Christopher: Now that the hustle and bustle of the holidays is over (thankfully!), we are getting things back in line and into workout mode. But instead of our usual weights/running routine, we are changing it up. Since I have decided to run the Kansas City half marathon this year, I thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and pretend that I was training for one now. That way, I can see how my body reacts to the change of pace. This way when I go to actually train for the half marathon, I will be somewhat prepared for it. The training schedule I have prepared for myself is going to be pretty intense and not very forgiving as I am already experiencing. My schedule will go as follows;

-Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday will be the running days.

-Monday, Wednesday and Friday I will stick with my usual heavy lifting.

-Tuesday and Thursday dedicated to cross training for more explosive exercises to work on the fast twitch muscles and improve our agility.

Here it is only Thursday and my legs are screaming at me. As I laid in bed last night looking up at the ceiling, I had the heating pad under my hamstrings and I can still smell Bengay from when I applied it on my quads earlier that day; I wondered, why do I do this to myself? Why do I put my body through this stress when the rest of the world sitting down in front of the television, keeping up on world events, watching “Dancing with the Stars,” and enjoying their favorite dinner? I can say that I like the way it makes me feel, and that is mostly true, but more importantly I never want to say to myself, “I wish I would have done that.” I do what I want and I do what I love. It’s my life and I don’t get a second chance at it. Carpe diem!

Mandy:  I have been anxiously awaiting the beginning of training! I feel lost when I don’t have something to work towards, and I kind of felt like I was floundering for a while after I completed my marathon in October.  Since Christopher committed to his first half marathon next October and wanted to begin training for it now, I was more than happy to join in and train with him! My goal is to be in constant half marathon shape year round.  That way I can spontaneously run races here and there when I want to, and it won’t take much for me to train for something a little longer.  I’m also looking forward to adding more cross-training to my workouts such as total body cross-fit exercises and other forms of cardio such as biking, stair-climbing, and the elliptical, in addition to my weights.  My workout program is looking the same as Christopher’s; I’m still holding to my 3x a week running plan with a longer run over the weekends.  The mind and body have such a strong connection, and I know I just don’t feel like myself when I’m not running as much. As of right now I have not committed to any other races, but I know it won’t be long before I feel that itch again.  I’m ecstatic to be back on track with our workouts and diet again!  This year is off to a great start

We’ll see you out there! Where? Yes, there.

M&C

I have a quiet strength.  I’m not aggressive or overbearing.  I don’t talk smack or like being the center of attention.  I am unassuming and attentive.  I’m perceptive.  I’m a sponge.  I soak up my surroundings and take notes.  I’m a thinker.  I sit still with my internal strength and feel it course through my veins.  I know that I’ve been through hell and came out alive and kicking on the other side.  I’m not afraid to go back and do it again.  I’m a survivor.  No one or nothing can knock me down and keep me there for long.  I bounce back.  I am resilient.  My presence alone, the fact that I simply show up each day, reminds me of my courage and resolve.  I’m a fighter.  I don’t want to exist; I want to thrive.  I want to push the boundaries, push my limits, and push my expectations. I want to redefine myself.  Dare to be different.

Running isn’t just a hobby or a fun activity for me.  It’s a lifestyle.  It’s a life line…my therapy.  It teaches me to plan, set goals, and stretches me physically, mentally, and emotionally.  I’m a better person because of it.  It gives me confidence to live my day to day life, secure in who I am and what I want.  It’s there for me on the best of days and the worst of days, never judging or criticizing.  It accepts me for who I am but demands the best out of me.  It doesn’t settle for less than all I’ve got.

Saturday will be a test.  I’ve been training for 4 months for this event.  The Waddell and Reed Kansas City Marathon:  26.2 miles of agony and glory.  Not only I but Christopher as well, have committed tremendous amounts of time, energy, money, and sacrifice to train for this. I couldn’t have done it without him.  Saturday is the culmination of all of our hard work and dedication, and words can’t begin to describe how this feels.  I get chills, goosebumps, and butterflies just visualizing how the morning is going to play out.  I’ve been planning my race attire, my supplements, my diet, and my favorite: the carb load!  The last three weeks have been tapering, so my workouts have been a little less intense and consequently shorter to allow my body to rest and recover to be in prime condition come Saturday morning.

