Running my first Ultra-marathon for UNICEF in 2 MORE DAYS! Please donate!

I can't believe that it's almost here. Saturday is approaching so fast. I am nervous, excited, happy, and a bit sad that it will all be over soon. I can't wait to meet everyone! My bags are packed already. My brother called to tell me he'd be riding around the park on his bike during the race, which I think is the greatest! I will be needing him to give me a good kick in the butt now and then! My mom, dad, husband, and son will be there as well. One big happy support group :)

As most of you know, I am running this race & trying drum up some donations for UNICEF. I received two more donations today, from Mary Pietrocini and Joe Vasil of Ohio. THANKS MARY! THANKS JOE! And thank you to everyone who has donated so far. For those of you that haven't (lol maybe you're just waiting too see if I finish) here's a few words on UNICEF and what they do:

UNICEF: when first created the acronynm stood for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. Now it is simply the United Nation's Childrens Fund.

UNICEF works in over 1500 countries to provide children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more.

• Despite extraordinary progress, 24,000 children still die each day from preventable causes.
• In Afghanistan, where under Taliban rule women and girls were forbidden to attend school, UNICEF is setting up literacy centers so that everyone can get the education they deserve.
• UNICEF's School-in-a-Box kit, a portable classroom developed by UNICEF after the Rwandan genocide, allows children almost anywhere to attend class.
• UNICEF distributes oral rehydration salts wherever children are suffering from illness and deadly dehydration caused by unsafe water.
• In areas like Sudan, where the environment is hostile and poverty extreme, UNICEF distributes fortified foods like Plumpy'nut, a high-protein, high-calorie peanut spread. They provide children with vitamin A to keep them from going blind, and we give folic acid to pregnant women.

These are just a few of the many things this great organization does. Please take the time to donate by clicking on the link at the left hand side at this page. Online donations are easy, fast, and convenient. A few seconds can make a world of difference in a young person's life. Thanks so much!

Ultramarathon training week(s) in review: Weeks 15 and 16

Ok all, so I slacked off on the blog for a couple weeks, due to be so busy - but I'll do my best to try and remember everything. Even now, I'm typing this at lunch because I know I won't have time later. It will be nice when things chill out for a bit. (Whenever that may be!)

It's been kind of a bummer the last couple weeks. Week 15 was spent feeling tired the whole time due to the fact that I did not allow a rest day for myself, worked some days around because of ziplining @ Hocking Hills. I just haaaad to get every mile in. Week 16 I started feeling a bit under the weather. The cold has followed me into this final week of training, and I'm pretty ticked off about that. It would've been great to end training feeling good instead of lousy, but Murphy's Law I guess.

***Please donate to UNICEF!!!! There's only a few more days, and I haven't even reached 50% of my goal yet :(
Click on the link at the side of this page. THANK YOU!!!!

Here's my breakdown:
(lunchtime runs were not added since I can't recall which days I did/didn't run them. Eh, they're extra anyway!)


Week 16:

Monday: 10 miles a.m. treadmill, sit ups, weights

Tuesday: 9 miles a.m. treadmill, sit ups, weights

Wednesday: 8 miles a.m. treadmill, sit ups, weights

Thursday: 9 miles a.m. treadmill, sit ups, weights

Friday: 25 miles, trail - a poor time due to no rest day after last week's 24 miler. It was somewhere around the 4 hour and 30 minute mark. I forget the exact time.

Saturday: 9 miles a.m. treadmill

Sunday: 12 miles

Week 17:


Monday: 8 miles, treadmill @ the hotel - ziplining afterwards!

