I can't believe another week has come and gone!

Week five is officially in the books and it doesn't seem like it could already be the beginning of week six!

This week went pretty smoothly with one possible, super minor, injury issue that ended up resolving itself & one tiny emotional breadown... More on that later.

Let's just jump on in!

Day 1 : Monday 8-20-18

Rest Day.

Day 2 : Tuesday 8-21-18

Easy 5 miles followed by strides!

These miles felt really good... I'm so not okay with finishing my run and it STILL being dark out!

Day 3 : Wednesday 8-22-18

3 easy miles, with all the sweat, on the treadmill!

This kid, he cracks me up on the daily and I love how he just follows me around... Okay, well for the most part I love it!

Day 4 : Thursday 8-23-08

Alpine Trail Series Race #4... Definitely my favorite course so far in the series!

You can read my full recap of this race HERE

The best part was having all my boys there and as I was coming to the finish having Oliver and Charlie hoot and holler for me!!

Day 5 : Friday 8-24-08

Day 6 : Saturday 8-25-18

Oh the dreaded long run.

Like I said on Friday's description, I was a hot mess about this run.

My coach was very good at calming me down and letting me know it was okay to just take it easy and push off the long run until Sunday.

I was all over the place wondering how I was going to fit everything in.

My friend and I decided to meet up and get in some miles together, knowing I had 12 miles in the back of my mind I decided to break the run up into increments of 4.

2 miles out and 2 back to the car.

I used my car as an aid station and ate every 40 minutes.

Every 4 miles I assessed how I was feeling, and always told myself that if it was too much I could just step away and try again tomorrow.

Low and behold we got in all 12 and I felt fantastic afterwards, well aside from the knee soreness but that didn't set in until later in the evening.

Day 7 : Sunday 8-26-18

I Love Forest Park 5k! I was looking forward to this run for a while, I love running through Forest Park and even better when I get to race with my Mom!

Waking up my knee felt great, no pain at all. I decided to tape it up JUST IN CASE something was wrong. I knew I needed to take it easy for the same reason!

We got there cutting in kind of close to the start but then were told they moved the start back by 15 minutes... Leaving enough time for a quick warm up.

We lined up and got ready to go! Like I said, my plan was to run easy and I stuck with that the entire race. At the 1st mile marker I looked down at my watch and realized I had ran a 9:13 mile and was a little shocked honestly. I have been putting in time and energy on all of my runs, and specifically my speedwork days but I haven't put myself into a racing situation since the start of this training cycle. Mile 2 was a little more difficult, we hit the water station which I did stop at because it was hot and I wanted to make sure I was hydrated. The water station was at the bottom of the one hill of the race so I chose to walk up the hill just to avoid hurting my knee any further. Mile 3 was almost all downhill or flat so gaining some time back just happened naturally. When I crossed the finish line and saw my time was 29:32 I was ecstatic. I've been chasing the under 30 minute 5k for a while now and have always just fallen short, heck even by 30 seconds earlier this year!

All in all the race was a huge success.

Afterwards I updated strava and saw this...

So basically it meant I went outside later in the evening and ran .1 miles so I could end the week over 30 miles! 

*CHEERS*

Let me just start off by saying, I have been eyeing these Orange Mud Vests for the past year or so. I had been researching and settled on this brand, I knew I was going to be training for a 50k so figured I would wait until that training started to take the plunge. Little did I know the universe was going to align and as part of the BibRave Pro Family, I was chosen to test one out! Talk about your perfect timing!

The second I received this vest in the mail, I was extremely impressed. The simplicity and the minimalist features make this gear vest the perfect for absolutely any type of runner. Yes, minimalist but also it can carry anything you could possibly need. Seriously, it almost defies science if you ask me! Minimalist AND extremely great storage?! Yes, please!

I trained for AND RAN my 50k in this vest and knew it was going to be a game changer. I fit everything I needed and then some into the pockets of this vest. The 1L bladder was also perfect, I was able to fill up at the half way point easily and quickly and was on my way! I was able to carry my extra water bottle with sports drink (I didn't want to put the sports drink in the bladder itself, I have read mixed reviews but decided to go just water!), all of my fuel (which included sport beans, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, energy bites and some pretzels with peanut butter!), as well as tissues, toilet paper, chapsstick and my ID, because you just never know! Do NOT let the size deter you or scare you away from this pack, it's small but MIGHTY as all get out!

I 100% stand behind this gear vest and think it is absolutely worth the investment! I look forward to wearing it on every one of my training runs for my upcoming half marathon in June!!

To score your very own Orange Mud Gear Vest head on over to OrangeMud.com and use code "BRGV15" to get 15% off your order!!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

*CHEERS*

It's been a week and a half since I raced in the Double Chubb 50k.

I'm still a little shocked to know that it's already over.

So many weeks of training, long runs, trail runs, worrying about every little detail.

Thankfully I had another race to jump right into training for, otherwise I know I'd feel pretty lost right now.

Race week I was a bundle of nerves and anxiousness, ask my husband, I was a mess!

