tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75615026595885645512024-03-14T08:48:40.324-07:00IMT Des Moines MarathonExperience the IMT Des Moines Marathon series of races on Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21!
Participate in the Mercy Live Up Loop 5-Mile Run on Saturday or the IMT Des Moines Marathon, Half Marathon, Bankers Trust Marathon Relay or Principal 5K Road Race on Sunday. Do the 5-Mile Combo by racing in races both days.
All races start and finish in the heart of downtown Des Moines and offer new courses and a great post-race party in the Court Avenue District.
IMT Des Moines Marathonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02584721065586260581noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-62052345473721318152018-05-01T11:58:00.001-07:002018-05-01T11:58:06.519-07:00Get Moving Iowa on CW Iowa Live 4-18-18<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gjNgKhSZFzM" width="480"></iframe>IMT Des Moines Marathonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02584721065586260581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-63714939127235706082018-03-30T08:36:00.001-07:002018-03-30T08:36:13.689-07:00One of your new IMT Des Moines Marathon bloggersHello IMT Des Moines Marathon runners!!!!!<div>
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I just wanted to tell you that I am the newest member of the IMTDMM blogger account and couldn't be more excited for the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for the sport with you. To give you a little insight into who I am, please sit back with a nice cup of coffee, tea or a cool adult beverage and enjoy...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our kids is not pictured :)</td></tr>
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My name is Brad Dains. I am a husband. Dad to 4 AMAZING children. I am an insurance underwriter. Part-time running shop sales associate (Fitness Sports in Clive ☺), soccer coach, mediocre blogger (find my personal blog <a href="https://staystrongrunlong.blogspot.com/">here</a>), most recently a member of the board of directors for the Capital Striders, the race director for the Sycamore 8 Trail Run and race director for the Booneville Backroads Ultra series...oh...and I like to run....ultra marathons!!!!!</div>
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To give you some background on myself, I was not always a runner. In the fall of 2004, I'd reached my end. I was fighting depression, suicidal thoughts, and a severe food addiction. I was 315lbs and had a hard time walking up a flight of stairs. I was wearing a size 44 pants and XXL shirts were starting to become snug. I was big and getting bigger every day. If you'd like to know more about what I was going through during this time in my life and how I eventually came out of it, I'd encourage you to watch a recent talk that I did as a part of the Active Endeavors Storyteller series. <a href="http://www.activedsm.com/active-storytellers-brad-dains/" target="_blank">You can find it here</a></div>
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Since I hit my breaking point, I've run a lot. I've done a couple of marathons (including the IMT DMM), Dam to Dam a bunch of times, tested my fitness at the Grand Blue Mile a couple of times, a ton of 5k's and 10k's. The area that I've spent the most amount of time training though has been focused on trail races and ultras...especially the 100 mile distance. But I just love to run. No matter the surface, distance, weather, or whatever. I just love to run!!!! I love it so much, I've even run 100 miles on a treadmill....OK...that did kind of suck.</div>
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I'm really excited to be a part of the crew and to share the things that I've learned in the past 14 years of running. I'm not a doctor. I don't have schooling in kinesiology, physical therapy, or sports nutrition. I done a lot of research on my own as a part of a way to help others around me learn to love the sport because, let's be honest, there are days where running really sucks. I may be one of the most over zealous running fanatics, but I have days where it's not a lot of fun...and that's OK. My hope and goal with this blog is to get you even remotely as excited as I am about the sport that I love so much. Ask anyone who knows me and I LOVE to talk about running!!!!...and I use far too many exclamation points 😂</div>
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I hope to be able to bring up topics that you may have never thought about. Talk about common injuries I'm seeing as a part of working for Fitness Sports. I hope to educate you so that when the proverbial "human waste hits the rotary oscillator"....think it through....you'll be more knowledgeable on how to manage the roadblocks you may face. </div>
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Like I said, I LOVE to talk running and welcome you to hoping over to my social channels and "like", "heart", "follow" or whatever and let me know if there are topics for this blog you'd like to hear about. </div>
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Thanks for reading and I can't wait to share my excitement with all of you</div>
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Stay Strong, Run Long</div>
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Brad Dains</div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/thamessenjah" target="_blank">Twitter</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/braddains/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> ...get ready for lots of selfies...</div>
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<a href="https://staystrongrunlong.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Blog</a></div>
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<a href="http://fitnesssports.com/" target="_blank">Fitness Sports</a></div>
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Learn all about Central Iowa's UltraMarathon... <a href="http://boonevillebackroadsultra.com/" target="_blank">Booneville Backroads Ultra</a></div>
ThaMessenjahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13633653391563127099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-46703290694029817582016-05-10T11:32:00.000-07:002016-05-10T11:33:02.471-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="background: rgb(253 , 253 , 253); font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Course Annoucement!</span></b></span></h2>
<span style="background: rgb(253 , 253 , 253); font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">New scenery and new distances are ahead for participants in
this year’s IMT Des Moines Marathon, organizers announced today.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background: rgb(253 , 253 , 253); font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">The IMT Des Moines Marathon and Half Marathon, Principal 5K
Road Race and the Bankers Trust Marathon Relay will all run on new routes this
year, due to the start of construction on downtown Des Moines bridges. “We
tried to keep the parts of the courses that people liked best,” race director
Chris Burch said, including the Drake Blue Oval on the Marathon course. “But at
the same time, this was an opportunity to incorporate the Capitol grounds and
some new neighborhoods. We’ve also added a little bit of a challenge.” The
Marathon and Half Marathon will both see new changes in elevation, with a
stretch dubbed the “Capitol Climb.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: rgb(253 , 253 , 253); font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">All four races will begin and end at a somewhat familiar
spot: Cowles Commons. “This was our start/finish line back when it was Nollen
Plaza,” Burch said. “We’re excited to try out the open, renovated space.” <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: rgb(253 , 253 , 253); font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">The IMT Des Moines Marathon and Half Marathon, Principal 5K
Road Race and the Bankers Trust Marathon Relay all take place on Sunday,
October 16. Full course maps are available at DesMoinesMarathon.com.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: rgb(253 , 253 , 253); font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Organizers also announced a new slate of events to take
place on Saturday, October 15. Mercy Medical Center will sponsor Mercy Field
Day, to include the 5-mile Mercy Live Up Loop, Mercy Children’s Hospital &
Clinics Junior Jog for kids and many other family activities. Mercy Field Day
will be centered at Principal Park.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: rgb(253 , 253 , 253); font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Find a complete race weekend schedule or register for any
of the IMT Des Moines Marathon events at DesMoinesMarathon.com.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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IMT Des Moines Marathonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02584721065586260581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-66783810245898178342016-04-06T11:58:00.002-07:002016-04-06T15:59:40.320-07:00Ten Reasons Why You Should Run the IMT Des Moines Marathon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LTo8Zeegb0l3fLFx2-wJbQ7bfYHggfkwz2UeceybMqjIARxfewJzJjHz-3ZHN7JNRphxVMTNwmCEcGvZjPgCgGimNfIwIrdhrRkdb55cL4WnyIONOF7PUnSKIUdHwAGNl2PEam2G02T6/s1600/10430915_10100721307297015_8528585842826536468_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LTo8Zeegb0l3fLFx2-wJbQ7bfYHggfkwz2UeceybMqjIARxfewJzJjHz-3ZHN7JNRphxVMTNwmCEcGvZjPgCgGimNfIwIrdhrRkdb55cL4WnyIONOF7PUnSKIUdHwAGNl2PEam2G02T6/s320/10430915_10100721307297015_8528585842826536468_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">My family after the IMT DMM in 2015.</span></i></div>
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10. <b>Free stuff after the race!</b> My food and drink experience at the <a href="http://www.desmoinesmarathon.com/" target="_blank">IMT DMM</a> these last few years has been amazing. Vendors with chocolate milk, beer, water, beer (did I say that already?), pizza, cookies, peanut butter on a spoon, fruit, sandwiches, granola bars...the list goes on and on... Oh and last year they even had vendors passing out food to <i>spectators</i>. How great is that?! No joke- several vendors walked around and gave out sub sandwiches to <i>everyone</i>. As a mom with three young kids cheering her on, this helped out tremendously!<br />
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9. <b>You can run two races in one weekend! </b>Yes, as many of you know you can complete the I-35 Challenge, by running a half or full on Saturday in Kansas City and then another half or full in Des Moines on the Sunday of that same weekend. <i><b>However</b></i> if you want to run two races on the same weekend but in the same city, you can register to run the IMT DMM Mercy Live Up Loop, which is a 5 mile run on Saturday and then choose a 5K, half or full on Sunday.<br />
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8. <b>Guess what? The Junior Jog (kids run) is on Saturday, the day<i> before</i> the 5K, half or full.</b> This is great for parents who want to enjoy a family "running" experience. I have always wished that my kids could run the "kids fun run" option with me at most of the races I particpate in, but these are always held at the same time as <i>my</i> run. The IMT DMM has you covered by holding the Junior Jog the day before! How awesome is that?!<br />
