Official RNRAZ Photos

These are way overdue! 

I ran RNRAZ back in January and I never found a chance to post them until now!

I loved running in my new green Sparkle Skirt! :)

Isn't it cute?

                              

                              

                               

                               

     

I had a blast running my first marathon! 

My overall time was 5:13.

I was shooting for 5 hours and I was trying so hard to stay in front of the 5 hour pace group (you can see me in front of them in the 2nd photo. They are holding the balloons.)

I lost them around mile 14. I was so defeated! 

I would love to run this race again just to beat my time (and beat the 5 hour pace group!!!). 

But the course is nothing spectacular. 

Very flat. No scenic views. And it got a little hot near the end (they used hoses to spray us down at mile 23). 

At least it's not freezing! ;) That's a plus!

A short recap to come soon!

Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon Training Schedule

This is the training plan I used for RNRAZ this last January.

Please note that it is a beginner training plan; it's for those who are new to the marathon (which I was). 

I made Sundays my long run days so that I could run with TTR, so Mondays ended up being my rest day. 

Always try to make a training plan fit your schedule. If a plan doesn't work with your schedule, then change it. Otherwise, you won't stick to it. 

Week	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
1	Rest	3 mi	CT	3 mi	Rest	3 mi	4 mi
2	Rest	3 mi	Rest	3 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	5 mi
3	Rest	3 mi	CT	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	6 mi
4	Rest	3 mi	Rest	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	4 mi
5	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	6 mi
6	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	8 mi
7	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	10 mi
8	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	8 mi
9	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	CT	Rest	12 mi
10	Rest	4 mi	Rest	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	10 mi
11	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	14 mi
12	Rest	5 mi	CT	5 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	10 mi
13	Rest	4 mi	CT	5 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	16 mi
14	Rest	4 mi	CT	5 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	12 mi
15	Rest	4 mi	CT	5 mi	CT or Rest	Rest	18 mi
16	Rest	5 mi	Rest	6 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	12 mi
17	Rest	4 mi	CT	6 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	20 mi
18	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	12 mi
19	Rest	3 mi	20 minutes	3 mi	CT or Rest	3 mi	8 mi
20	Rest	2 mi	20 minutes	Rest	20 minutes	Rest	Race Day!

CT stands for Cross Training. On these days, I tried different activities like swimming, biking, weights, hiking, ultimate frisbee, etc. Try to switch it up a bit. Make it fun. :)

Training Tip: Once you pick your final training schedule, write it down in your planner (if you have one) or calendar. Write every single workout down! That way, you'll see it daily and be more likely to do it. 

My Top 10 Tips to Get Motivated to Run Again

I have been struggling with starting to run again. Ever since I ran my first marathon in January and got sick (I also got sick after past long runs as well), I had to take a hiatus from running. I was becoming frustrated from missing work and missing races I'd had been waiting years to run. 

Honestly, I gave up. I kept telling myself that one day running will magically come back to me. 

Thankfully, I knew that was a big fat lie. 

I am realizing now that I need to get back to it. 

It keeps me fit, alert and most importantly, it keeps me happy. :)

So, I have been researching some ways to get motivated again. 

I found my top ten based on what has helped me in the past and what is helping me today. 

1. Find a new trail. This one doesn't only apply to trail runners. If you usually run on paved roads and need some motivation, try trail running. For us trail runners, go check out a map of your area and see what you'd like to try out. Or go run that trail that you've been dying to run. There's this one run that I have had my eye on for awhile now. It's a trail that starts in Sabino Canyon and makes its way up to the top of Mt. Bigelow (about a 20 mile run! about 40 if it's round trip). It's on the schedule for TTR (the Tucson Trail Runners) in April so I know I need to train for it.
2. Read a book about running. My most recent running reads were Ultramarathon Man and Born To Run (absolute favorite). I only had to read a few paragraphs and I was ready to go. Reading about someone else's adventures makes you want to have your own. You can even read blogs! Those are awesome motivators. Find a local runners blog, those always motivate me the most especially when I know the trails and races they run. It helps me make a connection. And it's always cool if you run into them!
                                                  