Also, both boys were sick on and off the week before the race as well.

I was worried about them, worried about what they had gotten and of course that little thought in the back of my head that said I would contract it as well and be out on race day.

Disclaimer: I received the Orange Mud Gear Vest to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

I did my best to pack as much as I possibly thought I would need.

 I used my Orange Mud Gear Vest to hold all of my fuel for race day, also it held my ID and Insurance Card (you just never know!)

Let me just say, this vest was a life saver. 

The one I had before was much larger and heavier and I was a little worried about having to carry it for 30 miles.

The second I received this vest and tried it out, it was a huge game changer!

It's light but holds SO MUCH STUFF at the same time. 

(if you're interested and want to try it out for yourself, use code BRGV15 for 15% off at OrangeMud.com)

I obsessively checked the weather, it was calling for rain and with each passing day I kept telling myself, "It'll change, It'll be fine."

The entire week leading up to the race the weather was excellent, I was super thrilled about this because the course gets really tricky when it's been rained on. I figured even if it rained on race day, the fact that it didn't rain the entire week before would be reprieve enough.

Night before the race, it stormed, and it stormed a lot!

Race morning I was just ready to go, get the thing started.

We got to the starting line.

The race started.

I definitely shot out way too fast, I always do that and regret it big time later on.

The course starts out on a pretty intense uphill, so there's that as well.

The second I got on the course I realized the rain from the previous night was going to have made things very interesting.

Mud, there was mud, huge puddles everywhere.

Navigating the course was definitely more difficult that it had ever been on any training run.

Due to the fact that my legs were fresh I went harder than I should have, a lot harder than I should have, that coupled with the mud my legs were shot really early on. Having to run and navigate through thick mud took a lot more out of my legs than running or jogging on flat land, again I was not prepared for that.

I hit the 25k mark with 20 minutes to spare, I stopped briefly, talked with Andrew and then was off again for loop #2.

Before leaving he asked me if I wanted my rain jacket, the weather had been fine up until that point, a tad chilly but in all honesty that made running a lot more enjoyable. Anyway, I turned down the rain jacket and by the time I reached the first aid station, roughly 5 miles in, I highly regretted not taking that rain jacket with me.

Temps seemed to drop crazily AND it was raining.

THANKFULLY that aid station had the greatest people ever, and one of the men had an extra poncho and he let me have it for the remainder of the race. Seriously, that one rain poncho really made my day and gave me the drive to keep going.

My hands were numb, the rain was coming down and I hadn't even tacked the muddiest and muckiest part of the race yet!

I was miserable, I was wet, I was cold and I was tired.

I made it to the turn around point and it was really hard to put myself back out on that course for the 4th time. (the course is a series of 2 out and backs so you're running the same stretch 4 times total)

Again, that aid station was incredible, filling up my water bottle, handing me every type of food they had, packing a PBJ in my Orange Mud Vest (even though I tried to turn it down & let me just say I've never enjoyed a PB&J more than that one, these aid stations were the BOMB!)

The entire way back I walked almost all of it, I was spent, and my watch had died right after the 25k point so I had no idea how much time I had to finish, I had no idea how far I had gone.

Mentally and physically I was drained of almost everything.

I cursed the course on many many occasions!

I fell at one point and my hands were covered in mud.

There were so many times I thought I knew where I was, thought I was about at the end of the trail then I realized I wasn't. Tears may have been shed at those points.

So where the trail ends, about a mile before the finish line, there's a port-a-potty that you can see a little ways off, kind of like a beacon that says "YOU'RE ALMOST THERE!"

Let me just say, I've never been so happy to see a port-a-potty in my entire life! Once I got to the port-a-potty I knew I was just about done, all I had to conquer was the HUGE hill that the course has at the end.

I knew, though, I was going to finish at that point, which made that hill not as unbearable.

I got to the top, I texted Andrew and said I was on my way down the hill.

I was almost there.

The emotions started to set in.

I saw the clock and knew I was going to complete the race in time.

I had done it.

I had completed my first ultra in extremely crazy weather conditions.

I was a muddy mess but I have never been happier to cross a finish line, have a medal placed over my head and knowing that I finished what I had set out to do.

This race, that day, is something I will never forget.

The support from all of the volunteers and race staff was incredible.

I have never felt so supported on a course in any other race.

The aid station volunteers were so knowledgeable about what I needed even before I knew I needed it. They cheered, high fived and just kept my spirits alive throughout one of the most excruciating experiences I've ever gone through (child birth not included, because let's be real, nothing can really compare to that)

I plan on tackling the 25k next year, and I can say with certainty I will always partake in the Double Chubb race (whether racing or volunteering), it will forever hold a special place in my heart and I plan on supporting it from here on out!

And if you're looking for a challenging 50k or 25k to race and you're going to be in the St. Louis area April-ish next year, come on by and check it out!!! It's worth it!!

*CHEERS*

By the time you're reading this I will have exactly 17 days until my first Ultra Marathon, my longest race to date!