Tuesday: off

Wednesday: 10 miles, treadmill, a.m., sit ups, weights

Thursday: 7 miles, treadmill a.m., sit ups, weights

Friday: 15 miles, treadmill a.m., sit ups, weights

Saturday: 12 mile "long" run on trails - 1 hour, 52 minutes

Sunday: off

Ultramarathon training week in review: Week 14

This week felt great. The iron that I had started taking a couple weeks ago has finally started to kick in. I frequently get anemic - not due to running - and had run out of my iron pills about a month ago. I kept forgetting to buy them, and paid for it. Having remembered (finally) a couple weeks ago that I needed to buy them, they are finally started to kick in. More power! I also started making a protein shake in the morning to drink w/breakfast. I tried it plain at first, and it was NASTY as always. I just don't like the whole whey protein taste that goes on. However, I added a banana to the mix and YUM! It killed that weird taste that I hate so much. I bought this hoping to give up peanut butter. This drink has way more protein and way fewer calories than pb. Yeah it's a lot better than me sitting here eating spoonfuls upon spoonfuls of peanut butter. With the iron kicking in and the protein drink this week I was feeling super strong and energized. I did speed Monday, hills Tuesday, speed Wednesday, hills and speed combined on Thursday.



The Long Run:

The day started out with me driving to the trail trying to peel the spider web that I ran into on my way out the door off my face. Took me the whole drive to get it off. I started my run, and ran into another spider web.

The weather was perfect for a little while. The air was so good, my lungs were happy. Happy lungs equals a happy me. At mile 3 I got stung by something, possibly a yellow jacket. My leg still hurts #$%&^! Around the 5th mile it started to rain. This is fine by me as running in the rain is one of my most favorite things :)

At around mile 15 I ran up behind some poor unsuspecting man. I didn't think I was close enough to yell passing on the left, or behind you. I also had my music on, but he didn't hear it. I let out a really deep breath and I thought he was going to have a heart attack! The poor guy screamed, turned around, and ummmmm...#$% #$%#! He started laughing after a second though thank goodness. I felt bad, but I did have to laugh, too :)

At mile 22 I got a little encouragement from someone else on the trail. As I ran by he stepped aside and started clapping. Unusual, but it actually did pump me up for oh, I'd say a whole minute!

I finished my long run in 3 hours and 52 minutes. I felt really good, expect for a very short lived wave of nausea a bit later. It is so great to feel so good! I attribute this to the protein shakes and iron. Or maybe it was the 5 pieces of pizza I had last night. And breadsticks. And chicken wings. And salad.

On the Ultra:

I'm starting to get nervous about the Ultra now. It's less than 3 weeks away. I can't believe it! Only one more super long run to go (25 miles). There are going to be so many experienced, good runners there. I think I am really just going to be in awe of these people. People who have run numerous ultras from the 50k distance to 100 milers! Multiple times! And here I come bee-boppin' in with only a few marathons under my belt. It's kind of like...you ran some marathons huh? lol. Hopefully I can gain a lot of knowledge from all these runners. I'm excited to meet everyone, but nervous about meeting people with such talent, too!



Here's this weeks breakdown:





Monday: 11 miles (17.70km) a.m. treadmill, sit ups, weights/2.2 miles (2.54km) outside @ lunch



Tuesday: 10 miles (16.09 km) a.m. treadmill, sit ups, weights - no lunch time run due to me

taking a late start at work to be able to help my son get ready for his first day of 7th grade



Wednesday: 10 miles (16.09 km) a.m. treadmill, sit ups, weights/2.2 miles (2.54km) outside @ lunch



Thursday: 9 miles (14.48km) a.m. treadmill /2.2 miles (2.54km) outside @ lunch



Friday: off



Saturday: 12 miles (19.31km) a.m. treadmill. sit ups, weights



Sunday: 24 miles (38.62km) trail run

Ultramarathon training week in review: Week 13

Finally, I am posting this! We had a weekend packed full of activities.

Starting out by saying there was a new donor this week! Andy Kumeda from California. THANK YOU!!!!! Please donate to UNICEF by clicking on the link at the right hand side of this page.