   
3. Start a blog. That's what got me started in the first place back in 2010. I was browsing some blogs and I came across this woman's blog from California. She wrote about running and I thought that was really strange. But then I started to really get into it. She seemed like she was having a lot of fun! I started my blog the very same day, even before I got a run in. I wrote on Heat Runner for a few years until I realized my interests changed. I have evolved from a 5k road runner who wanted to be fast into a trail runner, wannabe ultramarathon runner who wants to go farther. :) But I still blog.
4. Get a new playlist. Sometimes, it may be boredom that's stopping you. When I lived elsewhere in Tucson (near the University of Arizona) and I had no easy access to trails or interesting roads, I would refuse to go outside and run when I got home. It was too boring! The only thing that would push me out the door would be my music. I would buy new music every so often and it really pumped up my runs. Lately, I've been running with my phone which has Pandora Radio on it. I love the fact that I don't know what song will come on next. Keeps me guessing. However, it doesn't really work on the trails (no signal) so I have to revert back to my ancient iPod. I have a feeling I will need to update soon.
5. Sign up for a race. If you have a race looming in your future, you will be more likely to train for it. But make sure it's a big race. I have missed a few 5k's that I've signed up for. They obviously were not important enough to me. Now a marathon...that is something I would NOT miss.
6. Try a new workout. You can try a fartlek (Swedish for "speed play") workout or a cross fit workout. I get a WOD (Workout of the Day) email in my inbox every day. I may not do all of them, but it's nice to have a back-up plan for those days that you need to shake it up.
7. Join a running group. Or even a running buddy. I usually like to run alone for various reasons. Sometimes, I need time to think and sometimes, it's because I want to run slow and I don't like slowing others down. But once in awhile, it's nice to run with others. Even if you're not running next to them. TTR is focused on trail running and ultras. I joined the group to meet other runners and motivate myself to run some new trails. It worked! I found some new friends who don't think I'm crazy when I want to run a marathon. I found some new favorite trails that I would never have run had it not been for this group. I have their entire schedule in my planner. There's a run coming up this Sunday in the Rincon Mountains that I'm hoping to attend.
            You can even try to encourage a friend to start running. Hopefully, it's not like pulling teeth, because that's no fun. Start out slow with them and get them interested in some races. That's what Warrior Dash and those color runs are for.
8. Run with your dog. My German Shepard/Chow-chow mix LOVES to run. My time is always faster when I have to keep up with her. And when we run on trails, I let her off her leash so she can run free. She reminds me that running is so natural and we should do it often.
   
9.  Try cross training. Swimming, hiking, biking...snowshoeing. Anything else that's exercise that isn't running. It makes me feel like a well rounded athlete and it makes me feel a little guilty for not running instead. :)
                                
10. Walk more. You don't need to run the whole time. Don't be pressured to think that you have to. Enjoy the scenery. Stretch out your sore muscles. Take time to refuel. 

I hope these gave you some motivation!
They definitely got me motivated! I think I'll go for a run. :)

Camp NaNoWriMo

So, my first post about camp isn't really a camp at all. 

Camp NaNoWriMo is more of an online writing retreat. 

I had two reasons for starting a blog:

1. I needed motivation for running

and

2. I wanted to improve my writing. 

I definitely found motivation.

There is a HUGE running blogging community. 

And I made myself write almost weekly, so in a way, that did help to improve my writing. 

But then I heard about NaNoWriMo:

National Novel Writing Month.

It's November, if you're wondering. 

;)

And I looked into doing it, but I was overwhelmed with my job and school. 

The goal is to write 50,000 words in a month. 

Not the easiest thing to do.

So, now I'm looking into Camp NaNoWriMo.

It's a smaller version of the original during the summer months. 

I've been tossing around a few ideas for stories.

I love reading, I really do, but it's really hard to find something that matches my expectations and interests.

Half of the time, they're not doing it right. :)

With Camp NaNoWriMo, I get to pick my own word goal,

I think I'll go for 10,000 just to start out,

and I get "cabin-mates" who can encourage and proof read what I write. 

Anyway, sounds pretty good. I'll let you know how it goes. :)

Everything vanishes around me, and works are born as if out of the void. Ripe, graphic fruits fall off. My hand has become the obedient instrument of a remote will.   -Paul Klee

Quote Addiction

I'm addicted to quotes.

 

Yes, really. :)

 

Not sure when this addiction happened exactly,

but I can't get enough of them!

They amaze me.

They are powerful messages in just a few words.

and you can usually relate them to anything.

 

When I am going through a weird/tough/annoying situation in my life

I look for a quote to match it.

It always makes me feel better knowing someone else (especially someone important enough to have a quote of their own!) has gone through the same thing.

 

I encourage my students to read quotes.

I created a quote of the day zone on my door and I get excited when they all notice a new quote of the day.

 

I created it really quickly last semester, so expect a
more extravagant one next year. :)

 

Quotes are amazing motivators.