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7. <b>The registration fees are really, very affordable.</b> Right now (until April 18th), you can register for the full marathon for only $73.00. And, as the price increases in April and July, the highest fee is still under $100. That truly is a good value. If you run races, you know it is often the fees that sometimes dissuade us runners from registering. The half is currently only $58 and never goes higher than $68. You can even run the two IMT DMM Mercy Live Up Loop option for as little as $44 right now!<br />
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6. <b>The expo rocks.</b> By far, the best exposition/packet pick up I have ever attended. There are so many vendors, advertisers, companies, organizations and other races with booths and lots of free stuff to hand out. Deep discounts on merchandise and other race registrations are very easy to find. Plan on spending at least an hour browsing the exposition after you very quickly and efficiently pick up your packet. Last year there were guest speakers presenting during the expo, one I listened to for a few minutes was an ultramarathon runner. Wow, incredible stuff.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Outside the expo in 2014.</span></i></div>
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5. <b>Pasta.</b> Really- need I say more? The Saturday night of race weekend there is a pasta dinner, very affordable and you can bring the whole family. A great way to meet other runners and carb load.<br />
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4. <b>So I don't like to admit it, but sometimes I run races for the cool shirts.</b> The IMT DMM has included in the registration fee pretty awesome long sleeve, dry-fit pullovers both years I have participated. I get compliments all the time on mine. It isn't some cotton t-shirt that you will never wear again- these shirts are wonderful. I wear mine weekly. I love how they state your distance on the back too, and are color coordinated for whether you ran the half or the full that year. Very cool IMT DMM, very cool. I also heard that there are training shirts available on their website this year too! I need to get my hands on one of those!<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">In my awesome race swag!</span></i></div>
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3. <b>Technology savvy.</b> Not only is the #IMTDMM active on Twitter, Facebook, Blogspot, Instagram and has a really great website, but the race has a wonderful App that you can put on your mobile device. It shows you where your runner is while they run, has route maps, gives you your race results afterward, and has several other cool functions. Follow this race on social media and over the next few months you will get a lot of good information about route changes, guest speakers, price increase dates, discount codes, etc.<br />
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2. <b>Supportive. </b>This is the most supportive race I have ever, ever run. There are volunteers during and after the race that truly make this experience what it is. From complete strangers cheering you on by your first name (yes they put your first name on your bib!) to helping you figure out where the Gatorade, water and GU stands are. If you have ever run a distance race you know that sometimes after a long run you can get a little disoriented. There are lots and lots of volunteers on hand to help guide you to get your finisher medal, move you through the stations afterward, find first aid or massages, point out the free nutrition and hydration vendors, and really are just there to answer any questions that you might have.<br />
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1. <b>You could run for free! </b>Ahem... My giveaway of TWO race entries ends at midnight on April 11th, so you still have several days to enter. You can enter multiple times on multiple days... so what are you waiting for?! Enter this awesome giveaway! Even if you don't win one of the free race entries, a few other lucky entrants will win free race swag. See the giveaway at the top of <a href="http://www.mamagottarun.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">my website</a> to enter.<br />
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MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-72918715307124036652016-03-27T15:57:00.003-07:002016-03-27T16:14:32.538-07:00The Big 3000 Follower Giveaway: Free IMTDMM Marathon, Half, 5 Mile or 5K Race Entries & Swag!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last month I noticed that I was getting close to 3000 Twitter followers, which is quite a milestone for just one year of MamaGottaRun. I was so excited that I decided to offer another awesome giveaway to celebrate! The <a href="http://mamagottarun.blogspot.com/2015/12/free-giveaway-to-visit-oz-no-twister-or.html" target="_blank">last giveaway</a> I offered was a couple of free race entries, and my Tweeps seemed to love it, so I thought I'd try to offer race entries again. Hoping to find a donation from one of my favorite races, I jumped onto the <a href="https://twitter.com/IMTDMM" target="_blank">IMT Des Moines Marathon Twitter</a> page and saw that they too were right around 3000 followers, perfect! When I approached the <a href="http://www.desmoinesmarathon.com/" target="_blank">IMTDMM</a> it was an easy sell. They were gracious enough to offer two race entries (full, half, 5 mile or 5K- your choice!) and swag to two additional winners, so 4 prizes! This year the races are on October 16, 2016. Please see the Rafflecopter at <a href="http://www.mamagottarun.com/">www.mamagottarun.com</a> (<b>starts Monday, March 28</b>), but hurry and come back often as the giveaway <b>ends 4/11/2016</b>.</div>
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This giveaway is particularly special to me because the IMTDMM was my very first marathon in 2014 and last year they invited me to be a guest blogger on their <a href="http://desmoinesmarathon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">official blog</a> for them as I ran the IMTDMM half in 2015. This year I will be training to run the full marathon again, so I am really excited to offer these prizes and hopefully get to meet some of you on the start line!</div>
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<i>Recent training. Although for a different half I have next month, the miles</i></div>
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<i>will kick-start me as I begin training for the IMTDMM full coming this fall.</i></div>
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I absolutely love the IMT DMM races. As I said, I have run both the full and the half, and both times have been an amazing experience for me. I blogged about both race experiences <a href="http://www.dillavounews.blogspot.com/2014/11/262.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://mamagottarun.blogspot.com/2015/10/imt-dmm-recap-chilly-start-to.html" target="_blank">here</a> and am excited to start blogging about my training for my 2016 experience. Last year I posted several articles on the <a href="http://desmoinesmarathon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">IMTDMM official blog</a> that will help you understand why I love this race so much. Not only is it in my home state of Iowa so I always have family to cheer me on as I run it, but last year my brother even ran the half with me- his very first half marathon. The medals, the course, the option of the <a href="http://www.desmoinesmarathon.com/marathon/35-challenge/" target="_blank">I-35 Challenge</a> (two races in one weekend), the amazing food venders, but more than anything the IMTDMM is the most supportive race I have ever run. So many incredble volunteers and spectators cheer on complete strangers as they run the course... the race director does an excellent job of making sure the whole package comes together wonderfully.</div>
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<i>Me running the full in 2014.</i></div>
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<i>My 4:19 finish in 2014. I am hoping for closer to 4:00 this year.</i></div>
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<i>Running the half in 2015 with my brother who completed</i></div>
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<i>his very first half marathon that day!</i></div>
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<i>Last year, 2015, when I completed the I-35 Challenge (two</i></div>
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<i>half marathons in one weekend, Kansas City and Des Moines).</i></div>
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Okay, so how do you enter to win these free race entries and awesome swag? It is so easy! On the top of this website there is a Rafflecopter. You simply complete a few easy tasks of your choice, such as visit the IMTDMM Facebook page, 'Like" us both and Tweet about the giveaway, as well as a few other options, and you're entered! Some of the entry options you can even complete daily, meaning that you can get even more entries into the drawing. When the drawing ends, Rafflecopter with randomly draw winners from the entries and then I will personally notify winners via email and tell them how they can collect their prizes. The Rafflecopter will run for two weeks and the only stipulation for winners is that they must use the free race entry themselves (no gifting it to someone else). Remember you can decide what race distance you want to enter (full, half, 5 mile or 5K). And that's it! </div>
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On your mark, get set, go! I will post again next week with more details about the race, such as price increase dates, the race weekend events, route maps and anything else I can pass along.</div>
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MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-6371779729818710272015-12-04T18:10:00.001-08:002015-12-04T18:10:11.076-08:00The Winter Running Blues<div style="text-align: center;">
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Winter is here. Although we have yet see much snow in the Midwest, the cold temperatures and frosty ground are upon us. I am not sure about you but this is the time of year when I struggle to get out of bed in the morning to run, knowing that the temperature outside is going to be sub 30 degrees. </div>
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But winter running doesn't have to mean a cut in your miles. There are some tips and tricks that can help you overcome those cold days.</div>
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1. Dress appropriately. Although you want to dress with more warm layers due to the chilly air, don't overdress. After a mile or two your heart rate will increase, you will start to sweat, and you will get too warm too quickly if you have too many layers on. You really don't need more than one layer of long sleeves until the temperature is lower than 40 degrees. I add a layer of long sleeves every 10 degrees after that. At freezing (32 degrees) you will want gloves for your fingers and a hat to cover your ears.<br />
2. Try running later in the day. This is tricky if your work or family schedule isn't flexible, but it is usually a good 10 or more degrees warmer later in the day. If you can, try running in the early afternoon or early evening.<br />
3. Stay hydrated. Even though you are out in the cold, you will still sweat. You will need to replenish your fluids just like you would on a warm day.<br />
