Day 9 - Stine - WebMD to the rescue!

I have mentioned it before, but the plantar fasciitis hit an all new low yesterday, causing me to second guess every step in my day after my 6am day 8 run, all the way till bed time.  After too much "medical online research" and a professional consult (thanks Mel!), I ordered a night splint and new orthotics for my shoes.  But....till the Amazon drone deliveres - I just splinted myself :)

I decided that today, day 9, should be like a rest day.  If I ran super early day 8 and then the evening of 9, that's a rest day in the Marco-world!

So I left the ghetto home made night splint on all night and woke up today feeling great. After work at 5:30pm, I ventured out in downtown Homewood from the train and did my Marco-minimum.  It was a beautiful Christmas light-snow flake in your eye randomly-35 degree run.  AKA....PERFECTION!!!

As I head to bed again with my night splint on and regained confidence, I yearn for tomorrow.... It's the big 10.  Woo hoo...double digits!

Day 4 - Stine - Plantar Fas#&!#&#!

Ok... Yesterday was great, and today sucks.  I remember this from last year: body is still great at day 3 - and day 4 is when the revolting kicks in...and yep, that's today.  My mid day 5 mile run yesterday followed by an early 6am marcominimum today  proved tortuous for my right heel.  I ran about a 9:30 pace and it started to feel better (or maybe I got used to it) about 2.9 miles in. Tomorrow I'll have to run late in the day to gain a little recovery time if it all possible.  

The only silver lining to getting out early was most Christmas lights were still on - including ours that already are victim of a burnt out reindeer...two days in :/

Side note, I've had spurts of plantar fasciitis for nearly 5 years, with no long term solution. Any ideas or magic pill, please shoot them over!

Day 3 - Stine - Hellooo Sun!

A great perk of working from home one to two days a week is sleeping in a little and a nice lunch run in THE SUN!!!!  Izaak Walton was glorious! It even gave me the fever for a couple more :). And today was nothing but perfect cool December weather - I even had to shuck the gloves at a brisk 36 degrees.  Tomorrow will be a cold headlamp kind of morning, but I'll be dreaming of memories of today's perfection!

Day 1 - Stine - Hello Again Early Alarm!

It's been a long time (too long and too embarrassed to confess, even on here) since I actually GOT UP when my early morning running alarm went off at 5:30am.  I often would describe the running facet of my life as being "manic".  When I have a race on the calendar and miles to upload to RunKeeper/Garmin, to say I'm dedicated would be an understatement.  I will meet people at ridiculous hours after little sleep to get the miles in, over analyze the data, and watch my eating to extreme levels.

Now let me introduce you to the other side of me: "Fun-Tab" (as my husband says).  This version of me is who you've been seeing a lot of recently.  She eats a lot, drinks a lot, sleeps a lot, and  - guess what - I like her :)

But, for the last ten years, I've been extremely happy and functional with this cycle of one to two crazy races a year where I toggle between Manic-Tab and Fun-Tab.  Fun-Tab came out this year a little bit after Ragnar this summer and Manic-Tab was drifting away after a two marathons back to back in the Fall and Spring of 2013/2014 and Ragnar in June.  She still ran 4-5 5ks this summer and fall at respectable times, but definitely didn't allow her to wake up any too early to train for them...and never let a Blue Moon or Burger sideline her goal of fun.

I'm pretty happy to say that following a gain of 10 pounds, a couple fabulous vacations, and tons of "fun" with friends and my crazy family and 3 kiddos, Manic-Tab is rearing her head.  She loves the challenge of Marcothon.  She loves having a deadline for real measurable miles each day.  She loves scouting the hour-by-hour forecasts to squeeze in the runs, and the NEED to purchase new gear on Cyber Monday to wear all month long :)

I look forward to hopefully completing Marcothon again as our HFCRC team did last year.  I hope we get at least one group midnight straddle run in.  I hope we all find a way to get refocused for spring marathon season knocking on our door.  I hope we at least shed a bit of these challenging holiday (or in my case "Fun-Tab") pounds.  I hope we build a community of runners who are inspired to find 25-30 minutes every day for themselves.  Time when their spouses/kids/bosses aren't demanding anything from them.  Time to refocus on ourselves and the reason for the season :)

Day 1, Marcothon in the books!

"Fun-Tab" woke up for this!!!

Monday Run

DEC 01, 2014  -  6:05 AM

MI

3.11

DURATION

27:55

AVERAGE PACE

8:58

CALORIES BURNED

362

HFCRC Marcothon - AND...we are BACK!

After a super successful 2013 Marcothon, some of us folks have decided to slap old man winter in the face and DO IT AGAIN.  We know the forecast for 2014/2015 winter is even more daunting than last, we are up for the challenge. 

OK...let me first catch all of you up on WHAT Marcothon is.

Last year I posted this initial post...read HERE for all the rules and history. And as before, all the traditional Marco-rules apply, and I will continue to pursue the additional ante of ONLY running outside, all DECEMBER LONG.

You can also learn more at the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/744082202313599/?source=1

And here it outlines the basic rules once again:

Welcome to the 6th Marcothon.

The rules are simply, you must run every day in DECEMBER. Minimum of three miles or 25 minutes – which ever comes first. The challenge starts on December 1 and finishes on December 31. And yes, that includes Christmas Day.

It's not a competition. Just a personal challenge or an incentive to burn off some beer and turkey dinners. 

The history: This all started in 2009, when Marco challenged himself to run every day in November. I decided to follow suit and run every day in December. I posted the challenge – and dubbed it the Marcothon - and before I knew it there was a group of runners equally eager to embrace the winter conditions of December 2009. In 2010, the group was added to Facebook and attracted over 500 runners from across the globe. Last year, we had over 2000!

So...I encourage you to read first read our blog from last year at www.marcothon2013.blogspot.com.  Here Jefrey, Rick, Eric, and I blogged each day about our trials and tribulations to outwit the weather, squeeze in our miles, stay healthy, and have fun!  From outdoor midnight straddle runs to travel family runs, it becomes not only a way to stay in great holiday shape, but also test the body's mental and physical limits while also prepping for the great post-holiday marathon training season that is lurking around the corner.

Here goes nothing fellow Marco-maniacs....may the gods of warm weather, light laundry, and family patience wrap us in their speedy shoes with healthy steps along the way!