First "Race" of the Season

 Welcome to Medal Monday! This past Saturday, I did the F^3  Half Marathon. 

So, real feel temperature at the start was 0 degrees, but I was surprisingly okay after I started running. Remember, there is no bad clothing, but bad clothing options. I wanted to see how my training was going for the #UnitedAirlinesNYCHalfMarathon in March.

What really helped me was my $6 mittens from Walgreens and 2 sets of hand warmers. The reason for these is simple. I have very bad Reynauds in my hands primarily. My last long run before taper was supposed to be 12 miles but I aborted the run at 10k because I was soo cold. It wasn't the temperature of 9 degrees but it was more the wind that was affecting me.

*getting ready for the start*

I truly loved the course with the backdrop of the Chicago Skyline as well as being able to see Indiana on the Southern end of the course. The course went from Soldier Field to 63rd Street and back on the Lakefront Path. The path was clear and well salted-one of the things that I love about the City. Now, of course there were at least 5 guys wearing shorts! Not shorts over their running tights, but ACTUAL SHORTS! Umm, it was cold outside folks.

*the beautiful Chicago Skyline from the South

Now one of the things that I did not mention in my Instagram post was the fact that I bonked hard at mile 11. The reason for this is I did the one thing that I also tell my athletes not to do. I did not fuel . Not, I didn't have a gel or a waffle, but I DID NOT FUEL AT ALL from Friday until I returned home after the race. Here's a little quirk about me: When I am very stressed out, I do not eat at all, I work out excessively. The past week had me in a very bad tailspin and I recognize that I have very disordered eating but I seriously just can't eat. So, at mile 11, I got dizzy and I had to walk for a while and then I started back running. I recognize I need to try and get a handle on my stress and some causes of my stress is being addressed this week.

Now, as far as my results, I was fine with my official finish time of 2:59:28 for it being the first race of the season. What I was more impressed with was my heart rate. I stayed primarily in the Green Zone or 70-79% of my max Heart Rate. This week, I'm taking it easy, but I will be back to the grind by next week. Only 6 weeks to go.

*all that green was the F^3 Half Marathon*

That's about it, but if you donate $13.10 for my half marathon efforts (I'm running the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon for Team 2 End AIDS) between now and February 5th, you will be entered into a raffle for 2 Private Pilates Session either in person (if you are local) or remote (via the Zoom). 

https://action.aidschicago.org/fundraiser/3625150

*my poor shoes-all that salt

When your Workouts/Trainings Go to Sh$t

I always tell my athletes and clients that you will have at least 3 shitty workouts/training sessions. And let me tell you, that includes coaches as well. Right now, it’s January in the Fitness Industry and it’s hard. If I am being honest, sleep has evaded me (thank you Insomnia), and the long days and let’s add in, I’m currently training for 2 half marathons for the first quarter of the year plus other items makes it tough to get a workout in.

What happens when this happens? It's very easy to sit on your ass and binge watch something on Disney+ (thank you Marvel Universe!) or you can go out and use it as a lesson learned. Something similar can happen on race day so embrace it, but within reason. What do I mean by that? Take notice of what is happening with your body, your breathing, your attitude. 

• If something is not feeling right in your body, I usually tell people to wait after the first mile because the first mile is a liar. If your body is still not feeling right, stop the training. There is no shame in it. Perfect example of this, most people know that I have Reynaud's syndrome really bad in my hands coupled with migraines. Ike, yes, I named my migraine just comes along to my workouts. Now 2 weeks ago, my training plan had 12 miles for my last long run. It did not go well AT ALL! I was dressed appropriately for 9 degrees real feel but my hands were not happy. Although I had on 2 pairs of gloves with the hand warmers in between, my hands were NOT HAPPY. I aborted the run at 10k. Walked over to Starbuck's to get a coffee (really to warm my hands) and took the bus home. Defeated: yes. Discouraged: yes and no. Yes, because my hands were not happy. No, because I've done 11 miles. 
  
  
  
• If your breathing is off, take a step back and think about breathing in for either 3 or 4 counts and exhaling out for 2 or 3 counts: slow inhale/slow exhale. 
• Lastly, check your attitude. Your attitude dictates everything from how your body feels to how you perform at work. Now sometimes, your attitude can fuel your workouts. Sometimes, being pissed off can make you have an amazing workout (but then you feel like you are going to die). Again, check yourself, your ego, your attitude.

Just know that you are not alone. Embrace that shitty workout, learn from it and move on. Oh, and shameless plug, yes, I'm fundraising for T2EA (Team 2 End AIDS). Want to chip in a dollar or $13.10 for the F^3 Half Marathon that I'm running this Saturday? Here's the link: https://action.aidschicago.org/fundraiser/3625150

Welcome to 2022!

Okay, I know we are now 10 days into the New Year, but Happy New Year anyway. January happens to be a very stressful and busy month for me that sets the tone for the rest of the year. So, what do I have on the horizon?

