I developed an overuse injury in my knee and had to take off 2 weeks from running during key training time for the half. Luckily, I bounced back and in October 2013 finished the half in 1:57:xx. I was proud of myself to throw up a sub-2 on my first half when I had really only just started running period a few months before. But the addiction to running and itch to improve was cemented with that race, as I really didn't push myself enough during the half and probably could have shaved off a few minutes.

Last .1 of my first 1/2 Marathon. I was chatting it up with the people around me and smiling away. Clearly could've pushed myself a little more...

After the half, the running bug really bit. 2 weeks after the half I ran a 5k in 23:50 (a PB at the time). I signed up for my first 10k in November 2013 and ran a 50:15 on what I can only describe as the hilliest course I will ever hope to run. To put it in perspective, with a decent size field that put me at 2nd for my AG. Honestly, that might be my favorite race of 2013 because I wanted to puke the entire time. Every time I finished climbing a hill, another one came into view. Pushing yourself to see what you can do and how you can improve is what running is all about, and this course made me so proud and pained at the same time. I continued to run 5k's too, running my last at the Turkey Trot on a 4 degree day with a time of 23:32. In one year, I had cut my 5k time by 2 minutes! 

In the center with the pom beanie and the fleece-lined Oiselle tights at the Turkey Day 4 miler. 9 degrees. BRRR!

Running has also strengthened my relationship with my boyfriend. We have lived together for over 2 years and survived medical school, licensing exams, residency applications, and a new puppy but you really get to know someone when you're pushing through mile 5 at race pace and coming up on another hill and asking each other whether to stop or keep going and encouraging each other to continue. We don't run together all the time, but when he wants to use a race as a training run or is running a new distance race (ie 10k) we will run together and pace each other. He is so supportive of all my crazy running goals and wants. New Oiselle running top? Sure, buy it, it's for your health he says (we do not have joint bank accounts yet ;) haha). Register for a race when the weather predicts 5 degrees? Sure, but you owe me a hot chocolate after. And he also listens tirelessly when I have an injury (thank god only 2 this year) and obsess about my return to running, my weight, my times, etc.

Before a 5k with the boyfriend where windchill put temps at ZERO. 

Early December 2013 I had a month off for residency interviews and decided I wanted to add some speed work to my running regimen (this is something I had never done before... tempo? intervals? progression? Baxter, you know I don't speak Spanish). Per my usual personality flaw (see: type A, future pediatric oncologist, all around pain seeker) I threw myself into intervals and repeats that I found online and was doing 2 speed workouts twice a week plus a long run for my same weekly mileage but at a much faster pace. Fast forward 3 weeks and I was hobbling around with a pulled something or other in my right lower knee/calf. This is when I decided it was time to get serious. If running is something that I really want to improve in my life, then I needed to get some professional help because clearly when I tried to make my own training plans, I was in way over my head. Enter Out for a Run Training with Glenn and Lindsey Hein. So I haven't actually started working with them yet (my training plan starts January 6, enough time to rehab this silly pulled whatever it is in my calf) but they are already so great. Super flexible with my crazy medical schedule (oh yeah, I'm going to Nicaragua for a month. See ya States, hello malaria pills!) and crazy fast to respond to my emails. I really wanted to have a coach that understood that running is not all there is to life (case in point, I work 60-70 hour weeks usually and may need to do most of my runs on a treadmill while also being a good girlfriend, dog owner, and friend). I may or may not have chosen Lindsey based on sarcastic twitter tweets and instagram pictures of her kiddo and beer glasses. Clearly, I have interesting expectations when it comes to a coach.

1/2 Marathon training... Irony.

I was also chosen to be a Nuun Hydration Ambassador for the 2014 calendar year. Hydration and nutrition were a big focus of my half marathon training and are in my career (hello childhood obesity and my strong hatred of soda and gatorade for children <10 years old). I love Nuun and I love what the company stands for. It was SUCH an honor to be chosen and I can't wait to rock some tattoos in races where it's actually warm enough to show some skin.