4. Be mindful of your steps. Choose shoes that have grips; you can even buy <strike>not so attractive</strike> grippers that you can adhere to your running shoes if you like. The grass, road and sidewalks are much more slippery so a fall will be more apt to happen and if it does, the ground is now frozen so the landing will hurt more.<br />
5. Stay positive. When you do get out there to run, appreciate the little things. Look for the gleaming reflection of the sun on icicles, try to admire a gorgeous sunset or sunrise, or even take a few moments to simply count the bird nests that are now visible with the disappearance of leaves from the trees. It may be cold outside, but it is still beautiful out there.</blockquote>
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So there you have it. If you do slack on a few runs due to the colder weather, don't be too hard on yourself. Winter season is a downtime for most runners and there aren't as many races to register for anyway. Don't give up; just get back out there as soon as you can.</div>
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What do you do to stay motivated in the winter to run? What tips or tricks do you have? Comment below, I'd love to read your ideas!</div>
MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-24011317294939526132015-10-21T11:27:00.001-07:002015-10-21T14:34:21.554-07:00Did Someone Say Two Half Marathons In One Weekend? Yes Please!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmDIyfPZGxFXTUchN8Dfafk6TYZvXJfAtprSXeuOB7zR9f9D4wUh7P6xPC5BqBvA-QsngnJoSkju1KxzPG1Y1GztjRThRFxIDy5SZmh85nEwTjV24t9sSCX1Lq_KcurHmtiToFqGDde89/s640/blogger-image--319451915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmDIyfPZGxFXTUchN8Dfafk6TYZvXJfAtprSXeuOB7zR9f9D4wUh7P6xPC5BqBvA-QsngnJoSkju1KxzPG1Y1GztjRThRFxIDy5SZmh85nEwTjV24t9sSCX1Lq_KcurHmtiToFqGDde89/s640/blogger-image--319451915.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Double the bibs and double the hardware</i>.</div>
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I'm the kind of person who likes to set running goals in order to keep herself motivated and focused. I register for races early, tell the world my plans so that I have to hold myself accountable, and then I start training (posting on social media every step of the way). When that race is over, I set a new goal and repeat the process.</div>
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Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy running, a lot, but a runner is lying if they tell you that they have never been in a running rut. To keep things fresh, I like to set what I call a "big" race goal for myself each year. A few years ago I decided to run a half marathon. Last year I decided to run my first full marathon. This year I went "half" crazy and decided to run two half marathons- in ONE weekend! Yes, I accepted and completed the I-35 Challenge by running two races that are literally located in cities along Interstate 35, during the same weekend. It was a few days ago and it was just as amazing as it sounds.</div>
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For the last four months I have been training for this challenge the best I could. I searched and searched online, talked to some runners I know, but couldn't find a true "Two Halfs In One Weekend" training plan anywhere. After thinking about how I run and what it would take for me to be prepared to run back-to-back halfs, I came up with a <a href="http://desmoinesmarathon.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-training-plan-for-2-halfs-in-2-days.html" target="_blank">training plan</a>. I am proud to say that I came close to following it almost exactly, and it worked well in helping me to be prepared physically and mentally for the challenge. I felt totally ready.</div>
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Basically I ran about 25-35 miles per week varying the length of the runs from 5 to 8 miles most of the time. For the last several months (prior to this last month) I also ran two back-to-back longer-ish runs every other weekend, like two 8s, 9s, 10s or 11s. And then this last month I ran a few 8s and 10s, but focused more on shorter, much faster runs, as I really wanted to PR my first of the two races. I wasn't sure how sore I would be after running my heart out trying to PR, so my goal for the second half marathon was to just finish respectably.</div>
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<i>The smile of a new PR!</i></div>
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The first of the two races was the Waddell & Reed Kansas City Marathon, half marathon option. My husband ran with me, it was his very first race ever- let alone his first half marathon! He is naturally faster than me so I knew he would push me and help me PR. We figured that we had to get about 8:45 average pace for me to PR. We actually blew that out of the water with an 8:35 pace, and finished in 1:52.22. My previous best was 1:55.49 back in the 2014; so I ended up shaving almost 3 1/2 minutes off my previous best. I was stoked!<br />
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After the dust settled we showered, we picked up the kiddos from my sister's house, drove along I-35 to Des Moines, picked up my IMT DMM race packet at the Iowa Events Center, checked into the hotel and got ready for round two the next morning.<br />
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As the day wound down and the evening rolled in, several factors started to make me second guess my decision to run another half the next day. I started to get a horrendous cold and sore throat with a fever, aches and chills. I couldn't sleep because I was nervous my alarm wouldn't go off and I was sharing a bed with several kiddos- one of which was a 3-year-old that insisted on kicking me in the head all night. My cortisone shot from my torn rotator cuff (surgery planned for this December, yuck) still hadn't kicked in, and after running as fast as I could earlier in the day, my shoulder hurt- a lot. And to top it all off, I weirdly locked us out of our hotel room with my race gear inside earlier in the day and it took several hotel staff and a bent hanger to get us back in the room. Oh and how could I forget that it was only 30 degrees outside on the morning of the race? Icing on the cake was how sore my body was when I woke up from after the Kansas City marathon the day before. My legs literally felt like tree trunks.<br />
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It never crossed my mind NOT to do the challenge, but I definitely dreaded getting up that morning. This was the very first time I had ever woken up race morning <i>not</i> super pumped to run. Before the race started, standing out in the freezing temps with aches and chills, legs and feet screaming with soreness, I definitely didn't feel much excitement. But that did change, as my inspiration to stay on course was my little brother. He had agreed to run the IMT DMM leg of the I-35 Challenge with me, even though he had never run a race of any distance before.<br />
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When I looked over at my brother at the starting line, standing beside me, chatting with complete strangers, laughing, cracking jokes, jumping around to keep warm, things started to change for me. He was just the most excited I had seen him in, well, maybe ever. THAT changed something in my mind. I decided not to worry about my pace, the distance, my aches... I decided to just <i>run</i> with him. He was so very excited just to be running his very first race, ever, and I remember that wonderful feeling.<br />
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After a few miles I no longer noticed the aches and pains or the freezing cold; I only noticed how awesome it was to run and cheer my brother on along the route. Honestly, I lost track of the miles most of the time and just ran. I didn't worry about anything- I just ran.<br />
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I ended up having so much fun and getting so much enjoyment out of it.<br />
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<i>Both races complete!</i></div>
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Eventually, we got to the end. And I DID IT! I ran TWO HALF MARATHONS IN ONE WEEKEND! It was incredible. I am so glad I did it. What an accomplishment!<br />
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You know what? We did pretty good too. I still finished in the top 25% of all women with our 2:06 time. Not too shabby for the girl always picked last in gym class.<br />
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Since training, Tweeting and blogging for the IMT DMM blog, I have met many runners online that were doing the I-35 Challenge too. Some ran one full and one half, some ran two halfs like me, and some "full" crazy ones even ran two fulls in one weekend.<br />
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I have to say that I am inspired.<br />
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I think.. I <i>think... </i>that I could challenge myself to run even more next year. I mean, I ran my two halfs this weekend with a torn rotator cuff and a really awful cold, sore throat and cough- among other obstacles... just <i>think</i> of what else I can do?!<br />
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I am sensing a new goal for 2016 coming on... :)<br />
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MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-88658732427611875612015-10-20T14:18:00.000-07:002015-10-20T17:28:51.457-07:00IMT DMM Recap: A Chilly Start to an Incredible Finish<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>
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<i>My lil brother and I before the chilly start Sunday.</i></div>
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This past weekend my hard work over the last several months came to fruition when I crossed the finish line of the IMT DMM half marathon. Last year I completed the full marathon in Des Moines and immediately knew that I wanted to come back again. This year, however, the IMT DMM half marathon was my goal, as it was the second half marathon I ran this weekend. Yep, that's right: two halfs in one weekend. Finishing the IMT DMM half meant that I completed the I-35 Challenge by running the Waddell & Reed Kansas City half marathon on Saturday and the IMT DMM half marathon on Sunday.</div>
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<i>Around mile 9.</i></div>
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This year I took a different approach to the race. Since I had planned to PR on Saturday in Kansas City during that half (which I did, 1:52:22, IN THE TOP 8% OF ALL WOMEN! Yay!), I decided that I just wanted to more leisurely run on Sunday and serve as a support system for my brother who ran with me, to complete his very first half marathon. I am so glad I kept with my plan because it felt absolutely amazing to cheer my brother on, push him forward and support him as he ran his first half.<br>
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I will admit that this was difficult initially. I had never run a half without the goal of running my fastest and pushing myself as hard as I could, so the first few miles I kept finding myself running too fast too early on for our collective pace, and I was automatically setting my brain to competition mode. Around mile 4 or 5 my lil bro started to need some pacing adjustments and moral support so I quickly switched gears and put on my cheerleading shoes. After I let him set our pace I started to actually enjoy myself more than I thought possible (while running a distance race, that is!).<br>
