Second and Third Run Planned!!!

One may consider this a delayed posting since Michele and I will be leaving for state number 2 in only three days...guess that life got a bit busy in there for a little while such that neither of us had time to blog!!!

We actually planned state number 2 (Wisconsin) before the birth of my little one, which birth occurred on May 20, 2011 at 1:21 p.m. and resulted in little Charlotte Jodene Faith Clabaugh joining us:) Michele and I planned to run Appleton, WI MARATHON (yes, full marathon) on September 18, 2011, giving me a full 4 months to train - which would ordinarily be sufficient. As Michele was directing the Sioux City Marathon in October, we thought it would be best if she had run a marathon before the one she was directing took place.

Charli Jo (as we often refer to her), however, decided to put some changes in our plans...after 17 hours of labor it was determined her entry to this world would be via C-section - resulting in a longer delay to my return to running than Michele and I were expecting. So, at first I was just going to change to the half and Michele was going to run the full in Appleton. Then Mother Nature decided to stick her nose in things and flooded essentially the entire Sioux City Marathon route...resulting in that race cancelling. So, Michele and I decided to both run the half in Appleton and we would run a full together in October (CT race)...giving me more training time to get back on track.

The more training time still required me to ramp up miles pretty quickly, and as a result I am currently nursing "thickening of the tibial periosteum" a/k/a pretty decent shin splints in the left shin which is also causing pain in the right hip as it overcompensates for the shin injury. Michele's training has been going fabulously - this past weekend she ran 20 miles and looked great the whole way and on target for an awesome first marathon finish time. Because of my injury, I have had to cut back on miles and change October's CT race to a half...Michele is going to still run the full.

All that being said, we will be leaving on Friday morning to race in WI on Sunday and return on Tuesday. Charli Jo will be staying home with her father and her sister - and her grandmother is coming to help out too - meaning Charli is going to want me running off for races all the time so she gets time with her grandmother:)

This WI race course is pretty flat and appears to be well staffed with support stations...approximately 8,500 racers in multiple races. My projection of the race...Michele finishes at 1:51 (she may actually break the 1:50) and I finish at 1:57 (although I think my projection for myself my be a bit of wishful thinking). Weather is supposed to be nice and cool:)

October's CT race is in Hartford on the 15th...we leave on Oct. 13 and return on Oct. 18. More on that later.

Phoenix from my perspective!

So, Missy got all of the details of our trip down to a tee, so I won't bore you with them further. I was nervous for this half. I hadn't done one in almost a year, and was injured the last time too. Plus I seem to put extra pressure on myself to try and get a great time. So, needless to say, I was nervous at the start. I wore just a tank and shorts with my windbreaker, given the weather was 50 and calm. I went back and forth with whether to wear a visor for the run. I hate running in hats, but it looked like there could be rain. Decided against it, and banked on the fact we were in the DESERT.

I ended up being totally wrong on both decisions. It rained almost the whole darn race. With a downpour for about two miles between 3-5. I couldn't see anything for awhile and wondered if I was going to lose a contact. So much for the "no hat" decision.

The gear I picked was fine for the race...I was wet, but warm. Until I finished. Then my extra body temperature from running left, and I was wet and freezing. I knew I had some time, since Missy was paced to run at 3 hours, so I ran in and got a cup of coffee. Helped for awhile. But I had nothing extra to change into, albeit I absolutely had the opportunity to bring additional warm clothes. Didn't even think about it. (As you will see in this excursion, I am seldom thinking about the right thing to do!).

I walked out on the race route to see if I could find Missy to cheer her in. I waited over a half hour (still freezing), and once the 3 hour mark passed, I was worried that she may have finished and I didn't see her. So I ran back to the finish line, just in time to see her finish. Darn it! Anyone who knows me knows patience is NOT a virtue I possess, and it came back to bite me this race. But she was happy to be done and not so worried about me missing the cheer into the finish.

Anyway, I did get a PR for this race: 1:53. I would love to get down to 1:45. Lots of practice will be in the future for that to happen. I am planning on running the Lincoln half on my own on May 1 (Missy will be 2 weeks from delivering at that point). That will be good practice for me.

