Thrifty Thursday for February

Geez, February already?

Almost a month until my first race of the season!!  (Rock n Roll DC Half Marathon!)  Starting to get a little nervous about my training since I spent most of the week laid up with a really nasty cold.  (Thankfully I'll be back at it tomorrow!)  

Love this line of pants--comfy and so flattering for a pair of workout pants.  

I'm SO surprised that Athleta discontinued it.

Athleta Kickbooty Capris:  Originally $59.00, paid $4

This shirt is awesome.  I own it in several colors and sleeve lengths at this point.  It has little dots of silicone in the hem so the shirt doesn't creep up during a workout or a run!  (It was actually part of the inspiration for my post on how to add silicone to running shorts!)

 Athleta Fastest Track Tee:  Originally $54, paid $6

Under Armour makes some awesome base layers.  This one is no different and it even has a turtleneck that has an inset of different fabric that offers some breathability (and less of a chance of fogging up your glasses!)

Under Armour Fly By Turtleneck:  Originally $55, paid $10

Nike makes a pretty great running capri.  When I saw these I kind of balked at the shiny material by the knees, but it doesn't feel weird while you're wearing them.

Nike Dri-Fit Tech Tights Capris:  Originally $58, paid $8

Newtons are somewhat known for their prohibitive price tag, but the people out there who have them generally rave about them.  Sure, I'll pay $9 to see what all the fuss is about! 

Newton Gravity Running Sneakers:  Originally $175, paid $9

Nice and fleecy!  So nice to wear on a cold day.

Under Armour Extreme UA Quarter Zip Jacket:  Originally $49, paid $8

Love a good running pullover!  

Saucony Run Strong Half Zip Jacket:  Originally $80, paid $7.

 Case in point...I found this one too and grabbed it!  I tried it on and it fits like a dream and as an added bonus it's super comfy.  

Athleta Mendoza Half Zip:  Originally $74, paid $11.

I already have this hoodie in pink but in my usual size.  When I saw this one it wasn't my usual size, but I tried it on and it fit really well so I had to get it! 

Athleta Half Mile Hoodie:  Originally $89, paid $6!

Anybody have any good finds in the last month?  Or started training for your first race of the season?  (Or even run your first race of the season??)

Bravery After an Injury

Runners are a strange breed.  Participate in the sport long enough and you'll have your injury war stories.

For me, my first injury was IT Band Syndrome.  It.  Was.  Awful.  I could walk normally but if I ran the band of tissue running from the outside of my right knee to my right hip would seize up and I couldn't go any further.  It happened while I was training for my first half marathon 3 years ago, and it didn't go away until I started visiting a fantastic physical therapist.  She was fairly active too so she "got it" when I told her I had a couple more races that season I needed to run.  She helped me strategize how to run them so my injury didn't get worse.  (It was mostly doing some stretches before the race, running and walking during the race then foam rolling and icing my leg afterwards.)  After a couple of months of visiting twice a week it started to get better to the point where she cleared me to start running again.

Now my latest one is interesting.

Looks like I'm the latest casualty from boot camp, whomp, whomp. Fell yesterday and sprained my elbow. Just did my first post-injury run and it's feeling better already. I think my #zensahcompression arm sleeve along with the support wrap is helping! . . #zensah #withoutlimitz #xc #running #fitlife #teamzensah #athlete #4jn1 #brandambassador

A photo posted by The Thrifty Runner (@thethriftyrunner) on Oct 27, 2016 at 4:27pm PDT

Essentially I fell on my arm during boot camp while doing side shuffles during our cardio warmup just 5 minutes into the workout.  I'm still not totally sure what happened, but I think it might've happened as I was trying to reach down and touch the line.  (You shuffle 5 yards, touch the line, shuffle to the other side, touch the line.)  Right after it happened I stuck with the workout even though my arm was shrieking at me to go home.  I really sweated through the rest of the workout not because of what I was doing, but because I was in so much pain.  (And I also debated calling my doctor for an appointment or going to urgent care.)   After class was over I got a wrap for it, iced it and took it easy for the rest of the day while I did research on what was wrong.  The diagnosis?  Sprained elbow.  It definitely made life interesting having only one arm--not being able to wash my hair on both sides of my head was definitely no fun.  A couple of days later it was feeling better and the left side of my head was looking less like a hot mess since I could use both hands to wash my hair.