And they are not just for students to use.

 

I use them for everything:

Running

Exercise

Homework

Planning

Friendship

Relationships

Arguments

Adventure

etc etc etc

(cue the nerd comments...lol)

Is anyone else as obsessed with quotes as I am??

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Lately, I've been struggling with being lazy.

Especially when I get home from work.

I just want to go to sleep!

No doubt, my job is partly to blame. Being a first year middle school teacher can be taxing.

 

Quotes have inspired me, definitely. But they can only do so much.

Any advice on what to do??

My diet and sleeping habits may have something to do with it.

I have even been thinking of waking up early to run instead of leaving it until after work. (I am NOT a morning person, whatsoever).

 

I'll let you know what I find. Hope it's helpful!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

~ Marcel Proust

 

 



Trail Running: It's About the Experience

It is not about your time.

I run to have an adventure.

That's the main reason I got into trail running.

I know I'm not fast.

But that doesn't mean I'm giving up.

And I'm not just dismissing myself from ever running fast just because I don't run a 7 minute mile.

Sometimes I don't like running.

We've all been there.

If you know an avid runner that told you they love running and they always have...

They.

are.

lying.  

We have all had those moments in our life when we hate the idea of running.

I get tired.

And I'm also a wee bit lazy. :/
And I don't like the dreadmill.

And I will do some road running from time to time (usually the only option, like when I'm traveling).

So,

I am limited to the trails.

Which is just fine by me. :D

No complaint here.

I love the trails.

They give me the chance to let go and be outside.  

It's kind of like meditation for me.

I can think if I want. Sometimes it helps me clear my head.

But I can also let go. And think about absolutely. nothing.  

How blissful. :) :) :)

Here is a taste of some of the beauty I've experienced while running:

For me, trail running is such an amazing adventure.

If you ever want to try it out,

I have a few requests:

Be respectful to nature and the trail itself.

Take your trash with you.  

Forget about your time.

Enjoy the views.

:)

 Happy Trail Running! 

“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the spare, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself.” ~ Edward Abbey

Taking a Break is Good for the Soul

What a way to start a new blog, huh? 

For those of you coming over from Heat Runner, you know me as an outdoorsy, trail running, road running, try anything, kind of girl. 

That's basically what this blog is too. Except I wanted to add a few things. 

As my interests change, so do my blogs. :)

RRTC is definitely more outdoor focused. 

I want to share with you my love of the wild, from trail running to outdoor adventures, to camping and summer camp itself. 

I felt as if Heat Runner didn't express me in enough ways. 

Back to the title. 

Taking a break is good for the soul. 

I am a first year math and science middle school teacher. 

That takes a lot of my time.
I love it.

But it does take up a lot of my time. 

I am also in school again. 

I literally just graduated in May of 2012. 

But I'm back. This time in a post-degree teaching program. 

Thankfully, only part time, but I will be doing it until 2015 (UGH).

There you have it: 2 major things on my plate right now.

So: I'm taking a break. 

Taking a break from running. 

&

Taking a break from blogging. 

I love love LOVE to do both, 

but I have to catch my breath. 

AND THAT'S OKAY.

You can do it too. 

Take a breather.

Figure out what exactly you need in your life

to make YOU happy. 

I've been trying to figure that out for awhile. 

I think I finally got it. :)

When I first started trail running, I put hiking on the back burner. Why would I want to hike a trail when I can run it? So, for a year or two, I had stopped hiking completely. I just wanted to run the trails. 

When I ran my first marathon a couple of months ago, I realized I needed to get back to basics. 

I had lost my momentum for running. 

I needed to go for a hike. 

My boyfriend and I traversed up the one of the steepest trails in Sabino Canyon: Blackett's Ridge. 

It was one of the most beautiful hikes I have been on! 

When I got to the top, I realized how stupid I was for not hiking more often.

I literally sat for 30 minutes just staring at the scene below me (above).

It was so calm and serene. I could have sat there all day. 

Yes, I could have just have run to the top.

Actually, a woman running it passed us on the way up.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't jealous. ;)

But then it wouldn't be the journey that it was. 

It wouldn't have given me all that time to think. 

When you run, you have to think about rocks, and cliffs and THEN you can think about what you want. 

But hiking gives you the chance to take it slow and REALLY think.

Now, I'm not saying "stop running go hiking". 

I'm just saying that sometimes

you need to slow it down and take a hike. :)

 

“Every exit is an entry somewhere else.” ~ Tom Stoppard