My Marathon this weekend… and Boston?!

As of my last post, I was deciding on the my marathon for this weekend. I’m at 22 miles in my training. If you’ve followed my training in the past, you’ll know that if I’m going over 20 miles, I use a marathon to get it done and check another one off. I usually will push the 20-24 miles (depending on what my training needs) then jog the rest. Or I’ll just take it easy overall, saving the big push for my seasonal goal marathon. The 2 options were:

1) Erie marathon: 26.2 miles, FLAT, road, 5.5 hours away from home

2) Germantown 50k: 31 miles, hilly, trail, 1 hour away from home.

With 3 young kids, traveling from home is a BIG deal… so that distance matters. Unlike my 50 Marathon State adventures (blog here) in my 20’s, I don’t have the same freedom for travel. I’ll be making due with a lot of mid-west (OH, KY, IN) marathons with exceptions for fun family trips (hello Disney!!!). 

📸: My 3 boys. M1 and M2 started school this week!

So what did I choose?! We will get there, but first a story of love… and extreme over-confidence in me from my husband… 
The other day, I get a text from my husband that looks like this…

Bless his soul. While I appreciate the great deal of faith mt husband has in me, he maybe doesn’t understand that to qualify for Boston, it would have to be in the next week 😳. Or how difficult BQ’ing is. Have I done it? 30 times over but that was 10’years and 3 kids ago. I was also deep into my marathon training, clicking off an average of a marathon every other week. My current training plan has been focused on adding speed, but I went back to the start and have been building up endurance at speed. 

I’m at 20 miles with a goal to TRY for a BQ at my October race… however, I also like a challenge and in one little message he (likely) unknowingly solidified my choice for this weekend. Erie Marathon being flat and fast is a notorious Boston Qualifying race. IF I’m feeling good that day and IF I can find the strength to push beyond my training… it IS doable… maybe? Or I could crash and burn at 18 miles?  I guess we will see!

My weekend marathon: The Erie Marathon at Presque Isle in PA! This will be my 93rd lifetime marathon. It's also the SECOND time I've run this. Last time I ran Erie was in the infancy of my marathoning- just my 14th State in 2009! Some things have changed... others not so much. You can check out the race ratings from the last time I ran this race here. In 2009 I gave it a 3.8 out of 5. The GOOD was the race organization and course. The not so great? The swag (medals and shirts were ok). I'm really excited to see what has changed. 

Mini Race Rundown: 

Erie Marathon at Presque Isle ~ Sunday September 10, 2023. Start time: 7am

Erie, PA ~ Presque Isle State Park

Registration Fees: $110 - $140 (this was $40-60 in 2009!)

Year Running: 29th

Races Available: Marathon ONLY (there used to be a half and a relay- I HATE relays during races. They really mess with pacing for those running the fulls. SO glad this change was made). 

Certified Course/BQ Certified?: Yes/Yes... MANY people run this to BQ and 34% actually accomplish it on average. This weekend, it's the last race before Boston registration opens.

Cutoff Time and Early Start Option: No early start. There is a 6.5 hours limit 

Weather Update: It it looking to land in the mid 60's and 70's with a chance of rain. NOT the best conditions... not the worst. 

Course: 

MarathonGuide

The course is a runners dream- flat, looped (lots of water stops), shaded, and FAST. Given the timing and course, many people run this to attempt to BQ (Boston Qualify). 

Race Plan: It's been YEARS since I last BQ'd. That should make things easier, right? I would just age into a slower qualifying time (Boston qualifying is done by age groups). However... I actually have to run FASTER than the last time I qualified (10 years ago). Why? People have gotten faster, so they pushed the BQ time's UP. I used to have to run a 3:40 in my 20's and now I need to run a 3:35 in my late 30's! When I was in my 20's my best time was 3:19 and I was BQ'ing left and right. I thought those days were behind me, and maybe they are. But I also remember a time that I was running a 4:00 marathon with dreams of hitting a BQ. It took a few months and lots and lots of MISSES before I finally made it... and made it, and made it... 20 times over. 

PR: 3:19

Post-Babies PR: 3:42

Current BQ Time: 3:35

This IS supposed to be my a TRAINING run with goals of racing the Hudson Mohawk in October. However, if I'm feeling good, I may let 'er rip for the first 20 and try to hold on after that. I have a few goals for this race:

#1: FINISH Marathon 93

#2: PR (post babies)... better than a 3:42

#3: BQ

Let's see how it goes. 

Happy Running!

-Stephanie 

It’s not long now….