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This was only my second time at the event, but once again the IMT DMM did not disappoint. The route for the half quickly split from the full marathoners and took us to what would be the end of the full marathon route. I absolutely loved this because I could reminisce over memories I had had at different mile markers from last year. I remembered the place around mile 19 that I saw my family and children cheering me on. In fact, my brother came to cheer me on last year and that is what had inspired him to run this year.<br>
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I saw the spot, near mile 22, when I hit a serious wall but then had seen my favorite sign, "For all the girls picked last in gym class" and I recalled how those words got me through the slump. I remember that long bridge around mile 23 or 24 and how I cried like a little baby while on it, thinking about how I had almost finished a marathon, something I trained so hard for last year. I saw mile 25 where my husband had been standing while he had cheered his loudest to help me push through that last difficult mile...<br>
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I have chills and tears of nostalgia just thinking about it.<br>
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I love the IMT DMM for so many reasons (and it's not only because they always have the coolest participant shirts!). First and foremost, Iowa has the best people. Just like last year, the spectators and volunteers were once again amazing. I love the route because you are closer to the spectators than in other races I've done so they can give you high fives, tissues, power poster punches, and can read your name on your bib and cheer you on personally. This is definitely the most supportive group of strangers I have ever experienced in a race.<br>
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Oh and I love the race route; you travel through both urban and rural areas and other than a few small hills early on, it is a pretty flat route (I know, I know, it's Iowa, right?). I joked above, but I do love the shirts too. If you are a runner, you probably have several race shirts sitting around your house that don't get much use. The IMT DMM tech long-sleeved shirt will not be one of those. I LOVED my shirt last year and was so pumped to get the same style in a different color this year. As far as participant shirts go, they are really, really nice.<br>
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I also wanted to say how wonderful the expo at the Iowa Events Center is and how plentiful the race packets are. So many races don't actually put anything in your race packets anymore- but not the IMT DMM! Mine was overflowing with goodies and samples of lotions, vitamins, snacks, discounts, and more... and that's just the actual race packet. There was a virtual race packet, full of great deals and discounts, emailed out to us too.<br>
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The medals are just fine. Heavy and solid with large colorful neck straps, but they probably aren't the reason you run this race. But EVERYTHING else is. Even the food after the race is awesome. In addition to all the free food and drinks for the athletes, Jimmy Johns was walking around giving out free subs to spectators! As a mom with three young kiddos there cheering her on, free food was a nice distraction for them.<br>
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<i>Just before the finish line.</i></div>
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So if you are wondering how we did... Not bad! My brother and I finished at the exact same time and it felt amazing to cross the finish line with him, knowing just how hard he had pushed himself those last 3 miles to get there. We finished in 2:06.14 (9:39 pace) which was very respectable for my brother's very first half marathon. Our overall place was 2067 of 5380 all half marathoners. Even though I wasn't concerned about placing or my finish results this time, I did place 183/487, or still in the top 25% for my division (age 30-34). All in all we did a great job!</div>
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<i>MapMyRun Splits</i></div>
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<i>We did it!</i></div>
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So the big question is... Will I run it again next year? I'd definitely like too! I am even, and I might regret typing this out loud, considering accepting the I-35 challenge again next year... but possibly running both full marathons???? Yikes, I don't know. That is a lot of training and a lot of dedication, so I will have to get back to you on that one. I was just so surprised by how much fun running two halfs in one weekend was... Not sure if I'd feel that way after two fulls though...</div>
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<i>Our amazing support team!</i></div>
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There are a few Thank You's that need to go out. My husband, who not only ran the Waddell and Reed Half with me and is the reason I PR's on Saturday, but who then hauled our kids to Iowa that same afternoon (when he probably would have preferred an ice bath) and helped me get ready for my race the next day. My sister and her family, my parents and my brother and his girlfriend too. It is truly incredible to look at these pictures and see how many people came to cheer us on.<br>
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I also have some pretty supportive fans on Facebook and friends in my life that inspire and motivate me to run, and to write about my running on <a href="http://mamagottarun.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mamagottarun</a>.<br>
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A final thank you to the IMT DMM blog for allowing me to post training updates these last three months, and for helping me to connect with so many fellow Iowa, Kansas, KC and I-35 Challenge runners on <a href="https://twitter.com/MamaGottaRun" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. It was awesome talking with some of you in person and even more of you online these last few months!<br>
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What a fun weekend. I'm a little sad it's over, but that only means that it's time to start planning for my next running adventure.<br>
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Here's to next year- who's with me? Comment below!<br>
<br>MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-32370208257047932142015-10-13T09:26:00.001-07:002015-10-13T09:32:54.330-07:00The I-35 Challenge Is Just a Few Days Away!I am getting so pumped for this weekend! It's finally here! This Saturday and Sunday I am completing the I-35 Challenge, by running one half marathon (13.1 miles) on both days (26.2) total. I have run a marathon before, but I think it will be a different experience running two significant distances on back-to-back days.<br />
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I was so lucky to have the support of friends and family as I worked to accomplish this goal. Not only has my husband, Josh, watched the kids while I trained, but I have watched the kids for him as he trained too... Yes that's right! He will be running the Kansas City half marathon leg of the I-35 Challenge on Saturday morning with me. I am so proud of him- this is his first half marathon and he has worked so hard to get his practice runs in. He has improved his pace, his endurance, and he is ready to go.</div>
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I am also proud of my brother, Nick, who will be running the Des Moines leg of the I-35 Challenge with me the following day, on Sunday. This is his first half marathon. He has been battling injury and has a busy travel/work schedule but has continued to push through and train and he feels ready and is confident he will finish. </div>
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It is exciting to think that I will be running alongside family when I run these races. Normally I run alone in races. Other than the few times when my husband and I have been kid-free for a day or two and run a few casual miles around the neighborhood I have never run with him. And I have never run with my brother before at all. I am excited to feel the encouragement from them and the accomplishment of doing this together. I am a little nervous because I feel like both of these guys are faster than me and I hope it doesn't throw off my pacing. Hopefully it will be a motivator to keep pushing so I can PR on Saturday. My goal is to average 8:40s on Saturday and 9:00 is fine for Sunday.</div>
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Well, wish me luck! If you want to follow me while I run (or anyone else you know who is running in either of these races) you can do so at: </div>
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KC Event: <a href="http://www.sportkc.org/marathon/race-weekend/track-my-runner/">http://www.sportkc.org/marathon/race-weekend/track-my-runner/</a></div>
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DSM Event: <a href="http://tracking.endresultcompany.com/2015/dm/index.php">http://tracking.endresultcompany.com/2015/dm/index.php</a></div>
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I can't speak for the KC marathon/half marathon, but when I ran the IMT DMM last year it was incredible. The beautiful route, the amazingly supportive spectators, the energy... I knew immediately afterward the IMT DMM event would be something I would run again. This time I am running the half, but I anticipate just as much enjoyment.</div>
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Wish me luck! Connect with me on <a href="https://twitter.com/MamaGottaRun" target="_blank">Twitter</a> @mamagottarun so we can say hello!</div>
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I'd love to hear what you loved most about your previous half and full marathons. The spectators? A memorable sign? A route? A race packet goodie? Comment below.</div>
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<i>Crossing the IMT DMM</i></div>
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<i>finish line last year.</i></div>
MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-87861342588466982352015-10-04T19:16:00.000-07:002015-10-13T09:45:39.251-07:00Less Than Two Weeks To Go!<br />
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How's your last few weeks of training going? Tapering your longer runs? Working on quickening your pace during shorter runs? Those two techniques have been my main focal points this last week and my plan for the last few.</div>
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From when I started training nine weeks ago I have knocked about a full minute off of my pace during 4-5 miles runs. I am running in the low to mid 8:00s right now (even hitting the upper 7:00s a few times!), but started in the low to mid 9:00s in June.</div>
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My goal is to PR one of the I-35 Challenge halfs, which would mean I need to keep my splits at about 8:40-:44 minute average each. I really feel like I am on track to beat my current fastest half time of about 1:55. I guess only time will tell.</div>