But about that first run back after the injury.  The day after I was dragging my feet.  I was so nervous about how it would effect my running.  When I told my husband I was going to change to go for a run on the treadmill, he decided it was a good time to lube up the tread.  (Anybody who owns a treadmill knows this is not a quick and easy task.)  Then our treadmill started stopping while I was running.  Twice.  It turns out the area with the motor was full of cat hair.  (The joys of cat and treadmill ownership!)  I quickly vacuumed everything out and I was back at it.  My elbow hurt a little bit, and I was extra careful to not whack it on the console.  (It happens more often than I'd like to admit.)  I managed to get a couple miles in and I felt my confidence start to return.

Despite being able to run, I still took the rest of the week off from boot camp classes.  The next two weeks I wore my wrap while working out.  I put everything I had into those exercises that didn't use my arm.  It was still frustrating and I kept wondering if I would be able to hold my arm straight ever again.

What I learned from this injury in order to come back from it, you have to get out of your comfort zone but within reason.  I was SO scared to start doing just a pushup or even just using the pump on the bottle of sugar free Torani syrup for my morning coffee.  You have to get brave, and get just a little out of your comfort zone.  So I took baby steps to get better.  I started pumping Torani syrup into my coffee using my left arm.  Then pushups while leaning on my knees instead of my feet.  Now I'm almost back to where I was pre-injury.  I still get a little twinge every once in awhile, but I'm so happy that despite all the frustrations of the setback.

Thrifty Thursday for January

Can you believe it?  January already!  A whole new year!!  (And in particular, I'm another year older!  Yikes!)

 I love working animal print into my wardrobe whenever possible.  

Ann Taylor Loft Jacquard Leopard Print Sweater:  Originally $59, paid $7.

One of my bucket list races is the the B.A.A. 5k and I would love to volunteer for the Marathon someday, so I had to get this shirt!  Nike Dri Fit Training Shirt:  Originally $45, paid $3

I've found this top in several prints now, which is nice because I really like it!  

Athleta Pavitra Top:  Originally $59, paid $3.

Love a brightly colors top for running on the trails!  (This one is basically highlighter yellow.)  One of the nice features is that the neckline is a little higher and has a toggle so you can cover your mouth, nose and neck!  Nike DriFit Relay Midweight Shirt in Volt:  Originally $60, paid $8.

I went to London earlier this year and afterwards I really wanted a pair of Hunter boots.  They're classic and lovely.  But, naturally they were out of my price range.  So when I came across these and from what I could tell they were legit, fit and in great shape, I held onto them and didn't let go!  And I was so excited to wear them out to a Christmas tree farm to pick out our tree.  (And of course take pictures of what they look like while wearing them while waiting for the ATV to come get the Christmas tree we cut down.)

Hunter Huntress Boots:  Originally $150, paid $7.

I started training for the DC Rock n Roll Half this week! Anybody else start training for spring races?  I registered for the Rock n Roll almost a year ago now and I can't believe it's almost here!!  Any good thrifting finds?

2016 Jingle All the Way 15k Race Review (or Why I Need an Actual Pre-Race Checklist on Paper...)

This was my 5th year participating in the Jingle All the Way race.  The first two years I ran it, it was an 8k, the next two years a 5k and this year they added a new distance:  A 15k!  I basically knew right away I had to do it since I've done all the different distances so far.  Take note:  Fifth year.  For five years I've been packing up everything for my race and afterwards in an overnight bag to stay the night at my parents in Virginia, then take the Metro into DC with my Dad and run the race with him.  Third time I've done it this year alone.  You'd think I'd have my packing down to a science at this point.  Nope.

I started out a couple days before putting out what I thought I would wear--a white loose turtleneck with little snowflakes, a red sweatshirt with a glitter, snowflakes and a pixelated snowman, running tights and a couple options for Christmasy leggings over them.  I also grabbed my Christmasy Bondi Band and a pair of socks.  Then the day we left I grabbed a post-race outfit, some pajamas, bathroom necessities and some of my usual race items.  (My Garmin, Spibelt, earphones and Road ID.)  I was so glad to be ready and confident that I had everything I needed, including the most important part (the packet) since my Dad picked it up at the Pacers store in Alexandria.