I am extremely excited to be sharing this special day with my family and friends: my mom is running the half marathon; Brittany Fischer is coming up from Tucson and running her very first full marathon (and staying with us over the weekend as well!); Tom Hall is running yet another full marathon; and Lupe Ramirez, Alex Jeschke, Wendy Joiner, and Ryan Hulse will also be running the half marathon.  These are just to name a few of the thousands of runners coming together that day to give it their all and test themselves in ways most never do.  I couldn’t be more excited or more proud to be sharing this day with them!  Most importantly, I will have the help and support of my number one fan: my husband Christopher.  He’s been my biggest cheerleader and confidant during this whole training program, and I am hoping to make him proud on Saturday!  He’ll be by my side on his trusty bike, carrying all of my supplies and handing off to me everything I need at various points of the course.  As the week goes on I know I’ll be getting more excited and more nervous, but the hours of hard work and preparation will make it all worth it!  I’ll be excited to share the results with you all and let you know how it goes!  Wish us luck!

M&C

*This is one of my favorite songs by Luscious Jackson called “Ladyfingers.”  It reminds me that I’m a mix of all sorts of wonderful qualities; that I’m strong and I should be confident in who I am.  Every time I hear it I smile and feel empowered.  It’s also a very fun video, and I hope you enjoy it!

[Mandy]

I had been looking forward to this day for the last 13 weeks of training.  It was the 2nd of my longest scheduled runs of the season: my 2nd 20 miler.  Secretly I had intentions to run over 20 miles, and I was aiming for 22 depending on how the run progressed.  I was somewhat anxious about this run for a couple of reasons.  I was battling lower calf pain and had been cutting some of my weekly runs short or knocking one out altogether.  For some weird reason I hadn’t had an appetite all week long and had to force myself to eat (and for those of you who know me, this is extremely out of the ordinary for this girl!); even Friday while I was trying to take in extra carbs I was practically stuffing them down my throat.  I had been eating Advil and taking a heating pad to work to heat my leg while I sat at my desk.  The nagging feeling that this run might not go as well as planned had been plaguing me for the past couple of weeks.  Nevertheless, as important as it was I knew I just had to get out there and get started to see how it would turn out.  I’m too close to the end to quit now.

We set the alarm for 5:30 with the intention of being out at Sailboat Cove at Smithville Lake and running by 7:00 AM.  I really strive to have these 20+ mile runs as close to a race simulation as possible.  This allows me to figure out what I want to wear and take as far as supplements go as well as strategize how I will run the marathon.  I should have known we were doomed from the start when Christopher and I had a case of the giggles and sat in the car for 45 minutes laughing and carrying on.  7:30 came and went, and we were still preparing to get started.  Focus was definitely lost on me that morning.  I couldn’t stop laughing and being silly, and I was shivering in the cold morning air that I hadn’t grown accustomed to.  I absolutely love Fall, and the 49 degrees that it registered that morning is perfect for us runners.  I had yet to run in temperatures that cool, though, and my body just couldn’t quite get warmed up.

We were off and running (finally) closer to 8:00, and I was so happy that Christopher chose to run the first 6 miles with me.  He has been a complete running rock star lately, and I was amazed at how effortlessly he glided alongside me that first chunk of my run.  It was comforting and motivating to have him by my side, as usual.  Even after the first 6 miles, I was cold, and my hands were cramping.  I could feel my achy calves and knees, and I was doubting this 20 mile run was going to get knocked out at all.  I was tired, and I could tell that not eating like I usually do this past week was going to take its toll on me that day.  I couldn’t *not* do it, though, so I waited with Christopher while he grabbed his bike; I grabbed my Clif Turbo Shot Gel, and we took off towards the other end of the trails that would allow Christopher to get in some off-road mountain biking.  I ran the next 6 miles while he stayed with me most of the way and hopped onto the adjoining trails every now and then.  By the time we made it back to the vehicle to grab some water and Hammer Perpetuem to refuel, I was completely tapped of all energy, and he had a flat tire.  We realized we had a spare tube but no pump, and I was scheming a way to get out of the remaining 8 miles altogether.  Luckily there were some Boy Scouts having a mountain bike race that day, and they let Christopher borrow a pump to get his bike back in working order.  This gave me a good 15 minutes to stretch, refuel, and get my head “screwed on straight.”  I had to dig deep to get through the next portion of the run.  I knew I wanted to get in at least 20 miles that day, but deep down I really wanted 22.  I just didn’t know if my body was going to let me.  I had no energy, and my legs were screaming in pain.  The only thing that was going to get me through this was sheer determination and mental toughness.  And then Christopher had a genius idea.  He suggested we both run the mountain bike trails.  This was just the challenge and change of pace I needed.  It got me off the monotonous paved trails and would give me something else to focus on and “have fun” with.