My favorite water bottle from Nuun, supports the LLS!

I dislike new year resolutions, but I love goals. And my 2014 goals are, not surprisingly, focused around running and career. I've already completed one (find a race coach) so I am well on my way to success before the new year even starts!

Running goals: 22:00 5k and 1:49 half marathon. Cross/strength train (including yoga) consistently to prevent injuries. Listen to Lindsey/Glenn and be honest with them if I start to feel an injury/overwhelmed.
Career goals: Be a good doctor and girlfriend. Take criticism constructively and not personally. Don't eat at the hospital's Midnight Hot Meal bar (nothing good comes from that many carbs and cheese).


What are everyone's goals for the New Year?

Things I Love Right Now 9/24/13

Do you ever go through phases where you really, really love something and you wear/eat/use/love it everyday? Those things for me right now are:

1. Happy Baby Spinach, Mango, Pear Smoothie. Baby food you ask? I know, weird. BUT it's a perfect fast blend of fruits to have with my english muffin in the morning before a long run.

2. My foam roller. My quads have been hard like rocks after long runs and stretching does NOT do them justice. I have a plain blue PT roller and I adore it. Now if only rolling could help this awful knee pain...

3. "On Top of the World" - Imagine Dragons. This song is my long run jam right now! Oh my gosh it just warms my soul.

4. My Oiselle Flyte LS shirt. I wore it for the first time for an outdoor run (I do not count the hotel gym nor casual wear) and it was AMAZING. Kept me warm and cool/dry (if that makes sense) and the thumb holes kept me from fidgeting with my shirt. I'm debating ordering it in another color or waiting/praying that they bring the onyx jacket back.

5. My bright orange CEP calf sleeves! I love neon and usually I go with green but with the darker nights a-coming I wanted something that really stands out (before I start running in my obnoxiously bright green Brooks jacket which will probably end up on a favorite list in mid-November).

6. RESIDENCY INTERVIEW INVITES. I'm gonna be a pediatrician ya'll!!!

Type A personality

If there is one thing that running forces me to do, it is to be less type A. While I still track my mileage obsessively and highlight "Runner's World" articles (oh boy did I just admit that on the internet?) I am learning to be more flexible with my schedule and training. My knee was still bothering me yesterday (feels fine today) but I am making myself take a full pain-free day off. Which means I am pushing back my long run again (12 miles) to Monday instead of the original day Saturday. That's still 13 days before race day so in terms of proper mileage I am not worried but as an almost physician and all around overachiever, breaking from my planned schedule makes anxious.

So what did I do with my extra rest day? We went to the beach this morning with the puppy and it began to DOWNPOUR. And of course Charlie wouldn't get out of the water til we threw his ball and let him swim so we were the only ones on the beach, once again proving we are true Mainers. We then stopped at a local bakery, stocked up on bagels and goodies, and hid inside on our comfy couch. I took the time to register for ALL my upcoming fall races ($$$). I've got a good mix of 5k to half marathons with the most frequent distance being 10k's. I will NOT allow myself to go to Brooks/Oiselle/LuluLemon websites to prep for cooler weather workouts because nothing good comes from lazy day online shopping except my awesome flyte LS (see below).

Hotel pre-run FLYSTYLE!

This Week's Training Plan (start taper):
Monday: 12 mile run
Tuesday: rest day
Wednesday: 4 miles
Thursday: power yoga
Friday: 4 miles
Saturday: rest day/SUP if nice weather
Sunday: 7 miles and volunteering at Soup Kitchen!

Stormy SUP! Core work :)

Weekly Training Plan (late!)

Holy smokes. This week was a whirlwind. We flew to Houston on Sunday, took an 8 hour medical licensing exam on Tuesday, flew back Wednesday night (midnight!) and hit the marathon course early Thursday morning to beat the Indian summer heat. I was in SO MUCH PAIN! I think our spring through the airport to catch our flight in flip-flops led me to have a little tweak in my shins and right hamstring which makes me very nervous. 2 weeks out from race day I cannot get injured! So I am rearranging my schedule just a bit to give my body what it needs.