Love the logo for this year's shirt, but not the color.  (I HATE white running shirts since they're completely see through so you need to wear a shirt underneath.)

Then it all started going downhill once we were actually at my parents.  I realized I totally forgot my usual breakfast of a picky bar or luna bar.  I forgot chews (not necessary, but nice to have on hand.)  Thankfully since I've given my Dad packs of various chews that was an easy fix, and since he eats Clif bars all the time I grabbed one of his and threw it with my running gear.  Crisis number 1 averted!

After that my family went out to dinner for a belated birthday dinner for my Dad along with some carb loading for the next morning.  (I had a big bowl of bucatini with pancetta and chicken and for dessert some nutella pizza!)  Sufficiently stuffed I put out my clothing and gear for the morning and slept fairly well that night.

The next morning after my usual morning routine I started to put my tights on then I started to look for my sports bra.  I flipped through all my clothes, shook them out to be sure I didn't stuff it in anything and checked my bag and it hit me:  I forgot to pack a sports bra.  At first I thought that I would just run in the support tank that I slept in.  With a couple layers over it, it would be no big deal.  Then it hit me:  Both of my parents have had knee surgeries.  Therefore they probably have ace bandages.  I checked their supply and hit the jackpot!  They had one that was 6 inches wide that I went ahead and grabbed.  I then wrapped it around my chest until everything felt secure and put the tank top on over the top.  It didn't feel like enough so I took a 4 inch one and wrapped it as much as I could around the support portion on the tank top.  I flipped the rest of the top down and ran a couple strides in place and it felt good!  I continued getting ready to go (realized I had also forgotten my heart rate strap) and soon my Dad and I were out the door and on the first Metro train out of the station for the day.  Throughout the train ride I questioned my sanity to be running a 15k wearing an ace bandage and nerves were definitely settling in.

Once we arrived everything was setup very similar to the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler.  The start and finish were right by the Washington Monument and all the tents and portajohns were set in the same open area next to the monument (although on a much smaller scale.)  We ended up getting our space blankets pre-race because we were so cold waiting for the race to start.  The organizers ended up actually pushing back the start time for both races by 10 minutes because the lines for packet pickup were so long.  They even left the starting line open a little extra longer to allow everybody in the 5k a chance to get started.  But that gave me a little extra time to get some pre-race pictures!

I couldn't believe it!  Blooms on the cherry blossom trees!

And of course an obligatory picture of the Washington Monument.  

Soon we were lined up for our race and we got to watch the elites finish the 5k and we got a quick peek at the medals!!

After my Dad and I settled into our corral we saw some of the elite athletes finish and they seemed to be running both races!  We saw a couple of them switch their bibs out from the 5k to the 15k while we were standing around.  Just before the second race started they worked their way to the front pretty easily since the starting and finishing areas were side by side and just separated by a partition held up by traffic cones.  Watching them helped me forget about being nervous for the race.  (My mini crises definitely did not help my usual pre-race anxiety.)  As we walked towards the starting line I folded up my space blanket and shoved it underneath the strap of my spibelt.

The race itself was great.  The course was VERY similar to the Cherry Blossom 10 miler, minus crossing the Arlington Memorial Bridge.  It was also a lot less crowded sooner in the race which was REALLY nice.  This race had 3 water stops (it would have been nice to have had one more) and one official bathroom stop (there were a couple of places along Hains Point that were available.)  I thought it was really fun to get to run the course again with all the leaves off the trees since in my mind it made Hains Point a LOT more interesting!  (For example, I had no idea you could see Old Town Alexandria and the Wilson Bridge from there!)

Part of the course went around the Tidal Basin so we got great looks at the Jefferson Memorial.

Towards the end as I was about to hit the 9 mile mark, I started to see a familiar figure in a white cap and red jacket about to cross under a small bridge (there was one point where you had to out and back, then over a bridge so you don't cross paths with other runners.)  Once I confirmed it was my Dad, I ran to the opposite side of the bridge and onto the sidewalk out of everybody's way and started looking for my Dad.  Once I saw him I started jumping up and down and yelling "YAY DAD!  YOU'RE DOING GREAT!!!"  At this point he had about two miles to go, so I kept going that last little bit and the slight downhill towards the finish was lovely.  After getting my super cute medal and water, I went over to the food tent and I was absolutely shocked by what I saw--people were walking away with entire boxes of Curate bars and trays of big blueberry muffins.  I acted quickly and grabbed a mostly empty box of Curate bars, a couple of bananas and a couple of muffins and situated them in the box and headed back to the finishing area to eat my snacks and watch for my Dad.  Once I had finished my muffin while stretching I saw him cross the finish line and get his medal I brought him water and offered him the extra snacks.  (By that time everything was gone!  He had finished a little later than a lot of people, but it's kind of irritating that they weren't going to have anything for anybody who finished with more than 15 minutes left on the clock.)