The next 8 miles, while tough, were a blast!  I had to stay on guard the entire time, watching my footing and dodging tree roots, rocks, and snakes.  It was windy, narrow, and steep, and the sudden uphills and downhills had me grinning ear to ear!  We made our way through the miles of mountain bike trails and actually had a great time amidst the extreme tiredness and pain I was feeling simultaneously.  Christopher stayed close behind making sure I had everything I needed.  By the time we got to mile 19, I was exhausted; it was getting harder and harder to pick up my feet, and I kept tripping over rocks and roots and nearly face-planted a couple of times.  I stopped in the middle of the woods to grab a drink, and Christopher gave me a much needed pep talk. “Mandy, you’ve already run 19 miles.  You’re SUPPOSED to be tired.  I’m very proud of you.  You’ve got this!”  And after a sweaty, dirty hug and kiss, I had the spring back in my step.  I ran with him back to the car to drop off the bike, and he ran with me the remaining 3 miles.  We ran the next two miles on the mountain bike trails together and the last mile on the paved trails, rounding out Saturday’s run to 23 miles!  I couldn’t have done it without his help and motivation.  I can’t even begin to describe how impressed with him I am: he cranked out 9 miles of running and over 14 miles of biking while barely breaking a sweat or breathing hard.  He’s become quite the running protege’ over the last few months!  I was spent; I had dirt all over my shoes and legs, chafed skin from the constant rubbing, and two pretty, purple toe nails.  I was exhausted but so proud of myself for completing the run.  It may not have gone as planned and may not have been as fast as I would have liked, but such is life Tired after 6 miles I still cranked out another 17.  Three more miles and I would have done my own self-proposed marathon.

We stretched and climbed (or rather dragged ourselves) into the Jeep to head back home for a very much-needed ice bath.  We had to hit up Quiznos for a post-run feeding, and the ice bath coupled with an hour and a half nap just hit the spot!  I’m very happy to report that so far my legs are feeling much better than they have the week before!  The calf pain I was feeling is very minimal, and aside from a slight tightness in the legs, I’m feeling wonderful!  I’m planning on running Tuesday evening, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the legs will be feeling fresh and rested.  After this killer long run, I’m just now into my three week taper before the race.  My runs will get a little shorter and less intense in order to get them ready for the marathon.  The worst (but at the same time the best!) is behind me; I can start focusing on D-Day and doing what I can to make sure I’m well-fueled, hydrated, and ready to go on October 15th!

[Christopher]

First of all, I just want to say how impressed I am with Mandy’s run. 23 miles is a long way to put one foot in front of the other for over three hours. She can tell you how tough it is, but from my point of view, she makes it look effortless.

As for my run… there’s not a whole lot that I can say about it. Now that I am not training for anything, they are more for keeping Mandy company and keeping in shape. Mandy had asked me how I wanted to attack the run on this day and I had made the mistake of saying this phrase to her, “Well you tell me hun. I’m just running for fun.” I knew just as I said that, she was going to have a funny look on her face. Click here to see that face. It was priceless. Now, just to clarify: I still don’t think running is “fun” but since there is nothing that I am training for, it is more or less just for the heck of it. I will give her credit though, if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be out there with her. For that, I am grateful. It definitely helps me to be more of a well rounded athlete, so to speak. The first 6 miles did seem rather easy considering that I usually stop a few times in between stretching. This time, the only time I stopped was to turn around at the 3 mile mark and head back. So I was pretty happy about that. I know like anything else, you have to practice to be good at it. Running is no exception. I never thought I would be able to run as much as I am now and I have no intention on letting up.

It was fun to finish up the last 3 miles on the trails. I liked it a lot when I ran them on the Wakarusa Off-Road Challenge. It definitely conditions you in a different way. You have to keep on your toes as Mandy mentioned. There were a couple of times she had to leap over a snake. In all, it was a beautiful day to spend outdoors running and biking. She completed her 23 miles on and off road, and I got in 9 miles of running and 14 miles of biking, on and off road. I love this stuff!

As always, watch this video. This sums up our day!

[Mandy] Well this last week of training was a bit different than what my marathon plan had called for.  After my 20 mile run last week which turned out so well yet was so hard on my body, I decided to let my bruised and battered body rest.  I skipped an 8 mile run altogether and did a little extra bike riding for cross training.  I got in two good full body lifts and ended up cutting my 2^nd run from 8 miles down to 4 when I realized my joints and bones were still achy and sore.  I was afraid of doing any further damage and kept the big picture in mind: I’d rather rest a little now so that I could be in good health and ready in October.  I pushed my 15 mile recovery run from Saturday to Sunday at Christopher’s suggestion for one extra day of rest for my legs.  We stopped in at the KC Metro Walk/Run Store up North to grab some inserts for my shoes.  With minimalist shoes having little there to begin with, my Kinvaras had essentially broken down, and I was looking for a thin layer of cushion to ease the stress on my legs while running.  I was anxious to see how they would work for my run on Sunday and kept my fingers crossed!

