Let's Run a Marathon

The last time I wrote something here was in 2014.

I'm the worst.

But for real though, here's the thing... I'm not perfect. Over the last couple years running has fallen on the wayside. In March of 2014 I ran the Georgia Publix Marathon and had a lot of residual pain from my Achilles tendon(s). I took a bit of time off and after getting back into it running just never felt the same.

I've gained a bit (cough) of  the weight I worked so hard to lose in 2012 and that makes running feel even weirder. 

But I'm done with excuses! Because now... I'm running a marathon in October! The marathon I've wanted to run since I started running long distances. I've got a lot of work to do and I'm going to need help getting there, hence the need for me to start this again.

So I hope you're ready for lots of bitchin' and lots of silly Katie antics because that's whats 'bout to happen!

-Katie

Letting Go... While I Flow!

I think everyone has had those moments or times in their life when they are absolutely wallowing in some sort of disappointment.

As a kid (ok.... and as an "adult") I found (ok, ok, find) that disappointment comes often and easy when you're a perfectionist. When I'd get an 89 instead of a 93 on a test or mess up an important play in softball, it wasn't something I could just let go of and move on from. The disappointment would fester and boil until it would spill over into some emotional outburst or a month long session of too much internet and books.

For a lot of runners I'm sure that the time spent pounding it out on the pavement or exploring the great unknown is therapy for those moments that call for it. When you're wallowing. There's no expectations in the average runner, right? I mean you're out there doin it. Who else is?! I certainly don't see a lot of other midtwenty females out there. So that place for disappointment is small, and then you just run it out. Well I guess that's how it goes, anyway. Because I really don't get that from running.

Lately I've been struggling to shake off a little slice of a disappointment, but I've recently seemed to find answers in a very sweaty room. A hot yoga room! There's a class that I like to go to on Monday nights called, "Power Yoga Basics" at my new favorite studio Thunderbolt Power Yoga. For one the instructor is great (Becky Cawood, (she's taught me so much in such a short time)), but it's also this cool melting pot of super experienced yogis and total noobs. You come on your mat, totally let go of your inhibitions and all of your daily woes and just be present. Cause if you aren't totally there, then you're totally going to fall out of that pose or give up when your legs are on FIRE. You can't think of how you messed up that stupid form or caught an attitude when you shouldn't have, because it's simply impossible to succeed that way. I am really not that flexible or balanced, but it doesn't matter. I can still be as much of yogi as the owner who practiced by my side today! I'm honestly happier and  I hope that has reflected in my work and with my friends.

So if you're feeling a little stuck, go do some sun salutations or hold a plank for a stupid amount of time. Or maybe just check out a class at my new home 😀. It's in the northern part of buck head where the outback used to be and the first month of classes is only $40!

Product Review: Victoria Secret Sport Bra

Let's be honest. Looking good while working out is a big motivator. I want my butt looking awesome as a run past lines of cars through my neighborhood during the busiest time of the day for traffic. But unfortunately just looking cute is not enough. The many different pieces of activewear I put on has to perform under extreme circumstances. I live in the south and train for races through the hottest part of the year, so not only does it need to wick away sweat but it also can't be too heavy or stick to me too much. I spend lots of money, time and effort looking for the best of gear so when Influenster asked me to participate in their new camping with Victoria Secret Sport, I said "hell yeah!!"

So they sent me a lovely Victoria Secret box (you know the one, with the pink stripes! You can spot it anywhere.) filled with coupons for friends and a pair of the The Knockout Tight (in Marl) and the Incredible Bra (in black).

I was so excited that I immediately took my new sports bra out for a trail run the next day. Plenty of bouncing around on trails, especially since I'm not the most graceful. But the bra? It's great! It has a really nice amount of padding at the shoulders that I've never experienced before. It also really gives great shape without sacrificing function. The back racerback panel has breathable mesh, and even though there is a lot of support and padding to the bra I don't notice. There's also an adjustable back closure to make the fit even more personal.

When I went into the store to shop and use that coupon I was overwhelmed by all of the colors! I had a hard time choosing but ultimately went with the same bra but in a different color an zip front. I also tried on some different sizes to see how they fit me and decided that I should go down a cup size. Of course Victoria Secret is head and tails above the rest of the retail world in customer service so the
sales team was very helpful.