Anyways, as my Dad and I were leaving he suggested we walk over to the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station to avoid having to change trains.  Since the sun was starting to peek through (and I was still feeling good) I agreed.  But before leaving the area we walked over to a small hill and took a few last pictures of the Washington Monument and the new Museum of African American History.

And of course one last selfie with my medal in front of the Washington Monument.

The old course would go right in front of the Capitol building so you could get a great look at the Christmas tree in front.  This is the closest we got to it this time around.  (We were definitely starting to feel cold so I was ready for the warmth of the train.)

Overall I really enjoyed the race.  It was very competitive but not crowded and a lot of fun to run a familiar course during a different time of year.  However, I would recommend taking on the 5k if you run slower than a 13:00 pace if post-race snacks are important to you.  (Or do like my Dad and I did and have the faster person grab snacks for the group after the race.)  

And don't worry.  I've written that pre-race packing list.  

Have you run your last race for the year?  I'm already starting to look forward to next spring!  My first race will be the Rock n Roll Half Marathon in DC.  

Thrifty Thursday for December

Better late than never, right?  'Tis the season to have to get everything done and no time to do it!  So without further ado (or interruptions) here is my Thrifty Thursday post for December!

Love a good hoodie!  This one is mostly cotton so I don't know how much I'll actually run in it, but I love that it has the extra fabric to flip over your fingers!  

Nike Soft Hand Running Hoodie:  Originally $60, paid $5

Smartwool is an amazing brand--their socks are so warm and cozy when it's cold outside.  I got really excited when I saw this because I'm the type of person who will be cold until April.  (So the more warm clothing, the better!)

Smartwool Dazzle Dot Hoodie:  Originally $120, paid $6.

If you couldn't tell by my Instagram posts, I'm totally a Brooks girl.  These weren't in my usual running size, but they'll be great for casual wear!

Brooks Ghost 7 in Vivid Purple:  Originally $120, paid $9.

I'm starting to see why some people really like Fabletics!  Both pairs of pants I've gotten by them have been awesome--so comfy and with pockets.

Fabletics Valerie Jogger (New with tags!):  Originally $65, paid $11.

Athleta is definitely one of my go-to brands.  When I came across these purple and black capris I had to get them since they'll match everything!
Athleta Dy-No-Mite Kickbooty Capris:  Originally $64, paid $9

I'm a sucker for cheap Lulu.  What can I say?  Probably won't wear these out of the house for a run since I sweat.  A lot.  Especially when I run.  Still super cute and very comfy!
 Lululemon All the Right Places Crop:  Originally $118, paid $4

This is definitely a Lulu staple and I understand why.  These are a very deep pink and I love them!  (But again, I'm a sweater.  These have definitely been good for my boot camp classes though and would be good for yoga as well!)
Lululemon Wunder Under Crop in Bumble Berry:  Originally $88, paid $5

I know race season is starting to wind down, but anybody have any more races coming up?  Anybody else have good thrifting finds??

Quantico Turkey Trot 10k Race Review

My first race was the Drumstick Dash in Roanoke, VA four years ago.  Since my husband encouraged all of us to run that race together, running a Thanksgiving race has become a family tradition.  This year however since I started working for a local racing events company for race day support, I ended up being on the operations side of the race rather than running it.  That also meant that a Thanksgiving day race would be out of the question, so I suggested to my Dad that he and I go down to Quantico Marine Base and try out their Turkey Trot since it was the weekend before the holiday.

The day before the race my Dad picked up our packets--the usual bib and race shirt along with a few snacks and samples that we've kind of come to expect with any of the Marine Corps' races.  (This time it was more Curate bars and some Tom's of Maine toothpaste!)

Definitely an interesting race shirt! 