This journey will be great. I am used to running a lot of races by myself. I have had support from my family and friends, but I have also done the vast majority of my races solo. Missy, on the other hand, always has an entourage of people with her on her races. It will be interesting meshing our two styles. At least I know that once Missy has the baby, she will be a training maniac, and I won't have to worry about chasing her down at the finish line, because she's going to finish before me every race from this point forward, I'm sure. So that will be one less thing to worry about.

Arizona completed...One Down - 49 to go!

Four days in sunny Arizona...being it's February and we live in the upper mid-west, you would think this would be GREAT, especially since everyone down there made sure to tell us it only rains about 7 days a year - two of which we were there for and one of which was race day!!! However, we are now back and the weather is definitely better down there...there is ice covering everything around my house and it was in the 50's when we left AZ at 10 am.

We got in somewhat late on Friday night and had to find our way to the hotel. Our rental car was a pimped out Ford Focus - awesome rims and lighted cup holders, I kid you not, with multiple choices of the color of the light. We ate at the Macaroni Grill next to the hotel and crawled into bed.

Saturday started with a typical AZ sand storm that blew all the tumble weed away...and then it started to rain. We spent Saturday getting our bearings and went to the expo, which was pretty nice for a somewhat smaller race. We spent most of the rest of the day trying to trace the race route with a less than detailed race map...Michele is pretty talented at figuring out scale and direction on a race route map. We also did a bit of shopping. You would be amazed at how the locals respond to rain and what they believe is a "down pour"...which would be a sprinkle here. After locating the race route, we found out that 4 miles in the middle of the race was truly barren land...I literally mean nothing to look at whatsoever - maybe could have looked at tumble weed if it wasn't all blown away in the sand storm but that was gone already!!! Better to know ahead of time so you can prepare. The rest of the route was actually pretty cool with palm trees and residential beautiful houses to look at. Finish line was next to the University of Pheonix Stadium in a quaint little shopping plaza area called West Gate. Actually as we were tracing the route I turned down the wrong side of this street heading against traffic (although there was no traffic there) and had to whip the car around quickly...Michele and I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants! Had supper at McGrath's fish place next to the hotel and crashed early.

Up bright and early Sunday to catch the shuttle to the start line...sprinkling at the start but temps were quite good for us. Michele took off after about 1/4 mile or so and left me to my waddle/jog. The route was awesomely staffed and lots of people cheering...aid stations at mile 2, 4, 6 and 8 and then every mile after that and each one had porta pots which was desperately needed by me every single time. Baby Clabaugh had a way of hitting that bladder pretty hard the entire race. The barren portion of the race did not seem as long as I thought it would because there were so many people to watch and I kept keeping an eye open for the next porta pot:) I stayed on track to finish in 3 hours until mile 8...at which time the waddle jog became more of a waddle. On and off rain for most of the race with a complete down pour at mile 9 - at which point I looked at my watch at realized Michele was already done with the race!!! The last 4 miles actually seemed to go by really fast. Believe it or not, this is the first finish line to ever get my last name pronounced correctly...and they got Michele's right as well!!! Lots of support, food and water at the finish. Michele got a PR and I came in 5 minutes over my goal (although I am pretty sure those five minutes were taken up with bathroom breaks). Actually, I would have just been happy finishing so I was ecstatic to come so close to my original goal.

Only complaint is that because we were rained on, once we stopped running we got very, very cold...to the bone cold. The shuttle bus was very nice in getting the heat jacked up and warming us up. We met up with John (from our Ragnar race last year) to eat dinner at TGI Fridays...John had to drive through a snow storm to get to us!!! Then Michele and I pooped out...I could bearly move as my calves were totally locking up and the lower back was quite sore. We ended up ordering pizza delivery to the hotel for supper!

Monday was fabulous spa day...massage, facial, spa lunch, mani, pedi and make-up. Really nice technicians at the Red Door Spa...it was very relaxing. The technician that did Michele's pedi was also pregnant and literally showing less than me...she was due in 10 DAYS! When she found out I was only 27 weeks along she said "Well don't feel bad, I have already gained 30 pounds"...OMG!! I am 27 weeks along and have gained 35 pounds - I don't even know what to feel at this point...other than I just finished a half marathon:) We were pretty wiped after such a relaxing spa experience so we went to a mexican restaurant recommended by the gals at the spa (Ariba's) and then headed to the hotel for an early crash after we packed up.

