#columbusmarathon

[carlveee]

PR at the @cbusmarathon today. Yay! I had the best cheer team at the race! ❤️ you all! #fightingbacktears #pr #columbusmarathon #cwrc #veganrunner #instarunners #sub4 #runhappy #marathon #done Thanks for the snap @buck_abm https://www.instagram.com/p/BpNXyKinLE3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13har3xl1wg3e

[goslorunfast]

Taking a minute to pat myself on the back 

because what I did this morning I didn’t think I had it in me. I have been struggling HARD with marathon training. Turns out getting 4 years older and training in a hotter, more hilly city makes it harder. Who would have thought? I haven’t been able to run over 7.6 miles, despite trying my damndest and being in probably the best shape of my life. It is HOT and it is HILLY in Nashville. I thought I’d get used to it. But every time I’d go out I’d struggle, want to cry and eventually stop far short of my goal for the day.

Last week I said, “I need a nice 60 degree morning. So I can see if it’s just my body’s ability or if it’s the heat that’s holding me back.” By some natural miracle, we got a break in the heat and it was 60 degrees this morning. It was gorgeous and perfect. I prepped, physically and mentally yesterday. And I left this morning with my head right. 

And I did it.

I finished just under 2 hours, mostly on pace. I honestly was surprised. Considering I’ve completed 2 full marathons and countless half marathons, I was surprised in myself this morning. But I did it. Now everything hurts, but at least I earned a donut (or 2!) Never doubt yourself. And never under estimate the power of support. Thank you to my awesome husband for meeting me on my course to cheer for me, to my amazing team at CrossFit East Nashville - you all are gems and I love you, and to @redbicyclecoffee for having delicious glazed donuts. 

[primalaska]

#columbuslashes #Columbusstylist #columbuscafe #columbustubing #columbuswasamurderer #columbusmusic #columbusweddings #columbusfashion #columbushairshow #columbusmakeupartist #columbus614 #columbusvoiceworldwide #columbusweddingphotographer #columbusohiophotographer #columbusshort #ColumbusWeekend #columbusmarathon #columbusblogger #columbustattooers #columbusgaphotographer #columbusnails #columbusisfashion #columbusdaynot #columbuscreates #columbuswho #columbusfoodie #columbusunderground #columbusgahair #columbusgahairstylist #columbusgamua (at Manassas, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0_d5kZnsg5/?igshid=1jccchr8r68oh

[williammount]

The end of the #roadtoseven is in sight. #columbusmarathon

[khadevis]

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A post shared by KHADEVIS ROBINSON (@khadevis)

I ain't crazy, I just think, act and speak in such a high level that average thinkers will think I'm Crazy! You have to be crazy to think that you can come from the bottom and make something out of nothing! Please share this post with the cray ones! #khadevism #inspirationalquotes #columbusmarathon #chicagomarathon #newyorkmarathon #berlinmarathon #londonmarathon #buckeyes (at The Columbus Marathon)

[notamomentlost]

Is that a bear behind her?!? Nope, just the woods! @cbusmarathon #looptyloopultra #runohio #runcation #6run4 #CWRC #beatyesterday #columbusmarathon (at Bloomer Park)

[brickards13]

Racing and Competing

Hello everyone.  This week I really want to talk about setting new goals.  This may seem a little early to be discussing this topic again since about a month ago we set our goals for 2017 as a whole.  However, today I signed up to run my first marathon!  Today was the first day to sign up for the Columbus Marathon. http://www.columbusmarathon.com/ I feel like “Wow, Brittany!  What are you…

[jillsoneofakindjewelry]

So proud of these guys for running the Columbus Marathon! #proudmom #columbusmarathon #foracause #running (at The Columbus Marathon)

[goslorunfast]

Week 5: Struggle Bus - Ticket for One

I’m in the middle of week 5 of 19 and I am riding the struggle bus. Last week I hurt my back being dumb and moving too fast during a workout. Normally I’m really methodical when lifting since I’m still relatively novice with Crossfit. Doing the lift correctly (and at a lower weight than my compadres) is more important than moving fast. But I guess the festivities of the 4th of July and the prospect of pounding a PBR when I got home just went to my head and I strained my back lifting incorrectly.

I’ve been moving around looking like something akin to an 80 year old pregnant robot. Luckily I can actually walk and run with almost no pain at all, but bending, twisting, sitting, going to sit, going to stand, etc. takes so long that anyone waiting for me to do any of those activities might as well grab a magazine because it's going to be a while. I went to my massage therapist and have been stretching so much I feel like it’s a second full time job, but the muscles just aren’t ready to let up.

I’m frustrated because this is the point in training where things are starting to ramp up and I want to put my everything into it. Like I said, I can run, but I’m sure running is only tensing my muscles up and if nothing else, stagnating recovery, if not reversing or prolonging. I also can’t really lift weights or do a lot of Crossfit movements due to my inability to hinge. I’m hoping another few days of really aggressive (yet gentle?) stretching will help ease up the tightness so I can get back into forging full steam ahead on my training (sorry for all the transportation metaphors).