We decided to do this particular run at the gym on the treadmill.  With impending rain in the forecast, we were also thinking that a softer, flatter surface might be better on my legs; so we lugged all of our bags and supplements inside and camped out on a couple of unoccupied treadmills.  I’ve done an 18 mile run on a treadmill before, so I wasn’t very concerned about being bored or growing restless.  I was just antsy to see how my legs were going to hold up.  As far as strength and endurance goes, I felt amazing!  I felt energetic and like my body wanted to move.  I was amazed at how good the inserts felt and how all but one of my previous pains had disappeared.  At about 4.5 miles in, my lower calf started aching, so I eased up on my stride and kept an easy pace.  It stayed with me for the next 8 miles, but with a few stops to stretch it out, it never got bad enough to make me stop.  Towards the end of my run, (not sure whether it was endorphins, numbness, or the inserts) it disappeared altogether; and I finished my 15 mile run strong in 2:14:57.  Running on the treadmill was a nice change of pace, and although my calf is a little sore today, I’m thankful for the option of keeping it light and easy yesterday.  Christopher ran alongside me and put in his highest mileage day yet: 10 miles!!  It was nice to look over and see him, having him keep me company in what could have been a very long and painful run.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he signs up for a half marathon someday!  I have my next 20 mile run coming up this Saturday, so I’m staying optimistic that my workouts will go well this week and all the aches and pains will go away!  There’s only 4 more weeks until Marathon Day!

[Christopher] After my Wakarusa Off-Road Challenge, I was pretty sore and tired. The next week I pretty much took it easy at the gym, barely running 2 miles on Monday and Wednesday. My feet and calves were still a bit tired. So when I told Mandy that I would keep her company while she did 15 miles, I never imagined that I would end up cranking out 10 miles. Technically, I ran 8 and walked 2, but I guess a mile is a mile.

I started out feeling OK with the first few miles but going into the fourth mile, my calves were starting to tighten up. After the fourth mile, I decided to bring it down to a faster walk. I looked over at Mandy to make sure she was doing OK. I asked her how much she had left, thinking that she only had a few miles left and I completely forgot that she was doing 15 miles. So, I stepped off to stretch a minute and continued running since she still had a little ways to go. I ended up zoning out and watching the Chargers and Patriots football game and listening to my music. It wasn’t until my feet started burning when I realized that I was already at another 4 miles, keeping a 9 min/mile pace. I decided that I had done enough for the day. I went ahead and decided to walk the last mile. I could definitely tell that the backs of my knees where worn out, but I felt like I still had plenty of stamina. So in all, I walked a half mile, ran 4, walked another half mile, ran 4 and then walked another full mile. Weird how the miles just rack up when you are not paying much attention. I certainly don’t think my body could have made it another 3.1 miles for a half marathon, but I was pretty close none the less.

Just for the record, Mandy was right. I always tell her that I don’t ever see myself running any more than a 10K. She always grins and says, “Someday you will.” Sunday, she was right.

Well I’ve truly met my match!  Even after completing his Wakarusa Off-Road Challenge just hours before (I’ll let him give you all the gritty details in his blog soon to follow!), Christopher hopped on his bike to ride along with me during one of my longest runs of the training season: the first of my 20 mile runs!  After we got home from the race and unpacked, we had just enough time to catch a quick cat nap. I had been doing my best to cheer him on and take video during the morning while still resting my legs and fueling up throughout the day.  By evening I felt fat, swollen and heavy, but it actually turned out to be a good thing.  Once I got started running around 7:20pm with Christopher behind me on his bike, I felt like I was blessed with an insane amount of energy and mental clarity.  The first 4 miles flew by, then 8, then 12.  I had been battling a lower calf/Achilles strain the last week, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that although I could feel it, it wasn’t hurting.  As tired as he was, Christopher stuck close by my side, and we made our way through the miles in the dark.  Fall is my favorite time of year, and it felt so nice to be running in 60 degree temperatures again.  By mile 19 I was making great time, but all of a sudden I began experience aches and pains I hadn’t felt before, in addition to my calf strain.  My bones and joints were screaming at me; my ankles, knees, and hips felt like they were shattering with each step.  Instantly I had a Tombstone flashback of Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp screaming “NO!” at the creek as he shot up the Cowboys.  I got angry and started running faster, knowing I was too close to the finish to stop now.

My actual running time was 2:54, not including stops to refuel (and a quick run-in to CVS for bicycle light batteries), and I’m extremely happy with that.  Christopher got me home and into an ice bath ASAP, but truth be told I’m still walking funny as of Monday.  My toenail turned purple, and my knees and calves are less than pleased with me.  I’m hoping with a few more days of my ice and Ibuprofen regimen I’ll be up and running again!  In the meantime, you can find me on the couch, resting these tired bones.   Next weekend I have a recovery 15 mile run, and then the following week I have another 20+ mile run.  Wish me luck!  D-Day is drawing ever nearer!

M&C