The Faster You Run, the Quicker You're Done

That's the phrase that went through my head when the alarm went off at 6 this morning.

Saturday is my long run day. The training plan I'm following has me doing three short runs during the week, ranging in length from 3 to 5 miles, and then a long run on the weekend. The long run started at 4 miles and increases by a mile each week. Today was the 8 mile day.

Before starting this half marathon training the farthest distance I had ever run was just shy of 7 miles. That means that every long run from today on out will be the longest run I've ever done.

Since these runs are now taking over an hour to complete, I decided I needed to make some changes to my running gear. Before today, my usual running apparel consisted of shorts, a t-shirt, a good pair of running shoes, and a small running belt where I keep my iPhone. The iPhone provides music or an audio book (more on that later), as well as the GPS app that tracks my route and time.

One thing I needed to start doing was hydrating during the run. For some reason, Mike and the girls didn't want to drive around town setting up various hydration stations for me on my route, so I went shopping for a hydration belt. They look something like this.

All of the belts I saw seemed so big and bulky. I didn't really want to add that much bulk to my belt. So I came up with a seemingly brilliant plan. I bought this little hand-held water bottle, and it only cost $15!

I planned to loop in onto my belt like so.

Genius, right? Not so much. As soon as I started my run I knew it was not going to work. Sure it felt fine when I tested it in the store. That's when there wasn't any water in it. Once I filled it with water, it bounced up and down with every step I took, banging against my side. I tried adjusting it around into various positions, all during the first half mile of my run, and nothing helped. I ended up using it how it was intended, as a hand-held water bottle.

Surprisingly, I really didn't think about it for most of the run. I switched hands a few times, but it was really nice to be able to take the occassional drink of water without having to unloop it from my belt.

Another thing I thought I would start trying was some kind of energy replacement gel. I had snagged some free Gu Gels from my last race, but I hadn't tried them yet because I didn't feel like I needed them for runs that lasted under an hour. Since 8 miles was going to take me well over an hour, I thought I should refuel on carbs and electrolytes midway through the run.

I used my last Gu packet today. My grocery store didn't carry that brand, so I'll try these ones out next.

I had planned on taking it around mile 5 or 6, but I happened to pass a trash can somewhere around 4.5 miles, so I took the opportunity to eat the Gu and get rid of the trash. I was glad to not have to stuff the used wrapper back in my belt. I washed it down with some water and managed not to really lose any time!

Mike and I had discussed my route at dinner the night before. There are two things I hate on the long runs. One is what happened to me last week. I ended up near my house at 6.5 miles and still had half a mile to go, so I had to run around the neighborhood for the final leg of the run. The other thing I try to avoid is running back the same way I went out. I try to make it a loop instead of running 4 miles and turning around and running back the same 4 miles.

Because Mike bikes quite a bit, I like to get his opinion on the distances of various routes around our neighborhood. We decided on a route that would take me on the bike trail until it ends on the other side of town. We thought it would be about 5 miles. Then the plan was to take roads back to the house, which we thought would be about 3 miles.

We were pretty dead-on when it came to the length of the bike trail. The part we misjudged was how many miles it would take to get back home from there. I ended up hitting the 8 mile mark somewhere along Main Street. Of course, I could have stopped and walked the rest of the way home, but that phrase was still in my head.

The faster you run, the quicker you're done.

I ended up running 9.05 miles. It took 1:25:38 at a 9:27 minute mile.

I don't know how I would have felt without the Gu, but I felt strong on the whole run. If it helped prevent burnout or cramps, or if it gave me a little more energy throughout the run, great!

A few other things I wanted to add about today's run....

I am not one of those people who gets done with a run and look amazing. (Do those people exist?) I am sweaty, red, shiny, etc. I bought a visor because no matter how early I manage to get out on Saturday (and today it was 6:30), I seem to end up running with the sun beating right into my face.

Awkward bathroom mirror pic

Seriously, the best $20 I've ever spent. The sun wasn't in my eyes, and it was great at keeping the sweat off of my face. I mean, I'm sure my hat got sweaty, which is gross, but my face stayed dry. I am not leaving home without my visor from now on!

The last thing I have to say is that I've gotten into the habit of listening to audio books while running. It is a great distraction. Currently, I'm listening to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. However, as most of you know, I live in Colorado. To say we are having a rough summer is an understatement. Multiple wildfires have devestated our beloved mountains. Then, just yesterday, we made National news again when a gunman slaughtered so many innocent people at a movie theater. I wasn't in a very vampire slaying kind of  mood.

I turned on my MercyMe Pandora station on my phone and worshipped my Father during the run. I love worship music. I love singing loudly while I'm cleaning my house, or driving in the car. And today, worshipping while running seemed like the perfect fit. There is evil in this world. Isn't it great to know that God will overcome all evil and rise up victorious? Isn't it amazing to know that in times of grief and fear, we can put our faith and trust in God? It is so fitting that, while pushing my body, I could thank God for giving me that body and this beautiful earth in the first place.

Praise God for a great run!

Livin' in a Small Town

This year we sold our first house.

We loved this house. We lived here for five years, brought two babies home, and made many happy memories. We were a young married couple when we bought this house, and had grown into a family of four, plus one large, energetic dog. It was time to look for something a little bigger.

The one thing we didn't want to lose was the yard.

Houses in the Loveland/Fort Collins area where we live don't often have yards of this size, and we had gotten pretty used to the space.

So when this house came on the market a day or so after ours went under contract, we acted quickly.

The pictures of our new house are from the listing, hence the time stamp and lack of toys in the yard.

