Weekly Update And Giving Thanks

I just want to give a few quick updates on some things I talked about more and now have more information on. First Rucksgiving, like I said before this is an event that is put on by the Obstacle World Championships but anyone can do it. Cities across the country will be holding their own event. The idea is to go for a run and help some people who are in need while running.  You can click here to see if your city already has a date set up. Remember you don't need to be an obstacle racer to do this. Anyone that wants to help others out is welcomed. Pittsburgh will be holding ours on December 5th.

With Thanksgiving coming up in just a few days I am sure a lot of you are like myself and will be doing some sort of turkey trot or thanksgiving race. I will be doing the 5 mile turkey trot in Pittsburgh. So if you are running it look out for me.

At Thanksgiving we are always asked, "What are you thankful for?" Well I thought I would tell you what I am thankful about running. First I am thankful that running has always kept me and my father so close. Even to this day when I have a question he is the first person I ask for advice. I am also thankful that running has allowed me to meet so many people. The running community has some of the greatest people. They are always trying to motivate and help each other out. There are runners that I have never met but I still look to them for motivation like my friend Stephanie. I love knowing that I can go to a race almost anywhere in the country and look on #runchat and be able to meet someone for the race. Last but not least I am thankful running has kept me healthy and in shape. I may be 36 years old but I still feel like this body can move like a 20 year old and I am not close to being done.

Another race I will be adding to my schedule next season will be the Shamrock Half Marathon in March. I am also debating with myself on pulling the trigger and signing up for my first triathlon.

So tell me what are you thankful for?
I hope you have a good thanksgiving and good luck if you are racing.

Training or Lack of Week

     If you read my post last week you would know that I was sick and wasn't sure just how training would go this week.  At the beginning of the week I still felt pretty bad. I was wheezing pretty bad and had a horrible cough.  As much as I wanted to get out and do some running I knew it would do more damage than good.  Wednesday was the first day that my throat felt better and I actually could tell my cold was starting to dissipate. However since I have asthma I knew running was still not an option.  I did manage to do some light stretching a few days, but I really wanted to just use this week to rest and start fresh this week coming up.  I also had a wedding to attend Friday night and the rehearsal dinner on Thursday, so that was at least 2 days I would be losing for any type of training.  I am finally about 80 percent back to normal now and today I will be going to the gym to do some light lifting. Tomorrow will be the first day I actually go and run. I will probably play it safe and use the treadmill until I am back to 100 percent. The cold weather and my lungs do not always agree with each other and it can wreak havoc with my asthma.  I will not have less than 2 weeks to train for the Turkey Trot 5 miler.  I am starting to think a PR may not be doable since the last month has been a lot of weird runs.  A marathon followed by 2 weeks rest then a 24 hour run which I did 35 miles followed be getting sick with less than 2 weeks to train.  I am not sure how this race will go, but I am going to go for it and see if I can get my PR.  Go big or go home I guess. This week I am going to try and get in at least 3 short runs and one long run with some cross training thrown in.
     Here are a few pics of the wedding I attended Friday night. It was at the Priory Hotel in Pittsburgh and it was a very nice hall. We ended up getting a room and staying and the hotel had a very old feeling. It was pretty awesome yet pretty scary. Every time I walked around the hall I kept thinking a ghost was going to come out in front of me. I had a great time though and the wedding turned out to be great.  I drank some beers, ate some good food, danced, and drank some more. Great time with great people.  Here are a few pics of the evening.

Mike and Tara

No clue what we are doing here

Amanda and I

Shay and I

Interview with Nicollette Byrne

     Since last week I did not post a Sunday interview, due to the holiday week. I have decided to post one in the middle of this week to make up for it. This weeks interview is with my cousin Nicollette Byrne. Nicollette ran her first race on Thanksgiving morning. She participated in the Pittsburgh Turkey Trot 5K and ran an impressive time of 34 minutes. So i figured this week we would get some insight from a person who is just starting out running.

SB- The Turkey Trot 5K was your first race, what made you want to run it?
NB- In high school I was extremely active, playing every sport I possibly could. Not only did I love being in shape, but the completion aspect was addicting. After seeing you and many of our other cousins running races, I thought it'd be fun to possibly do together, a good way to get/stay in shape, and a way to get back to the competitiveness.


SB- How did you train for the race?
NB- I used to go to the gym 2-3 time a week where I would do 30-45 minutes of cardio and some strength training. I only decided to do the Turkey Trot about a month in advance. I started by running as far as I could outside until I had to stop. (Which was only about .7 miles!) From there I ran 2-3 times a week adding .25 every run. I don't know how effective/efficient this would be for everyone, but it got me to where I wanted to be.