Last week I wrote about WHY I'm doing this race and today I'm going to share with you all the training journey I have been on the past 3 months in preparation!



Due to the Midwest and the crazy weather plenty of runs have been done indoors on the treadmill. Not necessarily ideal but it was that or nothing.



The great part is that I have been able to get out on the exact trail I'll be running on during the race. I have ran the trail backwards and forwards, done the crazy hill that's going to be awaiting me at the end of the race. I know the trail, I know quite well and I feel extremely prepared in that aspect.



I'm hoping to get in a 20 miler sometime in the next week or so, may be a bit tricky but I'll get in something long-ish out there *fingers crossed* I have been able to hit long distances, longest run was 18 miles and it felt really good actually! I've been running pretty much daily, taking the "active rest" days as power walking days.



I try really hard to do SOMETHING every single day to keep my legs sharp and used. I have also been doing some long-ish runs back to back days so my legs get used to being ran on when they're tired. I haven't pushed it too hard but I do need my legs to get used to running while tired because let's be real, 30 miles on a trail and they'll be tired!



One of my favorite part of this entire training cycle has been the exploration of a new terrain, I've been solely a road runner until late last year when I discovered the trails! It's also a huge plus that I've been able to share this experience with my Mom. I really feel like it's a pretty unique thing to be able to do this sort of thing with a parent, maybe no and I'm just crazy but either way, I love the time we get to spend together out there, sharing a passion and a love for running and the outdoors in general. It's really special and something that I'll be able to treasure forever!



My other favorite part has to be watching my boys watch me train. They know my running shoes, they know that when we go down into the basement that I'm running. They love to ask, "Mommy, how's your run?" every now and then during a treadmill run. They also ask that whenever I get home from running outdoors. They're invested as well, no they don't understand that I'm in training for a huge race, but they know this is something important to me. I love that they get to watch me run, they get to watch me be dedicated to my health and fitness. I really hope to be able to pass this love along to them!



Overall I'm super happy with how my training has gone, sure there have been hiccups, a couple weeks in there where I was sick and had to step back so that I could recover, then having to readjust the plan BUT that's life, especially when you're dealing with a 16 week training plan, life happens and we just have to roll with the punches. It's much easier to be adaptable than to get frustrated and give up all together (let's be real, it's taken me YEARS to be able to be okay with this idea when it comes to training!)



 I've essentially switched over to training for my upcoming Half Marathon in June, the goal is to PR that race SO I wanted to make sure I give that race it's due as well. Overlapping these training plans has been interesting and I'll let you all know how that feels closer to the 50K and then give a recap afterwards on whether it was a good idea or not! I'll also write out, roughly, my entire training cycle and plan that I stuck to throughout this cycle in hopes that it may help someone else out there looking for a plan that can be easily adaptable (hello moms who love to run!)

I hope everyone has been having a great week!!

I've had this itch to run more, run farther and run longer for quite a while now. For the past year I've been training almost exclusively for half marathons and one 5k. While those experiences have been great, I just always felt like I wanted more. 

So what did that mean? I didn't really know. I knew a full marathon was going to be something I'd tackle eventually, after all a dream of mine (maybe a really insane dream) is to qualify for Boston at some point in my life. But it just didn't feel like that was what I wanted. Running a full just didn't scratch the itch I was feeling.

I've been learning about ultramarathon's a lot from being a part of two incredible local running groups (Arch City Run Club and JCRC - Jefferson County Run Club)! I had ran one trail last Summer with one of my best friends (also my best running friend! ;) ) and I loved the feeling of it! I then signed up for my first trail race, a 13.1k trail race late last year that I ran with my Mom. After that I was hooked. I became part of the SLUG (St. Louis Ultra Runners Group) and never looked back. I immediately signed up for the Double Chubb 50K and have been training ever since! I felt motivated, I felt alive, I felt like this was what I had been missing! I'm turning thirty in September. I've wanted to accomplish something extraordinary (running related) before that time. This was it, this was the thing I needed to do. I want to do this for me, I want to do this to show my boys (husband included ;) ) that you CAN do anything you put your mind to. I want to inspire THEM to be extraordinary in their own right, I want them to be proud of their Mom. I want to show them that just because I am their Mom doesn't mean that is all that I am. I am someone they can look up to, someone they can aspire to be like!

I am doing it.

For me.

For them.

April 15th, rain or shine, hot or cold, I'll be out there trucking through all 30-ish miles of that race. 

I'm hoping to finish within seven and a half hours *fingers crossed* however, no matter my time, no matter my pace I will finish this race. 

I have ran the course multiple times, I know my way around, I love it so much. 

I am well aware I am not a seasoned trail runner or even an ultra runner *YET* but I will be one after this race, I will attain this goal. The community of trail runners and ultra runners in this area is outstanding, I've ran in a few group runs out on these trails and I have never felt more included, or understood as I have with those groups. They inspire me, they are what I aspire to be.

The countdown to April 15th is on, I'm nervous, I'm scared, I'm excited.

I - CAN - NOT - WAIT