This house added the square footage we wanted and actually increased our lot size. It was the very first house we saw and we knew it was our next home. (We went ahead and toured two more houses, but our mind was already on the offer we were going to be putting on this house. It felt just like we were on an episode of House Hunters.)

Large areas of grass all around the back.

A garden and separate fenced in dog run.

A big patio where the kids ride their bikes. Eventually we'll get some patio furniture or a table back there.

A large "wooded" area where Mike is building a playhouse for the girls.

The catch was that this house wasn't in Loveland or Fort Collins, but the small town of Windsor. I knew a little bit about Windsor because it's where I did my student teaching. I liked the school, but I didn't know anything else about the town.

We decided that small town living was for us, and by May we were moved in. This was one of the best decisions we've ever made.

Almost immediately we discovered that the location of our new house is perfect. We are right in the center of the town, and within walking distance of everything. Just behind our house is a bike trail that runs the length of the town. It is on open space with lots of ponds and gorgeous views. Between Mike and myself, we have put tons of miles on that trail already.

We are a couple blocks away from the library, which has excellent events and story times for the kids.

Not to mention, tiny computers to listen to stories and play games.

Windsor also has weekly concerts at a park right on Windsor Lake. Last night's concert also included the Taste of Windsor. Okay, I've been to Taste of's before, including the Taste of Chicago, and this one was laughably small. But the plus side is we didn't have to wait in line for anything, and the crowds weren't bad at all!

Great food!

And free games! Mike and the girls gear up for a sweet game of water tag.

Go get 'em!

Well played, you two.

Sophia got in on the action, too.

We are so happy to be living in this small town, and we definitely feel at home here. What a great place to raise a family!





A Letter to Kenley - UPDATED

My Darling Kenley,

As your mother, I am responsible for loving you, teaching you, and guiding you through your childhood until you reach a time when you are mature enough to make decisions on your own and, I hope, one day have a family of your own. I take this job very seriously. And so, let me share some of my wisdom with you.

It is summer.

As you know, we do not like to let the grass grow under our feet. We are often busy with activities, outings, play dates, and errands. It has come to my attention that you have been having a difficult time making it through our active mornings. In fact, just today, we left the library and immediately this happened.

Now I know what you are thinking. I was tired! Storytime wore me out! I just needed to close my eyes for a few minutes! I can understand that. But here's the thing. You woke up at 5:30 this morning.

I really don't like to compare you with your sister, but I can't help but noting here that she slept until 8:00 this morning and was wide-eyed and bushy-tailed through all of our morning's endeavors. I realize that for a girl like you who has grown accustomed to rising with the sun, eight o'clock might be pushing it. Let's take baby steps. How about a time that starts with a six? And then we'll move forward from there.

I also think it's important to point out that this is not an isolated incident. Please scroll through the following pictures and you'll see what I mean.

All cuteness aside, this doesn't really look comfortable.

Yes, you are asleep under there.

I get it, your carseat is comfortable...

...but then I have to wake you and you give me this face.

So again, let me reiterate. It's summer! You should be sleeping in! And if you do that, I guarantee you'll have more energy to make it through the morning, past lunch, and onto a more reasonable one o'clock naptime.

Love always,

Your Equally Tired Mommy



*UPDATED*

On second thought, perhaps I should be more concerned with what you're doing in your carseat when you're awake. Sleep on, sister.

Love, Teach, Run

My name is Elissa and this is my first post on my first blog. I thought I would start by explaining the title.  Each of the three words: love, teach, and run are verbs that describe and define me. These are the things I spend my life doing, things in which I find joy. And they will probably all be regular topics on this blog. Here is what they mean to me.

Love

I am a wife to an amazing husband and a mommy to two {mostly} sweet little girls. Almost everything I do all day is an act of love.When I fix breakfast, wipe runny noses, scrub toilets, push tricycles, and give time-outs, I am busy loving my family. I am so grateful for the life we've been blessed with. It isn't always easy. Take, for example, going out to eat. I would be lying if I said I didn't glance at couples talking and sipping margaritas with envy as I cut french fries into bite sized pieces, wipe spills, and pick up crayons off of dirty floors. However, these moments as a family, filled with chaos and laughter, make my life beautiful; they are ones I don't ever want to forget.

Teach

I am a 4th grade teacher. I adore my students and I truly love my job. It is challenging and rewarding and sometimes frustrating, but I feel like it's a job that I was meant to do. Summer is already winding down  (yes, I realize it is only July!) and I will miss my days at home with the girls. But every year I get anxious and excited as a think about meeting a new class and starting a new year. We have three more weeks of summer. I'm just waiting for the school dreams to begin!

Yep, that's me. Dressed as Martha Washington. The things I do for my students...

Run

I am a runner. That, my friends, is a sentence I never thought I would write. It all started last June. Summer break had just started and I had given birth to my youngest daughter 5 months earlier. I sat on the couch thinking that I needed to do something to get active. I called my sister Erin and asked her to do a 5k with me in August. We registered for the race that day, and then there was only one thing left to do, lace on some sneakers and run. I'm pretty sure the first day I could barely run to the end of my street. But I kept at it and after a few weeks I could do a mile. Then two. And finally three. We ran the race in August and it was no ordinary 5k. It was filled with barbed-wire, mud, and flames. But we loved it!

I did two more 5k's that year, and then a 10k in May. Now we are training for our first half marathon. The thought that just over a year ago I could barely make it down the street is very motivating and rewarding for me. Not every run is easy, but I am loving the journey and I'm really starting to feel like a runner.

Thanks for visiting Love, Teach, Run!