Tuesday had us leaving the hotel around 7 to catch our flight at 10...however, we did not take into account real rush hour traffic nor the possibility of accidents - both of which were the case. We spent over 1 1/2 hours on the interstate and then when we arrived at the airport the line for checking luggage was at least 40 miles long...not to mention the security line after that. However, all ended well as our plane was in the middle of boarding when we arrived:)

Now we are both back to the daily grind and trying to find another race in March since this one went well and Baby Clabaugh seemed to tolerate it alright...if we are able to find one, it is very likely most of it will be walked by me since I am clearly the size and weight of a 9 month pregnant woman!!! More adventures to come:)

One Week until Go Time for first race!!!

One week from today, Michele and I will be boarding the first plane for our first race in this adventure!!! One week and two days from now we will be completing that first race!!! How very exciting. Just got the final clearance from the baby doctor to go ahead with the race:) and I am certain baby Clabaugh is ready for the ride!!!

For the past week + I have been having digestive issues that have prevented pretty much any running, so this should really be an interesting race...Michele will likely get to run the route and then run back half way to encourage me onward - what are friends for, right?? I believe we are currently both injury free (other than Michele's blistered feet from running indoors for heat training), which is actually something new for our together races as one of us has pretty much always been nursing something when we race together.

While it is starting to snow here today with high temps being in the low 30's, it is sunny in Pheonix with current temps of 49 degrees and a high of 68 today...looking like great weather for the race.

Race projection...Michele comes in right around 1:54 and I come in at 3:09...

Alright, as any good lawyer knows, everything must have rules. So, now for the rules of this endeavour...obviously we must complete 50 half marathons in each of the 50 states by the time I am 50, which gives us 10 years - actually under 10 years now:( Other than the rules inherent in that premise, the following are the governing rules that Michele and I came up with:

1) We must both do the same event at the same time (although we do not need to remain together during the race nor do we need to finish together);

2) Each of us must finish the race for it to count;

3) For every 2 races Missy selects, Michele gets to select 1 - and she is fully aware of why this is the case so direct all inquiries on this subject to her:);

4) For each race Michele selects, she must either make certain that audio devices are permitted OR she must stay with Missy for the entire race to entertain her;

5) We must do something cool/memorable at each race venue;

6) The race MUST have a finisher's medal;

7) We must race at least one theme race where we both must fully participate in the theme;

8) We must race at least one "Rock n Roll" race;

9) We must race at least one "green" race;

10) We must race at least one race that permits us to have our four legged babies run with us;

11) Bella gets to join us for at least one race;

12) Jessie gets to join us for at least one race;

13) Baby Clabaugh (currently 24 weeks in utero) gets to join us for one race after birth and
Michele and I will take turns pushing the baby jogger;

14) Regardless of who chooses the race, we must be able to have access to the race course description and elevation charts prior to registration;

15) We can choose to convert 1 half marathon per year to a full marathon by mutual agreement;

16) In the event of a half ironman, this will count toward a 1/2 marathon for that state a) if both of us complete the entire event or b) if one of us completes the entire event and the other relays at least the running portion of the event or c) if one of us completes the entire event and the event also has a separate half marathon that the other completes; AND FINALLY

17) If either of us qualifies for Boston or NY, the other must do everything in her power to qualify for Boston or NY and both then run that event - if the other does not qualify, she still must go with the one that did qualify and be support staff.

As if the challenge of 50 half marathons in 50 states in 10 years isn't challenging enough...this should really make it a challenge!!!

Gearing up for the first "race" taking place in 20 days...can't really call it a race for me since the doc won't allow the heart rate above 140 which puts me at about 4.6 miles per hour - I can only assume it will be slower by the time of the race as I will then be 27 weeks pregnant, but we shall see:)

First Run Planned!

