2019 Parks Half Marathon Recap!

This is another race that had been on my radar for a long time.  A lot of friends have raved about how much they love the race.  What was holding me back?  Keep in mind, I'm not a morning person so the 6:45 start time, and having to drive over an hour to the start was not very attractive.  But, in the interest of chasing a 2:15 half, I signed up anyways.

The day of packet pickup I had a raging headache.  The kind that you couldn’t do anything about.  I ended up trying to drink a lot of water and it helped some, but not a lot.  I sucked it up and drove out with my husband just in case I didn’t feel up for driving back.  It was super easy to find parking since there were volunteers directing people to spaces and I lucked out with one right in front of the shopping center.  While there I also picked up a few gels because I was running low and I wanted to try a new to me huma gel with electrolytes.  

That night my headache was still raging.  Woke up, it was still there.  I could've just gone back to bed but instead I got up, got ready and went to my race.  I drank most of my cherry limeade Nuun on the drive there, and finished it as I walked to the start.  I parked at the Metro station close to the start and started messing with my aftershokz headphones out of nervousness and felt a little snap.  I looked down and the blue portion of the earpiece was broken but the black part was still holding on.  Right before my race.  Dang it.  I could still hear out of the headphones, but they were super fragile and couldn't sit on my ear.  After eating my picky bar, and using the portajohns I made it a point to look for tape, a band aid, ANYTHING to at least temporarily fix it.  I knew the majority of the race was through a park so I needed music. Thankfully, I got my hands on a band aid and patched it up (at least temporarily.)  

Ready to go...I  think?  

My headache was still raging, but I didn't have much of a choice other than to ignore it and run this thing.  Soon it was time to line up.  The race was really organized in this respect because they had formal corrals with pace times and barriers held up by volunteers.  

Since the race starts on a downhill, it was really easy to go out way too fast even though I was in a further back corral.  When my watch beeped at the first mile mark and I saw 9:32 pop up and tried to pull back, but the second mile popped up at 9:52.  Then just at the 5k point, you turn a corner and come face to face with a hill for an out n back portion. That's where my pace really started to suffer and I dropped any hope of having a PR.  By mile 4 I remembered I needed to take a gel sooner rather than later so I took it at the next water stop.  That was just too late and it totally threw off my fueling strategy.

At mile 5 I was really just ready to be done.  I stopped to use the bathroom (which I rarely ever do mid-race), and had a hard time pushing myself to keep going.  I took my gel with caffeine and electrolytes and that helped get some energy back, but it could only do so much. I was unable to ignore my headache and tried so hard to focus on anything else, but at that point it just became a downward spiral.  Just past high five hill (where volunteers wear giant Mickey hands to high five runners up the hill) I got stuck behind two people running together through a heavily wooded portion of the route and since I do run/walk intervals I would get ahead of them, then they would get ahead of me, and I would pass them again and they'd pass me again.  I'd have to ask them to move out of the way so I could pass every. Single. Time.  The path was just way too narrow to run side by side like they were doing, especially since the path wasn't closed to non-race participants.  (So every once in awhile someone not racing would come running towards you.)  At one point I just let the ladies go on ahead and drifted off a small group of people who were pacing one another.  I focused on their conversation and it actually helped get me out of my funk for the most part.  

It's been a really long time since I was so thankful to just be done with a race.  But for this one, I was really happy to be done.  The course was pretty crowded and I was still in a crappy mood.  Once I crossed the finish, I got my medal and neck gaiter and got in line for food.  The spread was awesome!  There were breakfast foods, pizza and pasta.  I filled up a plate and managed to find a group of running friends I hadn't seen in awhile.  

Once we were done with our food we walked over to the metro stop (you essentially park at one metro stop, run towards a different one)  and hopped on a train to get back to our cars.  Before I headed home, I had to make a stop to get some duck donuts (there aren't many locations in Maryland, so I had to stop) and of course coffee (any excuse to get a pumpkin cold brew!) 

After getting home, showering and taking a nap I opened a beer and told my husband about the race and had a chance to reflect on everything that happened.  I always tell myself it's never a bad race unless there's something you don't learn from it.  As hard as it was, it wasn't bad.  This race convinced me that for one thing I needed to rethink my fueling strategy.  Drinking a pre-race Nuun, eating a picky bar 30 minutes out from gun time, then taking gels every 45 minutes wasn't enough.  I needed more calories and with some of the things I had on hand, I decided on a new strategy--fuel in liquid form with electrolytes, AND gels.  And just in case maybe have some chews on hand too.  My 2:15 half marathon is still elusive.  I may hit it someday, but as long as I learn a lot along the way it'll make the journey worth it to me.