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I am glad the weather has gotten a little cooler in Kansas City this week and it should stay that way for the next few weeks here. I imagine Iowa weather is cooling off as well. I remember feeling quite chilled at the start of the IMT DMM last year and running in the cold these last few weeks before should help that not be an issue again this year. You Iowa folks have weather that is just a shade cooler than us in KC, even though we are only three hours to the south of you.</div>
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What are your race goals for the IMT DMM or the I-35 Challenge? How are your last few weeks of training going? I'd love to hear about it. Comment below! Don't forget to follow me on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/MamaGottaRun" target="_blank">@mamagottarun</a> so we can connect and say hello in Des Moines in a few weeks!</div>
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Happy training!</div>
MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-56825050132013620222015-09-30T07:31:00.000-07:002015-09-30T07:31:23.524-07:00A Preview of the IMT Des Moines Marathon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor Mediacom for including the IMT Des Moines Marathon in their Newsleaders segment.<br />
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<br />IMT Des Moines Marathonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02584721065586260581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-15822914599499859922015-09-22T09:48:00.003-07:002015-09-22T10:31:34.517-07:00Preparing for Race DayThere is more to preparing to run in a half or full marathon than, well, running. So much additional work goes into preparing yourself for the event than the running itself.<br />
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Of course you will have followed some sort of training regimen, and should be confident with the miles you've pounded into the pavement in preparation for the big day. This is important not only for your body, but also to get your mind strong enough to push you through the difficult later miles. You might have even done strength training to get your body ready, and that's great! Both of those will prove helpful.<br />
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But you can't forget the checklist: the valuable list of tasks to complete before, or items to bring with you on, event weekend.<br />
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<img src="http://www.bestbeginnerguitarlessons.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Small-Check-Mark.gif" />Logistics are crucial. Make sure your hotel is booked and confirmed well before race weekend. Keep an eye on the weather a week before. Know how you are getting to the event on the morning of the race. Are you driving yourself? With a friend? Being dropped off?<br />
<img src="http://www.bestbeginnerguitarlessons.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Small-Check-Mark.gif" /> Know packet pick-up location, times and rules. Will there be parking costs and where are parking lots located (this is good to know both for packet pick-up and for race day)?<br />
<img src="http://www.bestbeginnerguitarlessons.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Small-Check-Mark.gif" /> Study the race route. Write bathroom, water and food stops in permanent marker on your arm the night before, on your water bottle, or on a laminated scrap of paper you can carry with you in your running gear.<br />
<img src="http://www.bestbeginnerguitarlessons.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Small-Check-Mark.gif" /> Make sure your cheering section is prepared with items they will need, like race routes with your estimated arrival times for every spectator spot, road maps or GPS, any signs or cowbells they will be displaying, and snacks and distractions for the younger spectators. Make sure your cheering section also knows what <i>you</i> will need from them during the race, like energy gel packets or water refills at certain mile markers. Make a plan of where you will meet at the finish line.<br />
<img src="http://www.bestbeginnerguitarlessons.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Small-Check-Mark.gif" /> Plan your meals for at least three days before the race. Research good foods for pre-race preparation and listen to your body. Avoid too many sugars, fiber and anything else that has the potential to increase your chances of gastrointestinal issues during the race.<br />
<img src="http://www.bestbeginnerguitarlessons.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Small-Check-Mark.gif" />Drink a lot of water every single day for the entire week before the event. A good daily intake rule is for every pound you weigh, drink an ounce of water- so if you weigh 142 pounds, try to drink 142 ounces of pure water daily. Don't worry about planning for food or beverages after the race, there will be a ton of free food and drink for you to devour at the finish line.<br />
<img src="http://www.bestbeginnerguitarlessons.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Small-Check-Mark.gif" /> Make sure the running clothes, socks and shoes you plan to wear on race day have been worn before. This is the absolute worst time to wear brand new running clothes, even if they are adorable. Run in what you know works for you. The last thing you need is chafing nipples and thighs, or new blisters at mile 5 of your event.<br />
<img src="http://www.bestbeginnerguitarlessons.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Small-Check-Mark.gif" /> Know what you will be carrying with you while you run. Water? Energy gels? Baby wipes? Kleenexes? Vaseline? Headphones or arm band? Phone? Headband or hat? RoadID tag? KT tape? How will you carry these things? If you can, do a long practice run carrying and/or using these items.<br />
<img src="http://www.bestbeginnerguitarlessons.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Small-Check-Mark.gif" /> Buy a new audiobook, update your playlist, or get your podcasts downloaded the night before the event. Race morning will be busy enough- you don't want to worry about getting your music ready just before the the gun goes off.<br />
<img src="http://www.bestbeginnerguitarlessons.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Small-Check-Mark.gif" /> Lay out everything you will need the night before, from what you will eat for breakfast, to every item of clothing you will be wearing. You will be anxious, excited and nervous the morning of the event and being prepared will help calm your adrenaline rush.<br />
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This list covers most of everything you will need to remember, but be sure to tailor it to your own specific needs. There is much to consider when preparing for the race, but you want the big day to go perfectly. You have literally run hundreds and hundreds of miles during training to get to the point of being able to prepare your body and mind to run a half or full marathon and you don't want a little forgotten detail to get in the way of your success.<br />
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Good luck!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Miles are great, but getting the logistics</i></span></div>
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<br />MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-83852172134627998072015-09-21T06:34:00.001-07:002015-09-21T06:34:11.521-07:00Jon Dunham to Appear at MidAmerican Energy Speaker Series<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Spirit of the Marathon</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">
filmmaker to preview new movie <br />
at IMT Des Moines Marathon</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Des Moines, Iowa—</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Jon
Dunham, the award-winning director of <i>Spirit
of the Marathon</i> and <i>Spirit of the
Marathon II</i>, will preview his new
documentary <i>Boston</i> at this year’s IMT
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2007, Dunham was hoping to make a movie about the Boston Marathon. “Then the
2013 Boston race turned out completely different from anything we ever
imagined,” he says. “My personal reaction after the bombing was to put the
project on hold, to give the race time to heal and normalize. But then I began
to realize what an important race 2014 would be, how important a race it would
be to document.” Organizers agreed and endorsed the project as the official
film of the race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Both of
Dunham’s earlier films will be screened at the Scheels Sports & Fitness
Expo on October 17 at the Iowa Hall of Pride in the Iowa Events Center. Spirt
of the Marathon will be shown at 11 a.m. followed by Spirit of the Marathon ll
at 2 p.m. Jon will introduce each film and provide a unique opportunity for
audience question and answer following the films. In addition, Dunham will
offer previews of <i>Boston</i>, which is
nearing the end of filming, as part of the MidAmerican Energy Speaker Series on
October 16 and 17. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">“We’re
excited to welcome Jon back to our event and to show our community a first look
at <i>Boston</i>,” IMT Des Moines Marathon
race director Chris Burch said. “He’s an accomplished filmmaker who captures
our sport in a way no one else can. It is a true privilege to host him in Des
Moines for our running community.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">The Scheels
Sports & Fitness Expo and the MidAmerican Energy Speaker Series at Hy-Vee
Hall in Des Moines are free and open to the public. For details and a complete
race weekend schedule, or to register, go to DesMoinesMarathon.com.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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IMT Des Moines Marathonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02584721065586260581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-29820570878274223842015-09-11T06:51:00.000-07:002015-09-11T07:03:02.780-07:00Are You Getting Excited for the IMT DMM!?!?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikC3Zm8yUi_yD63WSSucHfwDN3SOTci6Ij3mA5yO_1OwR4WzQVwuShlYHADkib8obwLQn9tWsqZjb-NUV1y2l9QNx_oa-CyE5ArtcsYjKO4Wd1AMk7_Zim-HM-PSYMEuWlHx7zMcIwe3uE/s640/blogger-image-972466208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikC3Zm8yUi_yD63WSSucHfwDN3SOTci6Ij3mA5yO_1OwR4WzQVwuShlYHADkib8obwLQn9tWsqZjb-NUV1y2l9QNx_oa-CyE5ArtcsYjKO4Wd1AMk7_Zim-HM-PSYMEuWlHx7zMcIwe3uE/s400/blogger-image-972466208.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>I'm getting excited to earn my new IMT DMM swag this year. </i></div>
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<i>I love my pullover from last year and as the 2015 race approaches </i></div>
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<i>I find myself reaching to pull this shirt out from my closet more and more often.</i></div>
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It's hard to believe we are running the IMT DMM next month! I registered so long ago and started training for this race so early this summer that I feel like it has been a long time coming. Finally, race day is getting closer and closer.<br />