Sunday: flight to Houston
Monday: 2 miles on the treadmill (ew)
Tuesday: 8 hour exam!
Wednesday: 2 miles on the treadmill (double ew)
Thursday: 5 miles of HOLY HILLS
Friday: hot yoga
Saturday: rest day
Sunday: 12 miles

No running clothes? Highly unusual!

Today's Treadmill Motivation

Fast Friday Motivation

Those who know me, know that I love Oiselle. I love their gear and what they stand for. So when they posted a tweet about the best #fastfriday inspirational quotes, I couldn't help but think of my favorite. Not only did he break the 4 min mile but he did it as a junior doctor and was also a neurologist... awesome!

“We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves…The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, ‘You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.’ The human spirit is indomitable.”
-Sir Roger Bannister

Weekly Update

I have been having trouble sticking with my training plan. Not in the lazy, missing days sense but the I keep adding miles to my runs problem! Yesterday (Sunday) I ran a glorious 10 miles along the water. All miles less than 9 minutes (adding 30-45 secs to each mile per my long run training guide - shameless nomeatathlete.com plug, the best!). On track to run a less than 2 hour half marathon, which is my goal given that this is my first!

I also tried Clif bar Gu this run, in the raspberry flavor. Delicious! Much better texture than the Vega brand, although I still have to try the Huma chia seed brand before I make my race day decision. It's a bummer because I love what the Vega brand stands for but it just did not work for my stomach.

This weeks training plan is a little wonky because I am going to a training in Boston for the admissions committee for my medical school then leave on Sunday for my last licensing exam in HOUSTON. Gotta balance training runs and life! I am so excited to meet potential MD applicants, I can't believe a little under 4 years ago I was waiting for interview offers and now I am almost a resident (go pediatrics woo!).

This weeks plan:
Monday- rest day/SUP (65 degrees today, hope I don't fall in!)
Tuesday- 3.5 mile run at 5am before bus to Boston... meh.
Wednesday- yoga
Thursday- 5 mile run
Friday- rest
Saturday- 12 mile run
Sunday- flight to HOUSTON!

My new Oiselle flyte LS! 

I also got a package from Oiselle this week with some new sports bras and the flyte LS shirt. I LOVE it. I am normally a small but went up a size because I tend to like my arms a little loose. It's perfect for layering under a vest with a tank underneath. I am so excited for cold weather and pumpkin beer and hot chocolate and fall half marathons!

KICKING CANCER'S BUTT!

This just in, I broke my doublethenecessaryoverachieving fundraising goal for my half marathon!!!

Fighting pediatric cancer, one mile at a time :)

The End is Always Worth It

I'm currently re-reading "Born to Run" and took the time to jot down my favorite quotes from the book instead of just dog-earing the pages (believe me, there are a lot of folded corners...). As a medical student and all around type A personality, one quote really spoke to me, and it wasn't from the author himself but an awesome free-spirited female runner.

“When I'm out on a long run, the only thing in life that matters is finishing the run. For once, my brain isn't going blehblehbleh all the time. Everything quiets down, and the only thing going on is pure flow. It's just time and the movement and the motion.That's what love--just being a barbarian, running through the woods.” -Jenn Shelton

What is amazing about running is that it attracts all types, from doctors to jocks to African children in the bush. And it means different things to so many different people but there is a common theme that allows people to connect. And I thought about this quote during my less than successful run today when my legs were screaming and I was trying to hold down breakfast. What was supposed to be an easy 4 miles on trails along the ocean (possibly the most beautiful run in the world but I'm a Mainer and I love the ocean so I may be biased) turned into one of the worst runs of my life. I woke up and had my usual coffee with soy milk and toast with sunflower seed butter. I felt slightly off, maybe nauseous or just tired I couldn't really tell. But at 2 miles BAM I started gagging and had to walk. WALK. I hate walking, I 99.9% of the time can run through pain and just focus on the finish but the nausea was just too much. This has never happened to me before. And this is coming from someone who used to eat 2 hot dogs (pre-vegetarian days) before play off soccer games and run for 90 minutes straight at center mid. I never stop mid-run.  So I walked. Then I jogged. Then I started running again, nausea free, and realized that's what I love about running. It's just movement and motion and no matter the path, the goal is always the same. 