Overall, I would consider doing this race again with some things in mind.  The time of year is not so great--the first half of September is still summer, still miserable.  They account for this with an early gun time of 6:45 am.  It took me an hour to get there, but I got there early enough that parking was a non-issue.  I'd also go into it knowing that the start is FAST and to hold back for later in the flatter portion of the course.  You get a lot for your registration fee--a shirt and bib at packet pickup then a medal and an extra premium when you cross the finish (in 2019 it was a tie dye buff) and the spread of food at the end was amazing. Getting back to your car post-race was also super easy since you just had to get on the metro for a couple of stops.  You get a lot for your entry fee so if you've been wanting to try it, I'd go for it at least once!  I don't know if I'll personally run it again, but I would still keep it under consideration.

Thrifty Thursday for May

I miss thrift shopping.  I've had dreams about going out thrifting again, but for now reminiscing on old finds will have to do.

Since I've found these I've worn them and they are awesome!  Just the right amount of compression and they're also lightweight.

Sweaty Betty x Modelfit Zero Gravity Capris:  Originally $135, paid $5

I'm super thankful I stocked up on warm, cozy clothing before quarantining.  It's been very cold so far for May (only a couple days have hit the 70s, and it's not forecasted to get very warm for the next week.)
Calia Effortless Cozy Cardigan:  Originally $50, paid $7

This jacket is so cute but made of fabric that's still a little too lightweight for right now.  It also feels a little weird getting windbreaker-type jackets when I'm not going outside much these days.

Athleta Wailea Bomber Jacket:  Originally $108, paid $10

This pullover is so comfortable!  Still fairly lightweight, but fleecy on the inside.  It's great to keep me warm before a workout and immediately afterwards.

Lululemon Kanto Catch Me 1/2 Zip:  Originally $98, paid $5

This is another find that I couldn't believe when I got my hands on it.  Once I saw it was in my size I  didn't let go and once I tried it on I knew I couldn't let this one get away, even if it's hand wash only.  

When I was looking through the sweaters this is what I saw first--this distinctive plaid pattern that is Burberry's signature.  I love that the sweater is not necessarily in your face about being designer, but if you recognize that plaid, you'll know it's Burberry.  I did a lot of research into how much this sweater cost originally and couldn't find any definite answers.  I found it as low as $200 (not super likely for merino wool made in Italy) and as high as $490 (more likely since a plain black merino wool sweater is $460. Any sort of decoration or designs in a sweater's knit will only increase the price.)

Burberry Snap Sweater with Nova Check:  Originally $490?  Paid $20

This is the part where I  usually ask about thrifting finds, but nobody's thrifting these days.  So what do you miss most while in quarantine and having everything shut down?  Leave a comment below to start the conversation!

Thrifty Thursday for April

I'll  start this entry with a disclaimer of sorts.  It's been well over a month since I've been thrift shopping.  Typically I build up a bunch of finds and post them progressively and try to keep them somewhat seasonal (I'd like to avoid posting sweaters in the summer if I  can help it.)  But with coronavirus, anything goes.  I've got a few pieces I've been keeping as a close held secret, but with thrift shopping out of the question for the foreseeable future, I'll also be posting some of my hidden gems.  

You know that episode of Simpsons where Marge find a Chanel suit while thrift shopping?  This is my Chanel suit.  Except it's a Versace skirt, and it fits like a dream.  I couldn't believe it when I saw it, and was even more surprised when I looked at the tag, learned that it had verification directions on it and found it was all legit.  I wasn't able to find out what the original price was (I found a similar skirt that was originally $525), but I did find out it's only four years old!

Versace Pencil Skirt:  Originally $?, paid $13

One perk to coronavirus?  You can experiment with pieces of clothing just out of your comfort zone in the comfort of your own home!  

I  felt these were a little out of my comfort zone because they're not my usual size (I'm in between sizes at Athleta) and there's perforations all over the legs and at the waist (but with fabric behind it there.)  I actually wore them this week and they were pretty comfortable! 

Athleta Stealth Trucool Capri:  Originally $98, paid $6

Lululemon makes some workout pants in amazing colors.  But sweat will definitely show through some colors, so I'm more than happy to wear these for workouts at home!  