SB- Were you surprised to see how many runners showed up for the race even though it was only 30 degrees out?
NB- I was! Before the race I was nervous I'd be the slowest or newest runner, but it was awesome to see so many different people out there doing something so great! Everyone was so motivating and friendly, I'm glad the Turkey Trot was my first race.


SB- Now that you ran your first race do you think you will run more?
NB - I definitely want to do more as soon as possible! I want to start by improving my 5k runs, and possibly move on to longer races. (Hopefully the 5 mile trot next year!)


SB- Describe how you felt when you crossed the finish line?
NB- It was honestly exhilarating. There were a few times training in the cold and snow at 7am when I questioned why I was running, but rounding the corner to the finish line confirmed why I was doing what I was doing. Not only was our families there to cheer me on, but I also was so proud of myself for completing something I never thought I'd do. The rush and high you get at the end of a race is amazing.


SB- Any runners you look up to, or that inspired you along your journey to running your first race?
NB-Our family is my greatest inspiration. Everyone who has been running is so different, it really made me realise that I could be a runner if I really tried. Our cousin Mike is an incredibly smart and acheived writer, Katie is a full time mom of 2 kids, Gab and Nicole are hard working sisters, and you are a multiple marathon runner who can drink a case of beer in a weekend. If all of you are not inspiration enough, I don't know what is.


SB- When you were running the race what was going through your mind?
NB- Its weird how fast the 3 miles went by compared to when I was training. I usually focus on my music to keep my pace, but I can't even tell you what I listened to that morning. I think I was in such awe and overcome with adrenaline that I didn't have much time to think. I'm interested to see if this changes with the more races I run.


SB- A lot of people say running is easy and anyone can do it. What do you think about that statement?
NB- I think that those people are 100% wrong. That statement is insulting to all runners, whether we jog 1 mile or run 26. Running not only takes an enormous amount of physical endurance, but it also takes even more mental endurance. I experienced firsthand that running even a beginners 5k requires dedicated training. No one can wake up one day and decide to run a marathon.

SB- Your time was very respectable for someone who never ran a race. Do you think your time could have been better or do you think you trained to the best of your ability?
NB- Thanks so much. I went into the race not caring about how long it would take me to complete it. I was happy that I was able to get out there and run a 5k, so I was extremely happy that my time was faster than when I had trained. Like I mentioned earlier, I only trained for about a month so no I do not think I was trained to the best of my abilities. I am still shocked at how much I improved in that short month, so I know that with more time will come more improvements. Now that my first race is complete, I know I will be paying more attention to that time!


SB- Anything you would like to say to a person that might just be getting into running or thinking about running a race for the first time?
NB- YOU CAN DO IT. As long as you are dedicated to yourself and your training, you will improve. Never doubt your body's ability; your mind is the only thing against you. I have the highest respect for everyone who signs up for a race. Whether you run for only the first .5 mile or if you sprint the whole thing, you are doing more than most people! I couldn't run a mile a month ago, and I completed a 5k this weekend in just less than 35 minutes. Again, YOU CAN DO IT.

Trotting It Up

     I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving as much as I did.  This year I decided to run in the Pittsburgh Turkey Trot alongside 7,000 plus runners.  This was my first year to ever run the race and it was actually my first five mile race I ever ran which is kind of crazy considering all of the races I have ran. The weather was bitter cold on the morning of the race and it was very hard to stay loose and warm.  It took about two miles into the race until I actually felt like I was comfortable. I ended up finishing the race with a time of 40:02. Not the best time, but not the worst time. As I get older I am starting to not worry too much about the time (at least not in short races). When I was in my early twenties I went into every race thinking I had to place in my age group and finish in the top ten. Recently though, I use the short races as a training platform for marathons. I have always had trouble gauging how fast I am going in a race. I would always start out running a fast first mile then die down later in races. Now I am starting to learn how to pace myself and I am starting to be able to tell how fast I am running, even when I throw a surge in.

      I guess the point I am trying to make here is there is always room for improvement and every race or every run you do is a chance for you to master your craft.  Do not get discouraged if you don't get it right the first time.  I have always believed when running a race, the best athlete will not always win but the person who has worked the hardest and the person who is willing lay it all out on the line that day will be the one to cross the finish first.  So keep fine tuning your runs and then when you are ready to let it all out, do it.  Even if it is for one race let go and take yourself to the point of no return and I guarantee you, you will walk away feeling like you did your best. You may not win the race but you will more than likely run your best time.

    I am waiting for that moment hopefully in my next marathon.  So yes, I can go out and try to run a 30 something five mile race or I can take those 5 miles as a stepping stone to reach my ultimate goal.  I think I will take that 40:02 and hold my head high and know its just a small step towards the big picture.