Did I mention I live on an island sometimes?

Oh and Oiselle released some cold-weather layers today. Consider this girl pumped for the fall, half marathons, hot cocoa, and perfect running weather.

Back on Track!

I am officially caught up to my pre-injury weekly mileage goals. After ruling out a stress fracture and going into serious icing mode, I would say I lost about 16 days total from my 12 week plan. For someone with a type A personality who plans every detail this was infuriating, challenging, and I wish I could say I grew from it as a person but let's be honest, no run=no fun.  So last week instead of doing 7 miles I pushed it to 8 for my long run and it felt glorious.

I ALSO GOT MY GARMIN FORERUNNER IN THE MAIL! Oh my lord, I'm in love. It was pouring out today so I couldn't run with my iphone which I use to track my mileage normally. I slapped on the waterproof garmin and ran hills dodging rivers that were forming and ignoring the few flashes of lightening I saw.  Apparently I have become hardcore in the past month or so because last year at this time I would have said um no get me to Planet Fitness or just ditched it all together.

This Week's Plan:
Monday (today)- 2 miles
Tuesday- 3.5 miles
Wednesday- Rest day
Thursday- 3 miles
Friday- Rest day
Saturday- 9 miles
Sunday- Yoga

Any suggestions for gels or blocks for longer runs? I tried the Vega Raspberry gel and I almost threw up during my run which is so disappointing because Vega protein powder is a staple in my pantry :(

Pre-run in the torrential downpour!

Okay I lied

My training plan today was for 3 miles. I am trying not to push my miles to prevent injury. BUT I couldn't do it. The weather today was 65 degrees for the first time in forever and it was overcast, slightly breezy, and I got out of work early. I had to do an extra mile (or 2).  There is a reason: the first 2 miles of a run I always feel awful. 3 miles allows me to only enjoy 1 mile of my run. My first two miles I get the cramps and stiff joints shaken out and loosened up and then I can finally ease into a pace that runs a fine line between making me want to vomit and pure joy.  Despite what my picture looks like I honestly did enjoy my run. Oh and I got my new Nuun water bottle... awesome.

I take ridiculously sexy selfies.

I am 1 day away from vacation. A month vacation! This rare thing in the fourth year of medical school where they make you take time off... a type A gunner's worst nightmare. At least I will be ramping up my mileage and can focus on cooking lots of new delicious veg meals! 

The Enemy

I live with my significant other and our amazingly cute shelter rescue lab mix Charlie. While 99% of the time this is amazing, 1% of the time it is not. TODAY IS THAT TIME. I have gone into total I need to do less than 2 hours for my first half marathon mode and that includes attempting to maintain proper (vegetarian) nutrition. Well... S.O. is attempting to sabotage me. He brings home Ben and Jerry's 2-3 times a week. He can afford to do this (mister oh I haven't been on a strict training plan like you but let me bust out a quick 11-miles when I am slightly hungover like it ain't no thing...). I cannot afford to indulge yet I cannot stop. Once it enters our freezer it will inevitably enter my mouth. It's like all the discipline I have (med school, training plans, etc) goes out the window when ice cream comes into the equation. Which means as soon as S.O. left for his soccer game tonight I ran to the door to make sure he was gone then tiptoed to the fridge in case he was listening then went H.A.M. on his ice cream. Yes I said it. Hard as a motherf... well you get it.

Hot yoga does not justify the massacre I just performed on a pint sized tub of pure joy.