(Unlike the MCM10k and marathon, this was just a long sleeved tech shirt.)

For once, I-95 traffic was a dream.  It took my Dad and I only 30 minutes to do a 40 minute drive (also because we took the HOT lanes so the speed limit was slightly increased.)  

Parking was a short walk from the starting area (maybe about 5-10 minutes) and we got there just as the lines for the portajohns were starting to grow.  By the time we got out, they had started the opening ceremony for the kids one mile race.  (It started half an hour before the 10k.)  We then walked over and looked at the various vendors.  They also had a petting zoo with a pony, llama, goat, sheep, duck, a couple chickens and turkeys!  (Seriously!!  How often do you see a live turkey at a turkey trot??)

After that we started watching the kids finish, and I randomly met one of my Oiselle Volee teammates!  (I haven't gotten out with that running group very much, but every time I've worn my Oiselle singlets I run into somebody and have an instant friend.  So cool!!)  

Excited for the start!

The race course was definitely challenging, but doable.  Very hilly similar to this year's MCM10k, but like I said:  Doable.  The first couple of miles were on the road but then miles 2-3 were on trail.  It was fairly narrow at that point so I avoided walking as much as I could.  But I literally felt like I was flying, especially once I started going down the hills.  It reminded me how much I really love trail running.  The rest of the race was through the streets of Quantico Marine Base, which was really interesting to get to see.  (I grew up near Fort Belvoir and since my Father-In-Law is now retired Air Force, I've seen a fair share of military bases as a civilian.)  ...Okay, and because I'm a total nerd and watch the show Quantico.  

This race was kind of a 180 in terms of crowds and course compared to the Richmond Half Marathon I had run the previous weekend.  There were 2 water stops, but not many crowds of people cheering along the course.  (There were some Marines who volunteered as course marshalls cheering on runners.)  Despite that, it was still a fun race.

 The starting line was the same as the Marine Corps Marathon--I love seeing it!  At this point I can only assume that this is the default arch that they use at all of their races.

The timing for the race was just perfect since the wind had not picked up yet and it was chilly but the sun helped keep us runners warm before the race.  (Later that day the high winds triggered a wind advisory for the area.)  It was great getting to see the vivid colors of the trees before the winds destroyed them.

At the end of the race, all the runners received bottled water, gatorade, cheese, a Wegmans fruit twist, a box of snacks (the same from the MCM10k with a curate bar, cup of fruit, breadsticks and cheese dip, and fig bar), and a cup of apple cider.  (No medal for this one.)  After getting some more free lip balm from the Brooks Running booth (I always grab a tube whenever I see them!) my Dad and I headed home.  

Richmond Half Marathon Race Recap!

The weekend of the Richmond Half Marathon is totally a blur.

My husband and I left Friday around 2pm, got to Richmond around 5:00.  (It should have taken us a little more than 2 hours.)  I think a lot of the backup was due to it being Veteran's Day weekend along with the usual Friday afternoon traffic.  (And because it's I-95.  I hate 95 almost as much as I hate I-81.)

While we were stuck in traffic I started texting with my Dad as he headed to the expo with my Mom so he could get my race bib and shirt.  It made sitting in traffic even worse knowing that I was missing one of my favorite parts for a race, especially since I knew it was a big one and there were vendors I really wanted to visit.  (Like Ragnar and of course Bondi Band.)

Anyways, once we arrived to the Crowne Plaza hotel my Dad brought us my packet and hotel room keys.

We then spent some time relaxing and hydrating until dinner at Belle & James.  (It was pretty good--I had the duck confit crepes and a Moscow Mule.)  After dinner I made final cuts to the various outfit options and laid out what I would wear and bring with me the next morning.

I ended up wearing a Oiselle Runwear Pullover, Oiselle Flyte Long Sleeve Shirt, a Buff folded up so I could wear it like a hat, my usual Brooks Adrenaline GTS 15's (discontinued, but the 16's are on sale!), Athleta Be Free Tights and my Spibelt.   I also stashed my usual Honey Stinger chews in Limeade (with caffeine!) and a Picky Bar (for my pre-race breakfast) in one of the pockets of my tights for easy access.

That night I slept rather fitfully, which is fairly normal in a hotel.  (I hate them.  The Crowne Plaza was lovely, but just getting used to new noises, sheets, etc. makes it so hard for me to sleep!)