Lululemon Align Crop:  Originally $88, paid $4

Some fun loungewear is a must while in quarantine, so why not a sweatshirt dress?  The material is super soft and the snaps are just far enough apart at the shoulder that I could unsnap them there and it'll look like it's meant to be like that!

Athleta Snappy Sweatshirt Dress:  Originally $108, paid $7

The weather is still transitioning to warmer days, so some light jackets (even when hunkered down at home) are a must!  

Lululemon Define Jacket in Boom Juice:  Originally $118, paid $18

Usually this is when I ask if anyone has found anything while thrifting or an exciting race coming up.  Since nobody's doing much of either these days, what are you doing to pass the time?  Have you taken up a new hobby?  Start the conversation in the comments below!

Thrifty Thursday for March

So, going into this week's post I  just want to reiterate that I  don't find every month's finds in one trip.  A lot of it is just pure, dumb luck, then I take pictures and put them into seasonally appropriate posts for the month.  Okay, for the most part.  Definitely not going to be posting sweaters in July.  Usually. Anyways here are the finds for the month!

This was a moment of "Oh this is SO pretty and it looks cute on."  Got home.  It's dry clean only.  Generally I make an effort to buy clothing that I can wash at home.  This one slipped through and has been sitting in my "to be dry cleaned" pile for a minute.  But still so pretty!  It'll be good for a date night out as we head into the weird transitional weather.

Lilly Pulitzer Elsa Top:  Originally $158, paid $10

Lately I've been really into leopard prints.  That's what caught my eye first.  When I saw it was also Tory Burch and in my size I grabbed it, hid it in the clothes already on my arm and didn't let go!  The sweater's in awesome condition (can be hard to find in wool, especially if there are buttons involved), and the wool is SO lightweight it'll also make for a good transition piece.  

Tory Burch Wool Cardigan:  Originally $228, paid $20

This season I've been very into cowl necks.  I have a short haircut and having the extra fabric to cover my neck helps keep me warm.  The fabric is really soft and it even has pockets and thumbholes!

Athleta Studio Cowl:  Originally $89, paid $8

We've been lucky to have a mild winter, so this jacket has been great!  It's just heavy enough on days that I can't justify wearing a down jacket but still need some warmth.

Mountain Hardwear Pyxis Jacket:  Originally $110, paid $7

Herringbone has been big in the last few months, but apparently Athleta was slightly ahead of the trend!  The fabric is pretty thick and it's more of a straight leg than tapered, so I think these will be for wearing around the house or even errands.

Athleta Herringbone Mercer Tights:  Originally $89, paid $6

I have a cousin who was on her equestrian team in college and still tries to ride whenever she can.  Let's be honest though:  It's not a cheap hobby so whenever I find tights for riding in her size, I grab them immediately.  These ones are even fleece lined so that made me very excited to find these!  (Fleece lined athletic leggings are SO hard to find.)

Kerrits Flow Rise Performance Tights:  Originally $70, paid $4

So those are my finds for the month!  Did you have any good finds this month?  Any good races coming up?  I'm in the home stretch of training for the Shamrock Dolphin challenge!  (It's an 8k on Saturday, half marathon on Sunday.)  Start the conversation and leave a comment below!

Thrifty Thursday for February!

Wow.  That was the longest January ever, and now it feels like February is going by SO FAST!  Winter finally arrived so I've been keeping an eye out for all the warm, cozy pieces of clothing to stay warm. 

I love a big sweatshirt that I can just wrap myself in while reading the newspaper or watching a movie.  This one is the perfect weight with a ton of fabric to wrap up!

Under Armour Studio Wrap:  Originally $100, paid $7

Athleta casual wear is amazing.  Sure these pants are missing the drawstring, but they always stick out funny underneath t-shirts.  (Also, super easy to replace with a visit to the sewing notions section of any craft store.) However with the drawstring missing I have the option of lowering the rise by flipping over the waistband.  And check out this hidden feature...

What's this?

It's a reflective cuff!!  I might not every use it, but it's definitely an interesting feature meant for bike commuters.

Athleta Midtown Ankle Pant:  Originally $79, paid $4

It might be a minute before I wear this one.  The fabric is super lightweight, but super comfy!  I came across this mostly by luck.  I was going through the rack and saw the super faint patagonia logo and took a closer look and found it was in my size and cute so why not?