I will regret this tomorrow.

Weekly Training Post

Since miraculously recovering from my injury, I have been attempting to modify my original 12 week half marathon plan to fit a 7 week plus/minus 1 week plan.  I had a really good 6 mile run last week at a fast pace and feel like I am able to run further but am trying to keep with the "no greater than 10%" increase in mileage... painful.

Monday:
2 miles

Tuesday:
3 miles

Wednesday:
Hot Yoga

Thursday:
3 miles

Friday:
Rest

Saturday:
7 miles


I have also hit the point where I think I need (okay want) a Garmin Forerunner. I use the free Nike+ app to track my mileage but my armband is starting to drive me nuts! We'll see if I can control my urge...

Recovery Days

I always use Sunday as a day to recharge and try to align my training schedule so that my stretch/easy days line up after my long Saturday runs. This weekend was the perfect example: Sunday morning I went to my favorite yoga studio for a kick butt heated vinyasa flow class. My instructor is 8 months pregnant and glowing with no evidence of slowing down. She was focused on stretching out our hips and IT bands which all the runners in the room definitely needed! After class I took our puppy to my mom's house for some veggie burgers and cupcakes (a birthday tradition). I am a firm believer in everything in moderation!

I also bought some new running shorts this weekend because I needed more pairs that had pockets large enough to fit my keys and my gels for long runs. I had some lululemon gift cards kicking around from Christmas (I know...) and finally caved and got a pair of the "groovy run shorts" despite feeling insanely guilty for spending that much money (or gift card credit).  The pockets are great; there are 2 in the front and one zipper pocket that can fit an iphone in the back. But there is a problem. I wore my shorts for all of 3 hours and the granny panty lining on the inside caused some friction rub right at my

Groovy Run Shorts

inguinal crease. Um... my thighs are not that large. And their lining is supposedly chafe proof. I believe Matt Frazier (No Meat Athlete) said it best: "during a marathon, anything that can chafe, will". I bought these shorts for long runs! This is karma punishing me for spending so much on a pair of running shorts. 

Another part of my recovery "weekend" actually includes Monday too.  My first run after a long run is always a quick 2 miles. And by quick I use my definition which means 7:15 minute miles with a hill or two if possible. It's a way to kind of push myself but also to limit the distance so that I keep from getting injured. Which is unfortunately a necessary thing. But I survived week one post-injury with 7 weeks to go til the half marathon so these are all good things!

Sweating. Meh.

I also try to stock up on healthy foods for the week and this weekend was no exception. Tonight the boyfriend and I are dining on No Meat Athlete's Orzo with Cooked Citrus Veggies. Total yum. As a herbivore-omnivore couple I try to find meals that will both fill and satisfy the meat monster while complying with my standards. I recommend this meal not only because avocados are the planet's gift to humans but because it's quick and makes awesome leftovers. As a future MD (oh my word 8 months til I am Doctor Chelsea wait what?) I try really hard to practice what we preach and to keep each meal cheap, delicious, and healthy. Disregard above comment about cupcakes. 

Did I mention it was 90 degrees on my run today?

I am running!

This blog serves 2 purposes: track my training for those who have donated to my race/races and to allow my mom to know I am alive and not buried within the 4 walls of the hospital never to return.

I am currently enjoying a french vanilla coffee and toast gearing up for my first long run since my injury (for you medical people that's PID 17 unclear etiology). My foot and ankle feel fantastic and I checked in with my favorite orthopod and I am cleared of a stress fracture aka I can run at my own risk.  This is extremely important to me as I have surpassed my fundraising goal for the half marathon and am well on my way to making a great contribution to the Children's Cancer Program! I also did yoga for the first time in about 2 months last week and could not raise my arms above my head for a good 3 days... oof.

I'm thinking about ordering a few new items from Oiselle's running line, I will review once sweated in and worn!

Today's run: 4 miles
Power song: "I'm Legit" -Nicki Minaj