Not long until a few things (Hudson Mohawk marathon, Antarctica, Disney Dopey) but the most disturbing is the likely length of time until this guy (yes, he’s 7) is beating me in races. I give it only 2 years and desire to do so and it will happen. He already has speed I legitimately cannot touch and a very natural endurance talent. He has been going on 2 to 4 miles jogs whenever he gets the whim…. Between 1.5 hour travel

Soccer practices. 

⛔️ This is Michael… runners beware ⚠️. I’m holding him back for now in fear of burnout and development issues. It won’t be long. This is him jumping to grab a leaf while on a 2 min sprint race against me. He was laugh the whole time… I was trying not to die. 

Training Update:

Long Run: 18 miles (last week) this week is my drop down week so I took Michael for my first 2 miles…. That and I went out for the first time in 8 years and wasn’t feeling my very best

Training Program: Peloton’s Road to 26.2 marathon program… semi adjusted. I’m adding 2-4 miles onto the long runs and some climbing work on the off days (future post on these). 

Pacing: This program has a lot of focus on target and current pacing including: current marathon pace, target marathon pace, tempo pace, etc. This is my second time through this program and I’ve used those paces to add speed. The first time I completed the program (last winter through spring) my marathon pace was roughly 8:30 and my tempo race was 730/7:40. This time through I’ve been picking up those times 5-10 seconds every few weeks.

Program Marathon Target Pace:  8:00

Program Tempo: 7-7:10 (currently up to 9 min at a time)

Long Run Distance: 18 (program reco 16)

Target Marathon: Hudson Mohawk Marathon in Albany, NY on Oct 8th

Next Race Up…

That’s a VERY good question. Between work, kids sports schedules, husband schedules, I have nailed down one weekend to add in a practice race before Hudson Mohawk. I hate running more than 20 miles in training runs so I use marathons to get the mileage in… plus a little extra. If I’m going over 20, may as well get a medal, right?

The weekend I’m doing my next marathon will be Oct 8/9. Between now and then I’ll do (1) 20 mile training run (next weekend). For that weekend I’m deciding between 2 options:

1) Erie Marathon. 26.2 miles. It’s about a 5.5 hour drive away. The course is as flat as a pancake and asphalt. 

2) Germantown 50k. 31 miles. It’s about an hour away (no hotel needed). The course is a looped 8 mile trail with about 3,000 feet of elevation. 

Sooo yeah they couldn’t be any different. I used to find trails to be super fun-‘but that was 10 years ago. Erie is only 26 miles vs 31 trail miles. Erie is far away to need a hotel and a long drive home. But the 50k starts later and will go longer with potential heat. 

I’m SO torn! Help me decide!

ERIE OR GERMANTOWN?!

Antarctica Training Update

 We are roughly 17-18 weeks (yes it’s a range as the race’s start is subject to weather) away from Antarctica Ice Marathon. I’m planning to do 2 or 3 full marathons + as part of my training including a trail 50k to get used to the foot conditions of running on snow. Right now I’m targeting the Hudson Mohawk in October for my “fast” fall race and that is only 8 weeks away. Today I did a 16 mile training run. 

Folks, it’s hot. It’s very hot. And while I was finishing my run I was thinking:

1. Maybe training in extreme heat is not the best way to train to run in Antarctica 

2. Maybe dressing in the dark isn’t the best choice either 🤦‍♀️

People keep asking how I’m going to train for running in the arctic. 🤔 Being in Kentucky, it’s not the HOTTEST part of the country but we certainly don’t get comparable weather conditions of Antarctic summer (December is summer there) until our coldest parts of the year- typically January. Just like with all races and training, there are things in my control and things that are not. The weather is not one of those things. So here is my plan:

A. Run at the coldest part of the day / week. My oct-Dec long runs, I’ll actually look for the coldest early mornings and run then. I’ll also wear as little as I can tolerate to try and thicken my blood.

B. Lots of lots of miles. The ground we are running on is flattened snow and ice. I’m told it’s very similar to running on wet sand. I don’t have a ton of trails around me (nor the time to get to them) but I do have the ability to put in so many miles that 26 in sub-optimal conditions is easy.

C. Tempo and speed training. No, I’m not planning to run a PR, but similar to the above, the tougher I can get my body, the more doable it will be to run in not great conditions. 

That’s it… that’s all I got. Other than a wing and a prayer, this 👆is essentially my whole plan. Yeah so… wish me luck. 