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I am so excited to participate in the events again. I have even recruited my younger brother to run the half with me this year. This is particularly special because he attended the IMT DMM last year as a spectator, enlisted to cheer me on as I completed my first full marathon. He was so inspired by the strength he saw in runners and the sense of accomplishment he saw in me as I finished that he will be running his first half marathon when he runs it with me this year. He has never run a race of any distance before- ever- so this is kind of a big deal!<br />
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How is your training going? Mine is still on track overall and this past weekend I ran another round of back-to-back practice runs in preparation for the I-35 Challenge next month. Last week I posted about my Runner's Toe problems, and after taking it easier than I wanted these past few weeks, my feet feel much better. I ran 10.14 miles last Saturday and then 10.00 more miles on Sunday. Overall, I was happy with my performances and mostly had negative splits. This is a good sign because it means that I had a little gas left even as my miles accrued. I have scheduled one more practice weekend before the I-35 Challenge where I will run two 11 milers in two days to help me build physical and mental endurance.<br />
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Although it makes me a little sad that I'm only running the half this year, the one thing that I am enjoying about not training for the full marathon is the long runs I had to do every other week last year around this time. I use MapMyRun and the app developers like to email users little "memories" of impressive runs they had "crushed" a year ago on certain dates. Lately several runs in the low 20s have made it to my inbox and I must say that I don't really miss how hard it was to carve out time for those 3-4 hour practice runs. I do, however, have to admit that I miss the sense of personal accomplishment and mental encouragement I felt after completing those longer runs, and I look forward to running them again when I train for a couple full marathons that I'd like to complete next year. It's fun to say to myself "Good job on that 10-miler Traci!" but it was even more fun to be able to say "Good job on that 22-miler Traci" last year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUzSS5E3Uz6DPBMdF2gG_PxX0m2N73tjY7LLY_EZMgI-6jYyHQrQSho2ouRUdLpvpg_wIttKH2ua3gZa7WqxR6bufMm64t7c96Q08dQANqdPQgH7bGAAJHSuPPlSmwsa1IlVHjUS_tNHf/s640/blogger-image--380371042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUzSS5E3Uz6DPBMdF2gG_PxX0m2N73tjY7LLY_EZMgI-6jYyHQrQSho2ouRUdLpvpg_wIttKH2ua3gZa7WqxR6bufMm64t7c96Q08dQANqdPQgH7bGAAJHSuPPlSmwsa1IlVHjUS_tNHf/s640/blogger-image--380371042.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>My respectable splits from the two 10-milers I ran last Saturday and Sunday.</i></div>
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My goal is to PR on the Saturday of the I-35 Challenge during the Waddell & Reed KC Marathon, and then finish under or near 2 hours in the IMT DMM on the next day, Sunday. I will need to run 15 seconds or less faster per mile than I did during my 2nd 10 mile practice run to do this, but I am not too concerned. Race adrenaline always kicks in before race events and I always seem to run faster in half marathons than training and leisure runs.<br />
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How is your training going? I'd love to hear about it. Comment below!</div>
MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-44839229059884049722015-09-10T08:32:00.001-07:002015-09-10T08:32:12.181-07:001st woman to run Boston Marathon - Witness - BBC News<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aO2ChjVGL7c" width="480"></iframe>IMT Des Moines Marathonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02584721065586260581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-50391854698264099952015-09-10T08:30:00.001-07:002015-09-10T08:30:21.093-07:00Spirit of the Marathon II - Trailer<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PMPtN7cKPPY" width="480"></iframe>IMT Des Moines Marathonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02584721065586260581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-13056826697088426312015-09-10T08:26:00.001-07:002015-09-10T08:26:18.943-07:00Spirit of the Marathon - Trailer<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f7U7CQBH-Sg" width="480"></iframe>IMT Des Moines Marathonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02584721065586260581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-40112675948827732142015-09-01T08:17:00.000-07:002015-09-01T08:19:45.876-07:00Who Needs Pretty Toes Anyway?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyvSU0i_kdNEhDa1Jry6euwD4qK8U3C7-3wgHVVR6giDtJ3DYy9cis3tbHleBKmZoyFTsjgGFxeRzljD7YRG4j0zKWyoeK69PckmXAUpS-WUjqCRe48rWIUpSAlOQNlgZnlDyutStP4Jm/s640/blogger-image-1136170448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyvSU0i_kdNEhDa1Jry6euwD4qK8U3C7-3wgHVVR6giDtJ3DYy9cis3tbHleBKmZoyFTsjgGFxeRzljD7YRG4j0zKWyoeK69PckmXAUpS-WUjqCRe48rWIUpSAlOQNlgZnlDyutStP4Jm/s640/blogger-image-1136170448.jpg" /></a></div>
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I remember it like it was yesterday, with the same nostalgia of recollecting when my child lost his first tooth. It was the day I lost my first toenail. </div>
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The first toenail I lost to running was a little over a year ago when I was training for the IMT DMM and I felt like it was a rite of passage; like I had reached some running milestone that officially made me part of the culture. I have since lost three toenails and it looks like I will soon lose another. Who needs pretty toes anyway? My toes are always too sore to get pedicures so as long as I'm running, my feet must endure a little loss of pride.</div>
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I know some runners who don't really have toenail issues, and for me, I am only bothered when I run more than 15 miles per week. I have researched it some and since my second toe is just slightly longer than my big toe when fully extended, my poor second toe has to take the brunt of my body weight with each step I take. This is actually called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morton%27s_toe" target="_blank">Morton's Toe</a> which causes <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subungual_hematoma" target="_blank">Runner's Toe</a> and thank goodness I only have a mild case because some of the pictures of this condition look quite irregular. I am somewhat concerned because this the 3rd time I will lose the nail from this specific toe, and I just keep wondering if there is a point where it won't grow back. </div>
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Part of the reason my toes have been tested is because not only have I been running over 30 miles per week this summer, but I have been trying hard to work on pace. I really want to PR in the KC Half, and then just finish respectfully in the IMT DMM. Notice my beautiful negative splits above!</div>
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Although I am still working on those longer-ish runs with quicker splits, my sore toes have interrupted my completing all of the longer runs from my training plan this past week. In fact, just walking around the house recently has been hard; if one of my children accidentally step on my unprotected toes, tears immediately come to my eyes and it takes everything in me to hold back a yelp of pain. I did take a few extra rest days this week and finally woke up these last few days with less pain, less swelling and more bruising (which means healing). This is a very good sign that I can get back on track with those long runs very soon. Even taking off a few days this week, I still ran 110 miles this month, so I was content with that.</div>
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How is your training going? Do your toes ever trip you up, or have they prevented you from running when you wanted to? What tips do you have for runners with toe problems? Comment below!</div>
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<br />MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-65805289052038595732015-08-17T12:36:00.001-07:002015-08-17T12:45:04.055-07:00And Training ContinuesTraining is still going strong. We are about 8 weeks out from the big day (or <i>days</i> if you are doing the I-35 Challenge like me) and it is important to buckle down and keep moving forward with longer practice runs blended with shorter, faster paced runs. Both types are important when training for a half or full marathon.<br />
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I have stayed steadily on my training plan, and any runs I planned, I have completed. I have had to adjust a few days, trading a training day for a rest day here or there, but I am happy to say that I have been able to get every planned run in so far. In fact, I am nearing 70 miles this month and August is only half over.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIorY2SLDI5CZkZRdMW7miABJQOGzOqb6xWs1nIzOJUbOrBUHvtjclFzcEFviZQZDhP7qPHZfHf1xNXFpDn_DoLP2OtiRi52fY-MinhvXvcQmBAY6VbohoiQJMKRlsBNpHHMBKgvXm0q7/s640/blogger-image-538881684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIorY2SLDI5CZkZRdMW7miABJQOGzOqb6xWs1nIzOJUbOrBUHvtjclFzcEFviZQZDhP7qPHZfHf1xNXFpDn_DoLP2OtiRi52fY-MinhvXvcQmBAY6VbohoiQJMKRlsBNpHHMBKgvXm0q7/s320/blogger-image-538881684.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>I was able to run in Iowa again a few weeks ago, at McIntosh Woods in Ventura, IA.</i> </div>
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<i>Sisters Prairie Trail in Ventura, IA never disappoints. I found a new running buddy</i></div>
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<i>that same day. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Pdz64HByPHTr81G47n0ZeiG_dlLkvGjX6KYIdKSS-DqYCrMyvVp8goULF180Q5vrP5yUUF-oStAS_tRAOrWlat6RqE0pg_kdba3CA14AnvCiJuo3xi2C2QeZIDm5aw6BzNhLreeFBQL5/s640/blogger-image--1994762916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Pdz64HByPHTr81G47n0ZeiG_dlLkvGjX6KYIdKSS-DqYCrMyvVp8goULF180Q5vrP5yUUF-oStAS_tRAOrWlat6RqE0pg_kdba3CA14AnvCiJuo3xi2C2QeZIDm5aw6BzNhLreeFBQL5/s400/blogger-image--1994762916.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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<i>I'm averaging about 30 miles a week these past few months</i>.</div>
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How is your training going? Tips for overcoming the boredom of long runs? Ideas for getting up early and staying motivated to get in workouts? I'd love to hear how things are going for you. Comment below!MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-67921854481828464282015-08-05T06:45:00.001-07:002015-08-05T16:05:35.861-07:00Why Runners are Nice People1. We pour drips of water on earthworms unknowingly trying to cross a burning sidewalk on a hot day.<br>
2. We close open mailboxes as we run by them.<br>
3. We greet each other as we pass, say hello to people mowing their lawns, and wave at bikers.<br>
4. We move sticks and small branches out of the way for those coming up behind us.<br>
5. We love making friends with and connecting with other runners.<br>
6. Rather than argue, we just shrug and nod when non-runners say we are crazy for running half and full marathons.<br>
7. We try our hardest to run when it doesn't disrupt the pattern of everyone else in our family, ie, early in the morning or late at night.<br>
8. We yield to cars even when we have the right of way (okay this one might be more of a lifesaving technique than a form of kindness).<br>