This week in running was a bit tiring, although I think it was sort of a step down week. My long run was 20 miles on Saturday. I didn't expect much as far as time goes for this one, because we went to the beach Friday night to due some skimboarding, thanks to larger than usual waves. I did 20 miles in 3 hours and 39 minutes. My lungs felt good though, unlike last week. The trails were busy on Saturday, and rightly so. The weather was beautiful! At about mile 15 I went back to my car to get a drink. I can't imagine what I looked like, because a Ranger pulled up and asked if I was alright. I told him I was fine, just 5 miles to go - and he said "Ummm how many are you doing?" When I told him 20, he got this yep you're crazy look on his face, said goodbye and drove away. :)

Monday: 10 miles (16.09 km) a.m. treadmill, sit ups, weights/2.2 miles (2.54km) outside @ lunch

Tuesday: 11 miles (17.70 km) a.m. treadmill, sit ups, weights/2.2 miles (2.54km) outside @ lunch

Wednesday: 9 miles (14.48 km) a.m. treadmill, sit ups, weights/2.2 miles (2.54km) outside @ lunch

Thursday: 11 miles (17.70 km) a.m. treadmill /2.2 miles (2.54km) outside @ lunch

Friday: 12 miles (19.31 km) a.m. treadmill & skimboarding - 2 1/2 hours

Saturday: 20 mile (32.18km) long trail run

Ultramarathon training week in review: Week 12

I have a new donor for UNICEF this week! Judy Ritley from Ohio! Don't forget to donate, the link is on the left hand side of this page. Thanks Judy!

This week has been one of the first really hot weeks of summer (now that summer is almost over!) The lungs have been working a bit of OT this week due to asthma and the hot humid weather, but strength wise I felt really good for my long run on Saturday. As far as life goes, we've been really busy trying to get ready for back to school, and are now done thank goodness! That did not leave me with a whole lot of relaxation time, and that stunk. Now that we are done and there is one more week until school - we are going to make this last week a fun one.
Anyway, back to running...
My long run yesterday was 24 miles. My breathing was bothering me from the moment I woke up, but I felt strong. I did struggle the whole entire trail run trying to get my breathing right, but I still felt way better than last week (strength wise). I finished my run in 3 hours and 59 minutes. I did the exact same trail as last week, so that just shows how crappy I really did feel last week! I do want to change it up, and am looking for a different trail for next week. The trail was busy this week, as park ranger Andy (we've done some hikes with him) had a large group of hikers with him on the trails today. I passed them so many times I know they thought I was crazy. Wheezing every step of the way! I was drinking water about every 5 miles, but at mile 21 I stopped sweating. Uh oh I thought. There was nothing I could do, my water was not close by, I had 3 more miles to go. I finished very dizzy and very dehydrated. I tried to open my car with my cell phone. Nice. I couldn't drink enough water when I finished. I'm going to have to plan better water wise on days like this.

Overall I'm pleased with my long run time this week. Training overall was good.
Here's this week's breakdown:

Monday: 11 miles (17.70 km) a.m. treadmill, sit ups, weights/2.2 miles (2.54km) outside @ lunch

Tuesday: 10 miles (16.09 km) a.m. treadmill, sit ups, weights/2.2 miles (2.54km) outside @ lunch

Wednesday: 10 miles (16.09 km) a.m. treadmill, sit ups, weights/No run at lunch - party for Neils wedding!

Thursday: 11 miles (17.70 km) a.m. treadmill /2.2 miles (2.54km) outside @ lunch

Friday: 12 miles (19.31 km) a.m. treadmill

Saturday: 24 mile (38.62) long trail run

Ultramarathon training week in review: Week 11

This week was not quite as bad as last week. I was still trying to work off all that excess food I ate last week, but slowly I was feeling better. I got my speedwork and hillwork in. I ordered my first pair of trail shoes. I got them online, which makes me nervous. I didn't want to buy something so important without trying them on first, but that's the way it had to be. My local running shop didn't have trail shoes until September. Dick's only had Puma's (lol) And everywhere else I called didn't have the ones I was looking for. Adidas Supernova Riots. I bought them for the control, which I really need. Special thanks to Stan from Canada for donating to UNICEF! Please join him and donate, online donations accepted - just click on the link. Thanks Stan!