Oh I forgot the top training strategy!!! Keep this guy around as a reminder that we can work through hard things! If you haven’t met Mavi John, this is him. He’s my youngest and our Neruo-diverse super hero! I’m running 2 hard challenges this winter, including Antarctica, in support of him and all of his neurodiverse friends. Mavi was diagnosed with autism at 2.5 years (more on this in upcoming posts). His biggest challenges have been speech and sensory seeking. He can’t conjugate full sentences but he is resilient and smart and finds ways to communicate and get all of his needs met… which mostly consist of asking for Pizza, ice cream, to swim and to watch tablet. What else does a kid need?! #RunforMavi

That’s it for now. Maybe I’ll stop sweating sometime today. 

-S 

Vermont Here We Go!

We are headed to Vermont today for the Vermont City Marathon tomorrow. Running trip packing  sure look different these days. When I did the 50 states in 2 years, it was a carry-on only, essentials and running gear. The cheaper, the better. Now I’m looking at my bag, thinking:

1. How did matriculate this many medications?! Sometime around 30… +5, 1 was added for an under active thyroid… then another… now here we are.
2. Pikachu undies…. For my tiny travel companion. #momlife. 
3. Soccer Mom Shirt is an essential! Where did all my Boston Marathon gear go?! When did this become a staple garment?
4. Seriously… what are all these medications?!

Overall, I’m fairly disturbed by this image. Maybe this is what a #runningmomlife looks like now. 

Meet M1!

This is my new travel buddy, M1. He is the only child going with me on this trip and it’s the first time I have flown without my other kids. I have a little phobia when it comes to flying without them. They also aren’t the best at standing around while I run for 3-4 hours. Michael is mostly going for the Ben & Jerry’s.  

Off to Vermont for my second every Vermont City Marathon. The last time I ran, it was 2009 and I missed BQ by just a few SECONDS. Of course I BQ’d many times after but that race still sits sour with me. Maybe some redemption tomorrow? 

Wish us luck… and that I can keep all these darn medications straight without one of these.

10 Year Return

 I'm Back!
10 Years... it's been 10 years since I blogged and honestly 10 years since I've taken on any type of running challenge. But that's all changing now. Why? After 10 years focused on family and work, I've done what a lot of moms do and lost myself a little. I poured myself into work and family and being a MOM. 

Before kids, I could set goals (and boy did I set goals (http://50marathonchallenge.blogspot.com/) and devote all my energy to hitting them. 

It's taken some time but I'm learning that you can find balance. You can be an awesome mom and still make time for self growth and challenge. 

It Started with a Pig

Before baby 1 (2015), I was up to 87 marathons & ultras. In 2021 (88) and 2022 (89) I decided to run our local marathon (The Flying Pig) with SOME training... and by some, I mean I went out and ran a little. No runs > 15 miles and no focus on speed. In the winter of 2022 I decided to actually try and do some real training. I found the Peloton Marathon Training Program and decided to give it a try. This isn't an easy task planning 4-5 20+ mile runs and devoting 5 days a week to running with 3 kids < 8. But I found I was able to really get my speed back up... maybe not to where I was in my 20's but I'm still a work in progress. I've added:

90) The 2023 Horse Capital Marathon - where I was the third place women at a time of 3:42

91) The 2023 Cincinnati Flying Pig swim Marathon. If you haven't heard about this race, it was POURING the entire race with thunder and lightening. One of the most mentally grueling races to get through. There was NOTHING fun about this with the weather condition and it was mentally exhausting to push through. But push through, we DID!

I have #92 coming up this weekend at The Vermont City Marathon! 

Current Challenges

I have a LOT left in me and this winter marathon training season has sparked that desire to take on the new, the fast, the difficult. Here is what's on tap:

Maybe you're saying to yourself "self, does that say ANTARCTICA?!?" And yes, you and yourself would be correct. So to address the typical Q&A:

1. Yes- there is a marathon in Antarctica... there are actually 3 but I'm aiming to do the Ice Marathon
2. You FLY there. You actually fly to Punta Arenas, Chili and await an "all clear" on weather. So this means the "date" for the marathon is more of a rough estimate and the race can actually happen anytime AFTER that date. Nerve wracking? YES. Still exciting? Also YES. 
3. How does I train for this? A LOT more of that coming up. But in short- train on trails and rougher terrain and train in cold (as much as possible in the fall/ early winter). 
4. What do you wear? OOOH REI and I are becoming FAST friends... layers, layers, and more layers... oh and trail shoes! 
5. Do I like running in the cold? HECK no. The cold is STUPID. But that's exactly what makes it a challenge!

So much more more to come on ALL of these challenges here in upcoming posts so stay tuned... hit that "follow" button in the top right to follow me on my journey!