This week I already completed my speed work (see previous photo post-- it was fun, but complicated!) and have a 10k time trial to tackle by week’s end. I’m hoping to complete that in under 54 minutes, but with the back issues, I may be a little slower. I have one week after this and then I’ll be finished with Phase 1 of my training. Time is flying. Wish me luck in recovering and stay tuned for more updates!

[williammount]

This morning’s long run was good up until mile 17. Once the sun came out, I hit a pretty big wall. This #roadtoseven has been one of the most challenging things I’ve done. I did get to see a wild turkey at least. Only one more long run to go before taper. #keepmovingforward #almostdone #columbusmarathon (at Schwartzkopf Park)

[notamomentlost]

Half marathon group training run 3 in the books, which included hills! 📈⛰ Proud of my pace but always rum for improvement. #halfmarathontraining #roadto13point1 #firsthalfround2 #6run4 #CWRC #columbusmarathon #iamstrongerthanithink

[goslorunfast]

Let me tell you about a little thing called SUPPORT. 

None of us can get through life without support in one way or another, but if we’re lucky, we get it in many ways. Marathon training and the race are no different. 

In the past, as I trudged through my miles every week, I did feel alone for much of it. After all, unless you’re training with a running group with people running at your exact pace, you’re pounding the pavement literally alone. Initially I did try to run with a group, but found I was somewhere between to the pace groups, so after a few weeks broke off and in large part preferred running alone. I found some peace in the miles that allowed me to clear my head. But I was never truly alone.

Every week as I ticked up the miles and checked off the training days, I had friends, coworkers and family asking me how training was going. It’s a small thing, but people showing event the slightest interest is a boost. But really where the support came from was the day in and day out and that mostly fell on my husband. Specifically, on Saturday mornings he would come outside to meet me with our dog Bruin as I’d finish my week’s long run (no matter if it was 5, 12 or 18 miles). He’d always have a Gatorade for me and we’d walk to get a donut. I think in those two years, he maybe missed that ritual twice and only because he was out of town. It made a big difference to my psyche knowing they were waiting for me on the sidewalk like a mini finish line every single week.

And that’s not even mentioning race day. Both years, my husband and dad mapped out I think 7 places along the course to catch a glimpse of me, armed with extra gels, body glide, chapstick and pretzels. Even though at each spot they’d only see me for about 5-10 seconds, it meant the world to me that they were there. In addition, my mom and sister staked out at two other locations to give me a boost. Chasing someone around a marathon course isn’t easy or convenient. I know how lucky I am and it undoubtedly pushed me to the finish when many times I didn’t think I’d make it.

This time around, I’ll have my family along the race course again, cheering me through the grueling 26.2 miles. But training support is different this year. Of course I still have the support of my family, but using Crossfit, I have the support of my gym community too. Every day I show up to the gym, I have an amazing community of athletes that are pushing and supporting each other to do their best and achieve their highest potential. It’s an incredible thing and something I haven’t experienced in my adult life until now. While Crossift is largely a singular sport, the environment many times feels more like a team sport with all the support you feel during and after workouts. As someone who played soccer my entire life until pretty recently, this team mentality is something I missed in my adult life and relish in my Crossfit community.

Because of the way I’m training using Crossfit, I am doing speedwork once a week right now, eliminating what normally would have been a 3-5 mile mid-week run. My husband isn’t much of a runner, but has been running more lately. Last week, he agreed to come out for one of my speed workouts. He didn’t entirely understand what he was getting into and that we’d be more or less sprinting 200m and repeating that 8 times. Then capped it off with a 800m run. At the end he said, “That sucked. But it was fun!” That’s pretty much the most accurate description you could give that workout. And it was awesome to have a buddy to do it with (photo above of us after the workout).

So yes. I am lucky. I am lucky to have friends and family standing by me as I strive to achieve another marathon finish (despite them maybe thinking I’m clinically crazy for doing so). And I am beyond lucky to this time around have a gym community that pushes me to my limits every day I show up. I had the former before, but the latter may be the difference that helps me break the 4:00:00 mark on race day.

The real impact of support should never be underestimated. While we all like to think we’re independent, we need others to be our best. Embrace it. Enjoy it. And go do the damn thing.

[williammount]

My #roadtoseven this wee included some night runs, a chipmunk running across my foot, and my phone crashing trying to take this picture, followed by me getting swarmed by mosquitos restarting it. Pretty successful week. #marathontraining #columbusmarathon (at Schwartzkopf Park)

[notamomentlost]

Mini Runner's Strength Workout (thanks Carolyn, Lisa, & Larry), Tabata @614Fitness, a 1hr conference call for @columbuswestsiderunningclub, then finally my 3 miles for today's training. I could have skipped any or all of this but I have goals. Oh, and thanks Becca for the encouragement to get those miles. #roadto13point1 #halfmarathontraining #columbusmarathon