The next morning I got ready quickly and took a picture of the finisher's area while waiting for the elevator in the hotel.  Seeing it for some reason gave me a little boost of confidence that the race would be fine despite a lack of confidence in my training.

After a short walk from the hotel (and losing yet another silicone earpiece to my Yurbuds) we were at the starting area just in time to arrive for the National Anthem and for the first wave to start.  My Dad and I were in one of the waves in the middle and managed to get in just in time.

Trash bags:  Totally underrated pre-race couture.  I ended up tossing it as we were walking to the actual starting line.  By that point it had served its purpose--it kept me nice and warm during the walk and short wait for the race to start.  (The race was supposed to be around freezing at start time and I was completely paranoid about being cold throughout the whole race because I get cold so easily.)

I usually like to use the bathroom at least twice before starting a race.  I went before we left the hotel (30 minutes before gun time) and then once we came upon the portajohns on the walk over the lines were crazy.  I chalked it up to pre-race jitters, brushed it off and decided to wait.  Until that first mile, when I saw a huge line of them without a line I went for it.  I know it sounds weird, but it was actually kind of awesome to see how runners were running along the line until they came upon one that was just opening up and jumping into the stall.  It was awesome to see something like that going so smoothly, and without any line to speak of!  So I took advantage of the situation and followed everyone else's lead--I ran down the line and when somebody came out, I hopped in.  No wait!

The rest of the race is kind of a blur to be quite honest.  A lot of it was through neighborhoods and downtown Richmond (which reminded me a LOT of the Hampden neighborhood in Baltimore), and through Bryant Park.  It was still beautiful and a lot of fun running through the neighborhoods.  The crowds were VERY similar to those at the Baltimore Running Festival, although a lot fewer people were offering booze.  (I only really remember one person offering shots of Jim Beam along the course.  There was somebody else offering up Coca Cola, but I didn't take them up on that either.)  The course in general was fantastic--some hills but nothing terrible, and the last mile of it is pretty flat and then becomes a lovely downhill slope that you can just fly down.

The view from the hotel of part of the hill headed towards the finish!

At the end I looked down at my watch and thought I didn't PR so I started thinking back to what could've done it (was it my bathroom stop?  Maybe from trying to avoid a collision with a girl who just stopped in front of me?)  Either way I went through the lines and got my medal, fleece blanket, and finisher's hat then crossed the bridge and took a selfie with my new bling.

I was totally impressed with the post race snacks which included bagels, granola bars, bananas, and best of all:  PIZZA!!!  I was so thankful for all of it since I was SO hungry by that point.

After meeting up with my Mom, husband and waiting on my Dad to finish, we all headed back to the hotel for showers and to pack up everything for the 12:00 checkout time.  (My parents were staying an extra day, but my husband and I really wanted to get back home.)  We took our bags to my parents room and headed to Perly's deli for lunch.  It.  Was.  Awesome.  (And not just because I was still ravenous despite the pizza and bagel.)  The restaurant was right along the race route so we had fun watching the marathoners run past and the training coaches running back and forth encouraging them the whole way.  (The coaches wore some pretty awesome costumes! And flamingo headbands!)  I had a huge turkey sandwich with beef bacon on challah bread and a size of house made everything potato chips.  (Think the spices used on everything bagels but on chips.)

After lunch I was totally ready for a nap so we walked back to the hotel, grabbed our bags and headed home.

The blanket, hat and medal given to finishers!

Once my husband and I got home and I took a nap to help clear my head, I sat down and looked at my list of PRs.  Before this race my half marathon PR was at the Frederick Running Festival with a time of 2:26:17.  My official time for this one?  2:25:41!!!  I had PR'd my half marathon time by a full 36 seconds!!!  Seriously some of the best news I have had for awhile now.

Overall I would highly recommend this race and would run it again in a heartbeat.  The course was great, the on-course support was perfect (lots of water stops with portajohns, one stop that offered gels and another that had junk food), and the crowds cheering were awesome.  (There's a reason why it's called America's Friendliest Marathon!)  I really had no gripes about this race other than the traffic coming in the day before, but that just comes with the territory since it was a perfect storm of a 3 day weekend and a major race.  That being said, leave yourself plenty of time to get there for the expo.