"INCREDIBLE BY VICTORIAS SECRET FRONT-CLOSE SPORT BRA"

The tights are great too (duh). The waist is a little higher than I'd usually chose but they're still very comfortable and flattering. The most important thing for me is that the waistband has a drawstring! How many legging lack that?  Sooooo many. I have a big rear end and a small waist so it's very necessary. I also decided to buy a  pair of The Incredible crops too. I've been wearing them around all day!

"Knockout Leggings" in Marl and "Incredible" (front close) sport bra in Blueberry Twist Marl
  

I'll be taking the front close Incredible for a spin in my power yoga class tonight. Check in at my Instagram page to see how it goes!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored blog post. Influenster provided me with complimentary Victoria's Secret products to test and review as part of a contest. All opinions are my own.

Wednesdays

For me, Wednesdays are my most challenging days to stay active. I work 9-6 and then turn around and go to choir from 7-8:45. I often will get a Wednesday off every other week, as I work a weekend every other week (that's a whole other issue) and that can help, but otherwise I have to cram a run in and sacrifice dinner or do the opposite.

The logical explanation here is for me to just get up early and run, right? Well I do track workouts late on Tuesdays (sometimes not over until 8 or 8:30) and so I am not ready to get up and do it again at 6AM on Wednesdays. I also really suck at waking myself up, whether it's 6:30 or 8:30... like this morning =).

I've tried running to choir (it's about 2.8 miles, not far), but I got SUPER gross and sweaty and felt bad having to sit so close to other people for 2 hours. It's just impossible in the Georgia weather not to get super sweaty, even nearing sundown.

My traditional rest days are fridays, as I like to feel rested for my long run then run on tired legs on Sundays as recovery.  Since my goal is consistency for this training cycle, I've got to figure out something that works. I guess trial and error can work for the rest of June and July, but after that it's business time!

Any suggestions?

Finding My Pace

I thought going in to the last marathon that I could run between 10:30-11:00 min miles. But that was simply not the case. When I think about the last training cycle all I think about is pain and inconsistency.  I battled foot pain, blisters, and a pretty tough achillies pain (tendonitis?). Coming off the marathon the only thing that seemed to help get over all the stupid aches and pains was to just take a break. So I didn't run for about 6 weeks and now I feel like I'm starting over.

I decided to actually pay for a training plan so that I didn't just run whatever I thought would work during the week and then do a long run on the weekend. There were a lot of different requirements in my search, as I have a very inconsistent work schedule, get bored easily and am really wanting help build a strong base.

I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a plan built just for me and a lot of the plans were very structured and repetitive.  Run the Edge offered the perfect plan (Level Up Ultimate 26.2) for me as it's all time based, I can move through it at my own pace, and it's interactive and ever changing. Hopefully it will work out! 

This brings me to my original point. A lot of the weekly miles are based on effort. Today I decided to do my "long run" (I'm going to my sister's graduation this weekend and wanted to save the shortest workouts for Saturday and Sunday) and it was supposed to be done at "medium" effort. Finding a medium effort is super hard for me. Running at an easy pace (around 12:00 min/mile) is a piece of cake, and finding a hard pace (around 8:45-9:30) is not challenging, but getting somewhere in the middle and holding it is something I haven't quite mastered yet. Luckily I have another 4 or 5 weeks of "easy" or short distance running to figure it out. I still have to find what my goal marathon pace is too. I'm still at the point where just running a race that I feel I did as well as I could is my goal, not so much for time. 

As always the biggest challenge will be forcing myself to stick to a plan the whole way through. Especially once my schedule starts to interfere.

Pity

Today (ahem yesterday, as it is now 12:30AM Saturday) a coworker of mine said, "so what have you been doing besides work lately?"

"Nothing new." (It felt like an odd question to me. There was clearly a follow up coming."

"Katie, I feel bad for you. You need to make something out of your life."

--insert jaw dropping-to-the-floor-face here--

...

Pity. I get it from this particular person a lot. Why does it bother me so much? Is it because I'm not used to being pitied? I certainly haven't felt like I deserved anyone's pity in the last few years (let's call AFK for after fat Katie). Or is it because I see some truth to it? 

Is being single (and not really mingling) in your mid to late twenties pitiable? Or is it just that in the eyes of twenty something it is? Because I don't go out to eat; because I don't go to bars; because I don't spend lots of money (I don't have) on fancy cars and clothes; does that mean they pity me?

This is crazy! How have I even been brought to the point where I think I should be pitied?

Let's recap what I've done, the good and the bad, AFK.

