pacer? what's that?

looks like i'm going to be pacing the lakefront marathon instead of racing it.  this is bringing me more joy than i anticipated when i first entertained the idea a day or so ago.  i saw the facebook post go up and i "liked" it right away, but it took a few hours to really roll around in my head before i really started to think hey... maybe i could do that.

so i filled out the application and got a response back today.  i feel really good about it.  i rely pretty heavily on pacers when i've run both of my marathons to keep me on track and moving forward.  the pace groups were pivotal to helping me reach the goals i set for myself for those races.  i am proud and excited to say that i will get the opportunity to help others do that same thing this year.

i think it will be really fun to run this race for fun without the added pressure i put on myself to meet a super challenging goal.  the last time i paced a friend in a race i really enjoyed the race immensely and had a great time the whole time.  i anticipate this will be no different.

the bonus is giving back to the sport that has given me so much.  i feel awesome about that.  i just hope that i can do what needs to be done and that i don't disappoint.

barring injury i think this will be a super fun race.  i just have to find some super fun outfit to wear now!

history repeating itself

well... looks like history is repeating itself.  it is my first week into my 12 week training plan for iceage and i am already not running.  why you might be wondering all curious like...

well, because i'm working through a pain in my left hamstring.  it started about a month ago and was really mild.  i went back to mike, my trusty physical therapist, and we thought we nipped it in the bud.  no such luck.  it came back.  it came back with a vengeance.

it is painful to run.  any speed and any distance.  i am discouraged.  i told mike that i would take time off but if i was going to do that it would have to absolutely be RIGHT NOW.  i think i could be trained for iceage with 8 weeks of training but i'd have to adjust my goals.  he told me on tuesday to give him 2 days so i go back on thursday (tomorrow) for more therapy and to see what happens.  i can then run on saturday and see how it feels.

i'm not going to lie... i am worried.  i sort of feel that i can still pull it out if i take 4 weeks off right now to let it go away, but it will be tough.  i will probably not meet the goals i've set for myself with this race and i might have to let it go as my A race for the year.

i'm learning to feel the disappointment and then let it go.  to reassess and readjust.

i put in an application to be a pacer for lakefront.  i've been going back and forth about racing it so i decided maybe i'll just run it for fun, and get other people to their race goals instead.  when it gets closer i'll decide if i want to race MRF.  i've been entertaining the idea of that one.  i'm just worried about the weather.  i hate racing in cold weather so that would be the deal breaker for me.  i don't want to commit until closer to race day.  we'll see.

injuries suck.

no running for 2 weeks... 8 days left.

so lakefront was on a sunday, i was off work the following monday (had to see the rheumatologist... more on that after i get the results back next week), back at work on tuesday and still pretty sore.

by wednesday i woke up no longer sore, but when i got out of bed my left shin (the one i've been having trouble with since the beginning of august) hurt pretty bad.  i figured i might want to call my PT and get some advice about when/if i should begin running again. i was told no running for 2 weeks.  *sigh*

 wisconsin orthopedic physical therapy.  i got in to see mike right away that day.  he needled my shin and i had (basically) immediate relief.  then he touched my calf.  ugh... the muscles of my right calf were so knotted up that he decided to needle those to the tune of around 5 needles.  not fun but it works so i'm really not complaining as much as i'm complaining.

then a few more days after that when i got up in the morning not only did my shin hurt but the pain extended down into the first joint of my second toe.  weird, i know.  so i called on friday to make an appointment with my trusty PT over at

so... what's a runner to do when a runner can't run?  "projects".

on friday i went out and decided i was going to do a bathroom "project".  we went to michael's and i bought some chalk paint (not to be confused with paint that is actually chalk or that chalkBOARD paint).  chalk paint is basically very flat paint that feels chalky to the touch.  i'm not going to say it turned out exactly as i envisioned but it turned out and that's better than what it looked like before.  plus... first time so there's that.

before... white with lavender doors on the shelf.  the walls are lavender too but that will change soon.

after... brown with "aged or weathered" areas where some blue is showing through.
natural lighting.

after... brown with "aged or weathered" areas where some blue is showing through.
unnatural lighting.

not only have i done this, but i've also put together my tentative 2016 race schedule... cuz... racing.

it looks something like this right now:

april - sweet home milwaukee 5K
may - ice age 50K
june - summerfest rock 'n sole 1/2
july - dances with dirt either the 1/2 again or the 50K - i'm undecided
august - maybe the strider's 1/2 or some 5K's instead
september - tosafest 5K, instep trail races 1/2 or full not sure, joe's run/walk/roll 5K
october - lakefront marathon (now my nemesis)

i need to get some 5K's in my mix.  i have found that when i was running primarily 5K's i was almost a minute faster per mile so i need to really focus on fitting some in.  once i switched to longer distances and coupled that with primarily trail... i got slower.  a lot slower, and we all know i want to be fast.

what races is everyone thinking about next season?  any fun 5K's that i don't know about?  tell me tell me!  i'm open to suggestions!

lastly,  i'll leave you with this goofy picture of me, my brother and sister. this is probably from the early 90's.  you're welcome.

why yes... my hair is navy blue thank you very much.