Patagonia Glorya Wrap:  Originally $79, paid $5

Here's another big sweater to wrap myself in, but this one is a lightweight wool knit.  

Icebreaker Bliss Wrap:  Originally $150, paid $6

I've never had wool tights for running because they're a little pricey. I  thought these would be worth a try at a low price point and still in great shape!  (Even if I don't wear them for running, they would be cute under a dress or great for layering under jeans.)   

Smartwool 250 Baselayer Tights:  Originally $100, paid $4

I  don't wear corduroy often, but when I do I go for a quality brand like Prana!  I have a few pairs of pants from them at this point, and the sizing is pretty consistent and for someone who's 5'3'' the short inseam is perfect for me!

Prana Autumn Stretch Pants:  Originally $89, paid $4

Any good thrifting finds this month?  Any good races coming up?  I've got my first race coming up on March 1st!  It's the Bigfood Endurance 10 Mile Trail Race.  It'll be my longest trail race ever, and I'm super excited.

2019 Women's Distance Festival 5k by Howard County Striders

First off, it feels like this recap will be SO fast because in comparison I ran so many longer distance races in 2019.  (This was my second and final 5k of 2019, even for a race in early June.)  My focus wasn't really on the 5k, it was on PR'ing the half marathon.  After the National Women's Half Marathon, I was feeling defeated.  I wanted an easy, no stress race to remind me why I love a road race again.  I had noticed some friends talking about this race in a Facebook group, and I knew the race was later than I like to run competitively but I started researching.  Howard County Striders had a course map up so after taking a look, I decided to sign up and go try the course.

I  did my trial run a couple days before the race after going to OrangeTheory.  I  took it easy, and just wanted to know what to expect when running the race.  I  started a little ways from the official start, but since it is on a loop I  still had a good idea of what to expect.  It seemed like a "normal" course for Columbia, so not super hilly but there were a couple of unsuspecting ones along the way.  (They show as merely a blip on an elevation chart.  In person?  They felt like big blips.)  But after running it, I felt confident that I knew what to expect.

Packet pickup was super easy, and the shirt was kind of cute too!

On race day, weather-wise we got somewhat lucky because it was overcast and in the low 70s, but that also meant there was a lot of humidity.  The 10 minute drive to the start made me remember why I like racing close to home.  (And not having to worry about parking either was amazing!)  And added bonus?  REAL BATHROOMS!  Since the race started and ended at the community college, they opened a building so we could use the bathroom.

The race itself wasn't super crowded which was nice after running so many big races.  It was still definitely hot and between just one water stop and my usual pre-race Nuun it was not enough.  The hills definitely got to me even though a couple days earlier they hadn't felt that terrible.  (I still ran faster than during my trial run!)  The course goes through a neighborhood so it's not necessarily scenic, but to be honest I wasn't really looking at my surroundings much.  There wasn't much crowd support, but a few people in the neighborhood came out to cheer, and there was someone riding alongside the course on a bike encouraging runners.

When I crossed the finish line and felt defeated.  I crossed in 31:32.  My sub-30 was still elusive and I was so upset.  Whenever this happens, I always try to give myself some leniency--it was hot.  I had not been training for speed.  I hadn't really done much training to make it a goal race.  It wasn't the easiest course.  It wasn't my best time or my worst time, and later I found out it was only 11 seconds slower than the BAA 5k two months earlier in better conditions AND blind because I had forgotten to charge my Garmin.

As I took my cold towel, water and post race snacks (watermelon, cookies and chips), I tried SO hard to figure out what I could learn from this race.  I came to the conclusions that I should still be happy with the outcome since I was focusing on distance at a slower speed than a sub-30 5k, I still got out there and I finished.  I also need to find a more flat race for my sub-30 at a cooler time of year.