I moved back home. I moved to Atlanta. I got a full time, regular income kind of job. I ran a marathon. Then I did it again. I ran 4 half marathons, 3 10ks, a 4 miler, and 4 5ks in 2 years. I've run hundreds of miles. I've run over a thousand miles! I learned what a chaturanga push up is. I got to the point where I could actually do one. I forgot how. I traveled to Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Townsend, Vegas, Dayton and of course, Savannah. I went to the Grand Canyon for the first time. I found out in good at property management. I got a road bike. I've only road 50 or so miles on said 7 month old bike. I walk to work. I was asked to be a bridesmaid. I found a mentor, who became a friend and who is now more like an annoying older brother. I joined a choir. And then joined another. I was a member of a cast in a production of Oliver!. I learned I can run for over three and a half hours, but I usually feel like crying half way through. Running brought me back 2 friends I'd never thought I'd call friends again.  I found a roommate. I went to a funeral. Ian Somerholder offered me his tea, then got mad when I didn't drink it. I learned that letting go is so much easier than holding a grudge. Then I found another. I'm more independent then ever. I'm alone a lot. 

Being alone is not pitiable.

I'm fine being alone.

Alone.

A Year Later...

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ga/nikesf13/katiekerkhoff

It was a little over a year ago that I made the decision to raise money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma society by running a half marathon. With your help I was able to raise OVER $1300. Now I'm asking for your help again, but this time I'm going a little bigger and running a FULL marathon and hope to raise $3,500. So keep an eye out for more updates on my training and fundraising efforts, I'm getting pumped to start this journey and can't wait to share it with you!

Be back soon.

Promise.

12 Miles and Other Running Things

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." 

-T. S. Eliot

This Saturday I ran 12 miles. It's a good thing I don't have to do those long runs on my own because I really don't know what I would think about for 2 hours while I run, run, run. What do I usually think about? I think about finishing. I have to convince myself to keep going (ok trick myself, is closer to the truth).

"Only one more minute; only to the end of the road; just till you've been running for an hour; think of all the skinny cow ice cream/pancakes/potato chip you can eat after burning 1100 calories...etc."

But luckily I only have to do one long run in the week by myself, so I only have to bribe my brain a few times.

So I'm going press pause and talk about how much Team In Training has changed my running.

• I went from thinking I HAD to just run all the time, and that walking was weak, but now I know walking makes me stronger. 
• Running went from a very independent, solo action for me, to a social, group activity. Don't get me wrong... I still really like running on my own. A lot of the time I prefer it, but I also love having a pace partner. Even if there is no talking, just having someone there makes a big difference when it comes to how far you can push your legs.
• I've gotten a lot faster, even though I run slower on long runs (I credit my determination + having a great training schedule on that).
• I've started to actually enjoy running.

Wait, huh? You mean to say this girl has been running for 9 months and didn't like it? Yes. Yes, that's correct. Running was torturous for the first 3 months. The only reason I've kept up with it (until recently) is because I like the way it makes me feel after and I like the results. Now? I like it a bit more. I like the people. I like the accomplishment. I like seeing my surroundings in ways I never would have before. I like pushing myself. (I like the clothes.)

The lesson here is if you hate running, maybe you should join a running group (in Savannah there are all of the C.R.E.W. groups and the Savannah Striders, but nationally check your local running stores or meetup.com) or you should raise money for cancer and join Team In Training or DetirmiNation. I mean stop being so selfish while you hate running, geez.

p.s. Check out my post over at GeekChic: The Blog! It's the first of many! And look out for more posts every once and a while from my girl, Caity.

Amazing Fall Smoothie Recipe

Hello everyone! My name is Caitlyn. Katie and I decided to do some blog collaboration. Like her, I am a member of Weight Watchers. I love cooking and have been adapting some recipes to fit my new lifestyle a little better.

One of my favorite new discoveries is an adaptation of a smoothie I found on Pinterest, the Pumpkin Pie Smoothie. The original recipe calls for greek yogurt and since I try not to eat a lot of dairy I changed it a little bit.

Here's what you need:

• 1/2 a banana
• 1/3 cup pure pumpkin (canned)
• 1 cup soy/almond/hazelnut milk (preferably vanilla)
• 5 ice cubes
• 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon

 Put all ingredients into a blender and enjoy! The best thing about this recipe is it's only 1-3 points depending on what kind of milk you use. I used original almond milk and added a few teaspoons of vanilla and it ended up being only one point!

This is just a preview of some other healthy recipes you can find on my blog, GeekChic: The Blog. I'll also be posting recipes here every now and then!

Until next time,

Caitlyn