9. No matter how tired we are, we find the energy to smile at babies and puppies as we meet or pass them.<br>
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10. We encourage each other whether we are faster or slower than one another, because we truly just love the sport.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZ4IJUWB-CVmE0UV61JbPxi-mmO3fqu0DW__KozIGk7jSyB-2YqRrZYJfNRIwrlqdDPQfDV_DQ9EO3UyDvmFVbK6FRs4679Ur88JKTkIKNCnjmuSHqB4Fyu_-LMwn4iQCaLVpUTTZNAnY/s640/blogger-image--1860812790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZ4IJUWB-CVmE0UV61JbPxi-mmO3fqu0DW__KozIGk7jSyB-2YqRrZYJfNRIwrlqdDPQfDV_DQ9EO3UyDvmFVbK6FRs4679Ur88JKTkIKNCnjmuSHqB4Fyu_-LMwn4iQCaLVpUTTZNAnY/s320/blogger-image--1860812790.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-50021191750114370432015-07-29T15:41:00.000-07:002015-07-29T15:53:43.282-07:00Holy Humidity Batman<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVw7a5nTtS-QhaiIbXeQdSQ2kxNTPxrq54l32T-AYU5rlio3NMwK-KFFQN7yZBfr0SITByPXLsZp7sdqB6PesCGPpYAAq45P1on3-R4b7_QJv15pTRq9RwpUYiyfgMAvPgH-H4wawBAph/s640/blogger-image-2010859217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVw7a5nTtS-QhaiIbXeQdSQ2kxNTPxrq54l32T-AYU5rlio3NMwK-KFFQN7yZBfr0SITByPXLsZp7sdqB6PesCGPpYAAq45P1on3-R4b7_QJv15pTRq9RwpUYiyfgMAvPgH-H4wawBAph/s400/blogger-image-2010859217.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<i>Met my training plan goals for Week 1.</i></div>
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Week 1 of training is complete, and I stayed right on track with my training plan. Eleven more weeks to go and I am focused, even though the weather has not been cooperating with my plans. I have to say that the last few weeks have been difficult for outdoor athletes, as I am sure many of you Midwestern runners out there can attest too. We had had a really mild summer which was awesome for running, allowing runners to sleep in a little more in May and June meaning we did not have to run at 5 or 6 am in order to beat the heat. </div>
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Mother Nature has returned summer to us here in Kansas City, and she is not holding back. The last two weeks have been SO HOT AND HUMID. My lazy summer mornings have had to adjust to getting my runs in before 7 or 8 am or risk crippling heat and humidity. In addition to running earlier, I have been drinking 12-16 ounces of water during every one of my runs this month, no matter if it is a 3 miler or an 8 miler, and that has helped. With the humidity and heat has also come some rain, so many consecutive days that sometimes it becomes impossible to wait for a morning without rain. So, I've also had no choice a few days but to run in the wet, rainy weather. </div>
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How are you beating the heat? What are you doing to combat the humidity? Do you enjoy running in the rain? I'd love to find out! Comment below.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjikPoI0nueyn9jNB3PyEniEw8WrFMTYpHTyCFq5F2xPXTJGbJELZ8sVKVAJmhRoq6DKIUkGoO3TozsvB0zUg-sDAxs_6EMaGXAomIk30icty1ORWEXHijZFOtOT27hqhRPm9Hwq_3Uh9O/s640/blogger-image--1048655979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjikPoI0nueyn9jNB3PyEniEw8WrFMTYpHTyCFq5F2xPXTJGbJELZ8sVKVAJmhRoq6DKIUkGoO3TozsvB0zUg-sDAxs_6EMaGXAomIk30icty1ORWEXHijZFOtOT27hqhRPm9Hwq_3Uh9O/s640/blogger-image--1048655979.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Water is my new best friend.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cwBuVo7OBMCjQ_kncDFuVCoPlvH7hE3FbNzooTc_Ug_3TWE9a2fbkni-dSy94OP8eWdnqiA5IRtXC_ebOtxrUu8mTsKtJv2Zjf_suAGu-P2YTWnovRZaVzPsoMJ5MGAlyl05jXxHFXeJ/s640/blogger-image-1311038591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cwBuVo7OBMCjQ_kncDFuVCoPlvH7hE3FbNzooTc_Ug_3TWE9a2fbkni-dSy94OP8eWdnqiA5IRtXC_ebOtxrUu8mTsKtJv2Zjf_suAGu-P2YTWnovRZaVzPsoMJ5MGAlyl05jXxHFXeJ/s400/blogger-image-1311038591.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Rain, rain and more rain means wet running shoes, drenched clothes and wearing caps to block out the droplets.</i></div>
MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-59863805206526387082015-07-21T12:21:00.002-07:002015-07-21T12:40:04.392-07:00First Back2Back Practice Run Complete<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwwfpE6zmXwiPs8GhFWZ2lAREO49WB9uFTddxS4_ac8xr5nTGtBkxnsxBAlum1EyER6S2Hg0bwGTFHB1fO67ZXOn6U_8Yv8QH7LYpMw5u1Mod0qiveE9mQDxT4pUcBTR1_bPaoOgUkVQg/s640/blogger-image--414855144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwwfpE6zmXwiPs8GhFWZ2lAREO49WB9uFTddxS4_ac8xr5nTGtBkxnsxBAlum1EyER6S2Hg0bwGTFHB1fO67ZXOn6U_8Yv8QH7LYpMw5u1Mod0qiveE9mQDxT4pUcBTR1_bPaoOgUkVQg/s640/blogger-image--414855144.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Let the training begin!</i></div>
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Twelve weeks until race time and the training has begun! I have been working hard on increasing my miles at a reasonable rate so that I do not cause any injuries to myself. I learned this lesson the hard way this past January when I stress fractured my tibia. I was training for a spring half marathon and was so excited for a few weeks of mild winter weather and to start training that I didn't follow the basic running rules or listen to my body when I first started having pain. It took about 7 weeks off of running, x-rays, and an air cast for me to learn that you must slowly increase your mileage and definitely take rest days in between running days while doing so. </div>
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This past weekend I ran my first practice run of back-to-back races. I ran 8 miles on Saturday and another 8 miles on Sunday. I was really surprised that the opposite of what I expected to feel happened. Saturday's run was really hard, likely due to the high temperatures, mid-day timing, and near choking humidity. I had many mental conversations with myself on Saturday and had to really push my mind and body to keep going. Sunday, although I thought it would be the harder of the two runs, actually felt great. My pace was really similar to Saturday's (at about 9 minutes exactly per mile) but I made sure to run earlier in the morning so I enjoyed less crippling temperatures and humidity. I do need to keep working on getting my pace down a little more, but with 12 weeks still to go, I should be able to shave off a little time still.</div>
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All in all I am really happy with my first practice run. It is nice to have a comparison level established as most of the time when I have run 8 miles, I usually have taken the day after off. As I train for the I-35 Challenge I will need to keep working on getting my mind and body ready to run a farther the next day. Every three weeks from here on out I have scheduled practice back-to-back runs, increasing my mileage by one mile per day per weekend, reaching a final practice weekend of two 11 milers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzISKJMXX7dDdMaJR027Uhr7_4rqDXKorFFwGjVTaU7WU7oTPY6GF9ogNH2vN8xy1Qx_UDUKsIqmSBi7Q_GZ80v7fZ80x9f17GfHiTbuv9gFwgo6NbClzdiJ7ASp98TUTHXrRx_4_F0dX/s640/blogger-image-431819887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzISKJMXX7dDdMaJR027Uhr7_4rqDXKorFFwGjVTaU7WU7oTPY6GF9ogNH2vN8xy1Qx_UDUKsIqmSBi7Q_GZ80v7fZ80x9f17GfHiTbuv9gFwgo6NbClzdiJ7ASp98TUTHXrRx_4_F0dX/s640/blogger-image-431819887.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<i>Last week's mileage; this included 7 miles of walking.</i></div>
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Are you running in the IMT Des Moines half or or full marathons? Are you attempting the I-35 Challenge? Have you come up with a training plan for yet? Have you started training? </div>
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I'd love to read your comments below.</div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 23.0039978027344px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">About me: Although I am a Kansas Citian now, I was once a North Iowa girl, hailing from a little town called Rudd near Mason City. I am a runner of about three years, although I have always enjoyed being active through walking as well as participating in boot camp and other similar classes. Through running I have discovered a love that I did not know existed. Growing up I was never the most athletic person on the team and I always had to work hard to be average, but as an adult I have realized that I have skill in endurance running and I absolutely love it. I am not the fastest runner out there, but I am not the slowest either. In addition to being a runner, I am a college instructor, wife and mother to three children aged 3, 5, and 7 years. I have a personal blog at </span><a href="http://www.mamagottarun.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.mamagottarun.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and can also be found on Twitter and Instagram @mamagottarun. This is my second year participating in the IMT DMM races</span></span></i></div>
MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-56699091985865966162015-07-21T07:40:00.002-07:002015-07-21T07:40:39.116-07:00What's New in '15<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 4.5pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Here's A Look at What is New This Year</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1. TWO DAYS OF RACES</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> The Principal Financial Group 5K
Road Race has moved to Saturday, October 17 joining the Live Healthy Iowa Kids
Run on the weekend schedule, while the IMT Des Moines Marathon, Half Marathon,
and Bankers Trust Marathon Relay remain on Sunday, October 18.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">2. 5K ROAD RACE DIVISIONS</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> The Principal Financial Group 5K
Road Race will feature 3 race divisions this year including an Open division
for runners and walkers alike, a High School Division for participants between
the ages of 14 and 19, and an Iowa National Guard Division to honor Iowa
National Guard members and their families.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">3. 5K COMBO</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Now, you can participate in two days of
races by combining The Principal Financial Group 5K Road Race on Saturday with
your race of choice in the IMT Des Moines Marathon, Half Marathon or Bankers
Trust Marathon Relay on Sunday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">4. DOUBLE THE HARDWARE</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Your two day accomplishment in
Des Moines will be rewarded with twice the hardware. A finisher medal on
Saturday and another finisher medal on Sunday that will magnetically combine
with one another to let everyone know you completed the 5K Combo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">5. 5K ROAD RACE STOCKING CAP</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Have a drawer of race
shirts that you can’t keep up with? The Principal Financial Group 5K Road Race
is offering participants a premium beanie stocking cap this year. Now you can
start collecting stocking caps too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">6. FAMILY DISCOUNT </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Families can sign up for The
Principal Financial Group 5K Road Race and Live Healthy Iowa Kids Run at the
same time during online registration and save $5 on each Kids Run registration.