View this post on Instagram

Signed up for this morning’s 5k a couple weeks ago. The weather was great (for June) and the course wasn’t easy but not terribly difficult. sub-30 is still elusive, but after looking at the elevation chart it’s not terribly surprising. This morning is *definitely* my last race for a couple months while we get through the oppressive heat of the summer. The sub-30 will come. Just have to strategize courses and training a little more intensely. . . #runnersofinstagram #balegaimpi2019 #balegabestsocksever #impilove #impipride #balega #balegasocks #balegalove #lovemybalegas #hshive #rungoodr #goodrflamboyance #goodr #nuunlife #teamzensah #sweatpink #sweatpinkambassador #oisellevolée #oiselleteamdmv #flystyle

A post shared by Holly (@thethriftyrunner) on Jun 9, 2019 at 3:13pm PDT

Overall, I would recommend this race if you're local to Howard County.  It was worth the low registration fee and nice that it was so close but if I had to drive 30 minutes or more away I don't know if it would be worth it.  Definitely keep in mind it's at a weird time of year where the weather could do just about anything.  The race is small and inexpensive enough that it's pretty low stress.  Also with it being a local race, it's really nice to be able to actually run on the course to prepare.  The shirt was cute, but I still don't know if I'll wear it (I don't wear a lot of my race swag.)  I  do think it could be a good first race if you want one that will be low stress.  

Thrifty Thursday for January 2020! (And a Couple Donation Tips!)

Happy New Year!!!  Before we left 2019 behind, I was one of those people who ran to a thrift shop not to shop, but to donate.  It made me think of a couple donation tips that I find really helpful.

-Make a general list as you pack everything into boxes or bags.  I use the ItsDeductible app from TurboTax as a guide.  (Not an ad.)  Create an account, check out what they use as different item descriptions and valuations.  Then what I  do is create a list of how many of each thing as I put it in each bag and once I finally donate it I add the entire list to an ItsDeductible donation.  Then the app will show me how much the donation is worth and how much I can expect back on my taxes.  Once I've finished with the list, I staple it to the receipt (always get the receipt) so I can see exactly how much was donated in that trip.  Added bonus, if you use TurboTax to prepare your taxes it can automatically import into the program!

-Don't donate where you shop.  This will cut down on the chances that something will find its way back into your home.

-Donate clothing that is still in wearable condition.  If something has holes or any wear (even if it came that way) will get tossed by the sorters.  It's hard to tell what rips in jeans are there because of fashion trends and which are there because someone fell while wearing them.

-Also, donate/resell more than you buy and hold yourself to it!  I got a coupon for 20% off for donating and I wasn't even tempted by it.

That being said, onto my thrifting finds!

It feels like I'm always on the lookout for a decent running backpack.  I like to have one on hand to toss a few necessities into before an OrangeTheory class because I live close enough that a run there and back on a nice day isn't too far.  I also like to have one for Boston weekend because at the very least, there's a lot of walking that weekend.  I always have grand plans that I'll run from the cowbell corner back to the T since until last year we would be at the halfway point.  (Not always easy to get back from there on the commuter rail due to the Sox game!)  This one from High Sierra was highly rated except for the bladder.  I wasn't interested in that part, so I  was fine picking this one up!  It was a last minute decision and didn't give it a once over so once I got home I found a hole in one of the seams.  No big deal, it's an easy fix and should be barely noticeable once I sew it up.

High Sierra Visalia 9L Backpack:  Originally $50, paid $4

I'm a sucker for running capris that have pockets!  Even if the pockets aren't big enough for my phone, if it can hold chews or gels that's enough for me!

Lululemon Pace Rival Crop: Originally $88, paid $6

I heard about this brand through Oiselle since they gave away pins with orders a few years ago now.  They have some really cute enamel pins that fit a variety of tastes, but at $10 each are a little pricey.  I managed to visit this different thrift store on a sale day and saved even more!

These Are Things Pins:  Originally $10 each, paid $1.30

Organizational items are pricey and SO easy to find at thrift stores.  I'm always so surprised when I  find this at a thrift store.  They're my favorite spice organizer because it looks unassuming, but then you pull out the drawer and it tilts so you can see everything!

I picked up another one of these for our little vials of sprinkles and decorating sugars for baking.  It no longer matters how high up the spices or sprinkles are because I can still see everything!

Spice Stack:  Originally $40, paid $1.50

In the wintertime, bring on all the merino wool.  I will wear all of it. Kari Traa is a three time Olympic medal skier from Norway who started the brand in 2006 and the brand came to the US in 2015.  The company makes some amazing wool layers made for an active lifestyle.  I was so excited when I found this in the racks.  I  got really lucky that day because this top in great shape and amazing! Lightweight and so warm.  Perfect for the slopes, running or lounging!

Kari Traa Vrang Long Sleeve:  Originally $75, paid $5

Any great thrifting finds?  How about any races coming up?  (I know it's still early in the year but there are still a few out there!)  Start the conversation below!