Well, it sure took awhile to start this process. Missy and I decided in July, 2010, that we were going to run 50 half-marathons in 50 states in 10 years, hence 50-50-10. July 5 was Missy's 40th birthday, so the time began running from July 5, 2010. She will have run 50 half-marathons in 50 states by the time she is 50. The goal doesn't work quite the same for me in terms of age, but I am happy to tag along!

Missy and I have each run half-marathons in the past, some together, some separate. We both ran the Sioux City Half-Marathon in October 2009. It was our first. After that race, I scheduled a couple more. I ran in the Route 66 Half-Marathon in Tulsa, OK, in November 2009, and in the Canyonlands Half-Marathon in Moab, Utah, with my good friend Kyla in March 2010. But I haven't run one since!

Missy ran the half-marathon in Okoboji in July 2010. That was a mistake. Too hot. I did the tri at that event and was much better off because of the heat. I think we will agree that we will NOT be running half-marathons in 90 degree heat and humidity (or at least that will be my protest).

So, as far as these separate half-marathons go, they don't count towards our total, because we didn't do them together. We have to do each half-marathon together (or at least start together...). We were ready and raring to go in September, after our regular races scheduled in August were finished.

BUT, Missy was also trying to conceive in 2010. The trial became a reality in September, 2010...which is very exciting! Missy is due in May, 2011. She is an author to this blog as well, so I will let her elaborate on that.

So...that has thrown a bit of a wrench into the first year of this process (in terms of time). We figured we had to run 5 halfs a year to make it in 10 years. Now, we are six months behind, so we need to pick it up in 2011!

Now that Missy is out of the woods a bit, the doc has cleared her to run, at a very slow pace for her (no heart rate above 140). Missy is determined to run, so she's agreed to run at the slower pace. I have to take advantage of this, because once the baby is born, she will blow me away at each half. She is a gifted runner who trains a LOT. She will be kicking my butt very soon.

All this being said, we have finally scheduled our FIRST half-marathon. The Arizona Marathon, February 20, 2011. It is in Phoenix (Avondale, I think technically). www.thearizonamarathon.com. The stage is set, and now we have to train. Needless to say, with the weather as it has been, running has not been my strong suit. I absolutely hate the thought of running on the dreadmill (I stole that from someone...I think it's great), especially 13 miles, but I think I'm going to have to start. I have just over a month to get some good hard runs in, and have to get the distance down (or close to it) pretty quick here.

Running a half is kind of like riding a bike, to the extent that my body just falls back into it. It's a good distance, without too much challenge to the body overall (as opposed to a marathon, where there is a lot of challenge, just because the distance is so far). BUT, even though I think I can run that far, I need to practice, or run the risk of being injured. I did have a knee injury in 2009 after Tulsa, which continued to cause problems for me for four months. The only way to keep that at bay is to train, train, train.

So, I guess to the dreadmill I will go. But as soon as the weather gets above -20 degrees, I am outside.

I am excited to start this challenge and see how far I can make it, and hopefully finish it out to the end. I am also excited to take this journey with my friend. As in any relationship, we have been through a lot, and this will definitely give us an opportunity to be closer. Or kill each other. :)

Trying the blog on for size

I blogged a couple of years ago when I traveled to Brazil, and found it to be fun. I cannot seem to find that blog anymore, which means it is lost in cyberspace, with nobody reading it. Hopefully it was not so boring that google deleted it.

I thought it would be fun to blog the experiences that my friend Missy and I have in our 50-50-10 challenge. Missy posed it to me on Sunday, July 18, 2010. Having just turned 40 on July 5, Missy was looking for a new challenge. She and I have become obsessed with running and other events; tris, bike races, nothing is safe from us.

She proposed to me that we run 50 half-marathons in 50 states in 10 years (by the time she turns 50). I think that is a fabulous idea! At a minimum, we need to run 5 half-marathons a year for the next ten. And a bunch of fun travel involved as well.

So...just trying to get the blog together to start to post the fun times that will be had by all in trying to meet our goal. I cannot imagine that anyone intends on reading this blog for the next ten years, other than Missy and I. But, we can laugh at ourselves and each other and keep fond memories of our successes and failures. And that's good enough for me!