The Live Healthy Iowa Kids Run will utilize the same start and finish line, as
well as a portion of the 5K Road Race course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">7. JUSTIN ROBERTS</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Following the completion of the
Live Healthy Iowa Kids Run on Saturday, Justin Roberts and The Not Ready For
Naptime Players will perform a free concert for the public at the Simon Estes
Amphitheater.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">8. KATHRINE SWITZER</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> An icon in the running world,
Kathrine was the first woman to enter and complete the Boston Marathon. Hear
her inspiring story of achievement Saturday evening at the return of the ABC5
Pasta Dinner in the recently renovated Community Choice Convention Center. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">9. EVEN HIGHER QUALITY SHIRTS</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Athletes registered in
the IMT Des Moines Marathon & Half Marathon and Bankers Trust Marathon
Relay will receive a similar design of the revered ¼ zip pullover only this
year will receive an even higher quality premium fabric in the ¼ zip than in
years past. With a new stocking cap and ¼ zip you will be one step ahead of the
fall and winter running season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">10. COOL FEATURES</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Stay in touch with race
officials and get the latest updates through IMT DMM PRO, the mobile app
available for free download in the Apple and Google Play stores. Check out the
new mapping feature that allows you to not only view the race course but
location of services offered along the route. And, after the race purchase an
official event course poster personalized with your name and finish time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">11. COWLES COMMONS </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Mile 26 offers a return to the
newly renovated Cowles Commons in downtown Des Moines. A cheer zone, live
entertainment, and final transition area for Bankers Trust Marathon Relay
presented by Iowa Games participants can gather and await for their final team
member before crossing the finish line together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">12. ENHANCED HYDRATION</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> The IMT Des Moines Marathon
course has additional hydration stations this year (25 total) along the course
to offer more opportunities for Crystal Clear Bottled Water and Gatorade
Endurance hydration as you run. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">13. ENHANCED CELEBRATION</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> The Race to the ULTRA post-race
party has expanded nearly twice it’s size into a beer garden. Celebrate your
accomplishment after the race with friends and family along The Principal
Riverwalk with live entertainment and (for the first time) beer for purchase
for both athletes and spectators alike. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>14. SHOW OFF YOUR ACCMPLISHMENT</b> In addition to finisher certificates, athletes can download and personalize their own post-race poster complete with race course, finish time , and name.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">15.</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <b>15 YEARS OF RUNNING</b> Can’t
join us this year? Mark October 16 & 17, 2016 on your calendar as we
celebrate 15 years of running the IMT Des Moines Marathon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
IMT Des Moines Marathonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02584721065586260581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-18616291356062336052015-07-14T08:45:00.000-07:002015-07-14T09:11:40.758-07:00A Training Plan for 2 Halfs in 2 Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Let the training begin!</div>
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We are about 12 weeks out from the I-35 Challenge and I am really excited to start training. The problem is that it is hard to find a training plan designed for running two half marathons in one weekend. Most of the "back-to-back races" searches that I have done online these last few weeks have led me to training plans and advice for running to full or two half marathons on consecutive weekends, but not two races in one weekend. </div>
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As I designed my plan, I had to consider (1) my running patterns and (2) my goals for these two races.</div>
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My Running Patterns.</div>
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I usually run 15 miles per week when I am not training for a race. To prepare for training, I have run around 20 miles the last few weeks so that I am ready to begin my plan by slowly increasing my mileage. I tend to run in the mornings and do have young children that can't be left alone so when I run, I have to consider getting back in time to get myself, them and my husband all to work by 8 am. Therefore I am planning on running most of my longer runs on the weekends when I have more flexibility. Also, I have decided to increase my number of medium runs and only max out to 11 miles, as this will tend to give me shorter overall time frames where I need to be out running but I will still get significant mileage in.</div>
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My Goals.</div>
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My previous half marathons have all ranged from 1:55 to 1:59 finishing times. I would like to beat my previous times when I run the first leg of the I-35 Challenge, the Waddell and Reed KC Half Marathon, and I'd like to keep my second race, the IMT Des Moines Marathon, time at sub 2 hours. I have never run either of these half marathon courses so I will need to study the routes closely to help me reach these goals.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIwXEMxe6bHApxR0FqztdxhjQi9th71H3HKNd6lnls1nX0nU1NmGObpzxBjoynyMfl7MkRcl5u0X8j6Q5mi7o_EbypRA6y_-OhmWRMNLJm01wpCBs-gvpESONLH8B5bR1WSpZaeCUv9AU/s1600/Fall+2015+Training+Plan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIwXEMxe6bHApxR0FqztdxhjQi9th71H3HKNd6lnls1nX0nU1NmGObpzxBjoynyMfl7MkRcl5u0X8j6Q5mi7o_EbypRA6y_-OhmWRMNLJm01wpCBs-gvpESONLH8B5bR1WSpZaeCUv9AU/s640/Fall+2015+Training+Plan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>My training plan.</i></div>
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Other Considerations.<br />
I am fine with adjusting my training plan as needed as long as I roughly meet the total miles planned each week. I have decided to run four back-to-back weekends in my plan because I am usually sore, sometimes have GI issues after long runs, and am tired for a few days after I run halfs and fulls. With no rest day after the first half marathon, I will need to practice and teach my body to be able to work through those issues in order to be able to run the 2nd half of the I-35 Challenge while reaching my goal time.<br />
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So there you have it. I am currently in my last prep week on the plan I posted here, and officially begin my 12 week training plan this coming weekend.<br />
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My plan may be a good starting point for you to follow as you take the I-35 Challenge, but you will want to consider your own running patterns and goals as you create your own specific regimen.<br />
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Although we all have the same love for the sport, it's important to remember that every runner is different.<br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 23.0039978027344px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">About me: Although I am a Kansas Citian now, I was once a North Iowa girl, hailing from a little town called Rudd near Mason City. I am a runner of about three years, although I have always enjoyed being active through walking as well as participating in boot camp and other similar classes. Through running I have discovered a love that I did not know existed. Growing up I was never the most athletic person on the team and I always had to work hard to be average, but as an adult I have realized that I have skill in endurance running and I absolutely love it. I am not the fastest runner out there, but I am not the slowest either. In addition to being a runner, I am a college instructor, wife and mother to three children aged 3, 5, and 7 years. I have a personal blog at </span><a href="http://www.mamagottarun.blogspot.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.mamagottarun.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and can also be found on Twitter and Instagram @mamagottarun. This is my second year participating in the IMT DMM races</span></span></i><br />
<br />MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561502659588564551.post-51149431035435803392015-07-10T06:38:00.000-07:002015-07-10T06:38:09.743-07:00Why I'm Running the I-35 Challenge<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.74272721030495; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I exhaustingly crossed the finish line of the IMT Des Moines Marathon last fall I excitedly slowed my run to a walk. Grinning ear-to-ear, I proudly stepped to face a volunteer who was handing out the coveted medals. She smiled at me, said great job, but motioned for me to keep moving on. I remember thinking, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are you kidding me? I just ran 26.2 miles and I am definitely going to get my hardware!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-86431e0c-6e93-6fc5-b201-ad8795aafa5c" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.74272721030495; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then I quickly realized that my own medal was going to be coming from a different volunteer standing slightly behind the first. After I'd taken a few pictures with family and friends, devoured some peanut butter on a spoon, eaten a couple cookies, and inhaled a slice of pizza, I looked around to figure out what that first medal was for. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.74272721030495; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After a little investigation I discovered that that medal was for something called the I-35 Challenge, and those finishers that completed it received a separate medal aside from the one given after finishing the IMT DMM. I learned that the I-35 Challenge is a cooperation between the Waddell & Reed Kansas City Marathon and the IMT DMM where runners can separately register for it, along with both of the other marathons, which happen on different days of the same weekend. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.74272721030495; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Almost immediately I decided that I wanted to complete the I-35 Challenge in 2015. Although I loved running the marathon and have big marathon goals for 2016, I had had a hard time finding the time to train, with the demands of my family and work. I also loved that with the I-35 Challenge I had some options. You can run two halfs, two fulls or combinations of fulls or halfs. I decided that I would run the option of the two half marathons.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.74272721030495; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that it is July and we are less than 4 months away from the challenge, I have begun training to get my body strong and capable of running two halfs in one weekend. I am excited to share that journey on the official IMT DMM blog this summer and fall. Look for me to offer weekly recaps of my training, advice for registrants, and just overall information that relate to my favorite sport: running. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTJJnYLxyhxy8H2jLSS5umQpoWfx1p-hMjFoGeRNoaYHS_S1A6BbOhE3G_j3ERimRc5qQqwkpbsDCtEu751bDlJaxkhmvJ_qK1xatKfD35JKL2gS6UBYpenpereCu_VzhfjqDwrbFSN-n/s1600/10302695_10100592964207489_5077666458555664976_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTJJnYLxyhxy8H2jLSS5umQpoWfx1p-hMjFoGeRNoaYHS_S1A6BbOhE3G_j3ERimRc5qQqwkpbsDCtEu751bDlJaxkhmvJ_qK1xatKfD35JKL2gS6UBYpenpereCu_VzhfjqDwrbFSN-n/s400/10302695_10100592964207489_5077666458555664976_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.74272721030495; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>During the 2014 IMT DMM.</i></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.74272721030495; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">About me: Although I am a Kansas Citian now, I was once a North Iowa girl, hailing from a little town called Rudd near Mason City. I am a runner of about three years, although I have always enjoyed being active through walking as well as participating in boot camp and other similar classes. Through running I have discovered a love that I did not know existed. Growing up I was never the most athletic person on the team and I always had to work hard to be average, but as an adult I have realized that I have skill in endurance running and I absolutely love it. I am not the fastest runner out there, but I am not the slowest either. In addition to being a runner, I am a college instructor, wife and mother to three children aged 3, 5, and 7 years. I have a personal blog at </span><a href="http://www.mamagottarun.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.mamagottarun.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and can also be found on Twitter and Instagram @mamagottarun. This is my second year participating in the IMT DMM races. </span></i></div>
MamaGottaRunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06765756486547662143noreply@blogger.com0