The long run:

I was feeling good, all except Saturday that is. For some reason my whole entire 24 miles I felt like I was struggling every step of the way. I'm not sure why. I ate right this week. Maybe it was the humidity, or maybe it was the new energy drink I decided to try that morning. It really did nothing for me-in fact as I was driving to the trails I was beginning to feel really tired! I made a mental note not to buy that stuff again. I pushed through though and finished in 4 hours and 17 minutes.

On the trail: I can stand a few road apples here and there, but some animal ate something that really didn't agree with them - and it surely showed Saturday. Oh man, the poo was EVERYWHERE! NASTY! I felt like I was dodging it the whole time. Somewhere in my first 2 miles my sports headbands blew off without me realizing it right away. When I swung back around though, I found one in the dirt and one hanging on a wild rose bush. I scared a few deer, and saw quite a few people on horses. The last mile had me running up hills and sliding down a bit, as I was pretty much done at that point. Maybe the trail shoes will prevent this from happening in the future.

Here's the breakdown:

Monday: 10 miles(16.09km) treadmill a.m./2 miles outdoors at lunch
Tuesday: 10 miles(16.09km) treadmill a.m./2 miles outdoors at lunch
Wednesday: 11 miles (17.70km)treadmill a.m./2 miles outdoors at lunch
Thursday: 7 miles (11.26km)treadmill a.m. /2 miles outdoors at lunch
Friday: 11 miles(17.70km) treadmill a.m.
Saturday: 24 miles/(38.62km) long run on trails, very hilly terrain. 4 hours 17 minutes


Weekly total: 81 miles/130.26kilometers

Don't forget I'm running for UNICEF! Please donate today!!!!

Ultra marathon training week in review: Week 10

This week was so tiring. I couldn't believe it! The last time I felt this tired I had pneumonia. It was amazing. Being sick was not the culprit though. I know what was to blame. A few things, but mostly it was the way I ate. I absolutely gorged on the junk food this week. The quantities were......amazing. The entire week I felt absolutely horrible. But I didn't stop. I just kept on going as far as food was concerned. Even though I felt so crappy, I still ate every bad thing that I possibly could. I can now say I believe I have learned my lesson. No more junk until after the ultra marathon. And maybe not even then. I don't ever want to feel like this again! I'm telling you: double stuffed oreos, chocolate cake, ice cream cake, chips, hot cheetos - and it goes on and on. I didn't do so great with my water either. Also my sleep was screwed up, and I was extremely busy this week. I managed with a little under 4 hours of sleep each night. Which, I am used to only getting 4-5 hours of sleep, but anything under that is a big no-no. Amazing that you can be up for 20 hours in one day and still not have enough time to do everything that you want! Oh well, this week coming up shouldn't be so busy. My energy level was so far down this week, I didn't even cross train. AND I didn't even work it on the treadmill. No hills, no speed work - just flat line every single treadmill day. Hopefully this week will be better (should be with no junk food). My 20.8/33.47kilometer mile trail run yesterday was halfway decent. I did it in exactly 3 hours and 40 minutes.

Here is this week's breakdown:

Monday: 8 miles(12.8km) treadmill a.m./2 miles outdoors at lunch

Tuesday: 10 miles(16.09km) treadmill a.m./2 miles outdoors at lunch

Wednesday: 8 miles (12.8km)treadmill a.m./2 miles outdoors at lunch

Thursday: 11 miles (17.70km)treadmill a.m. No lunch time run - ice cream cake instead. It was good, but not good.

Friday: 11 miles(17.70km) treadmill a.m. Trip to the islands for our 10 year anniversary after that! :D

Saturday: 20.8 mile/33.47k long run on trails, very hilly terrain. 3 hours 40 minutes

Weekly total: 74.8 miles/120.37 kilometers

Don't forget I'm running for UNICEF! Please donate today!!!!