I have the following:

• F^3 Half Marathon: January 29th in Chicago
• Yeah, it may be -20 or it may be 40 degrees. I'm just going to go for it and see how everything goes.
• United Airlines NYC Half Marathon: March 20th in NY
• I'm so excited to return to this Half Marathon and running/representing T2EA (Team 2 End AIDS or #ganginred)
• Wanna donate? https://action.aidschicago.org/fundraiser/3625150
• Chicago Half Marathon: September 25th in Chicago
• Although it is technically a work day for me, I'm always trying to help anyone and everyone who needs my help to get to the finish line.
• Bank of America Chicago Marathon: October 9th in Chicago
• Another work day for me but I need to decided if I will cross the finish line or bail out after going back and forth on the course to help my athletes and anyone else who needs help.
• New York City Marathon: November 6th  in New York
• This has been the one race that I have always wanted to do and I will be doing it running/representing T2EA (Team 2 End AIDS or #ganginred). The goal is to smile and have fun.

Now I have some other races that are in the works:

• Chattanooga 70.3: The return of #theBeez and #theFro adventures.
• Rev3 Williamsburg Sprint and 70.3: I wasn't able to do the sprint last year due to airline issues but I will do the double.

Unknowns and possibilities:

• USAT MultiSport Festival in Irving, TX: Aquathlon only
• ITU Worlds for Aquathlon: Ibiza (date unknown)

We will see how the landscape plays out. But until then, check out some of the awesome photos from my TrainingPeaks Ambassador photoshoot by @snowymountainphotography.

Return to racing: Chicago Half Marathon 2021

This past Sunday, I participated in the Hoka Chicago Half Marathon. Per usual, I usual finish around the 3 hour mark as I double back on the course to help runners from the charity that I coach for - Team to End AIDS or any other runner who needs encouragement. It has been 2 years since this race has been put on due to the pandemic. When we participated in this race 2 years ago, it was pouring rain (if it's raining, we're training/racing). This time around, the weather was actually pleasant, delightful. So let's get into the intricacies and things to know about this race if you are interested in doing it in the future.

Packet Pickup:

The packet pick-up venue has changed over the years from the very first year that I did this race. The venue was in the West Loop which was very accessible to the Green and Pink CTA lines or via Divvy Bike. If you didn't want to pick up your packet on Friday or Saturday, you had the option of paying $40 extra to pick it up on race day. I would suggest going to the expo. You never know what may happen on race day. I was in and out of the expo in less than 10 minutes (world record) but it was a small expo and I didn't need to purchase anything. One of the things to note is that parking is at a premium in Jackson Park on Chicago's South Side and with the Uber and Lyft high prices, it's preferred to take advantage of the free shuttle buses (school buses) from either Belmont Station or Millenium Station. The only bad part is that you have to leave so early in the morning but you get to the race without having to deal with parking or the price of an Uber or Lyft.

Race Morning:

I got up early (3am) to get ready and to hop on the "L" to get to the Belmont Station to catch the shuttle. Luckily, the shuttles were there and ready for boarding. I saw some of my athletes and ended up sitting in the back. Now, if you are part of #teamtall, the seats are not meant for you. During the ride, we had an interesting mix of music from Lite FM including, Air Supply, The Bangles and Whitney Houston.

Once we hit our final destination, it was a nice 10-15 minute walk in the dark to the team tent where we could eat breakfast, have coffee and just get ready to race. 

Right before we took off for the corrals, we had our team photo. *note: Shameless plug for my T2 fundraiser https://action.aidschicago.org/team/357897

The course:

The course changed slightly from 2019 due to the construction of the Obama Library. We headed North on LSD from 63rd to 31st Street and this is where it got a little congested/a little tricky. 

We ended up migrating onto the Lakefront Path heading towards the South end of McCormick Place, heading under McCormick (very dark especially if you were wearing sunglasses) for a short stint and turning around to head back South on the bus causeway before we reconnected onto the Lakefront Path back to 31st street, going over and coming back onto LSD on the Southbound lanes. 

At Mile 12, I decided to do my double back on the course motivating and helping my fellow runners who needed that extra motivating. I ended up running literally into one of my athletes, Kali and I ran in with her. All in all, it was a great race with great weather and great friends. This is the perfect race to do if you are doing the Chicago Marathon since it falls perfectly with the training plan. Also, this is one of the few races where you get a medal as big as your head.

2021 and what I learned from 2020

Welcome to the first Monday of 2021. Normally, this would be the time of year when gyms are busting at the seams with #newyearrevolutionaries and those returning to fitness after a short or long break. Not this time. We are still in a Covid-19 world and fitness centers across the country are either at limited capacity or shut down completely. In 2020, we had to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. Some of us learned new technologies to reach current and new participants.

For me, with races being cancelled, training was not. I rode a lot of miles on the trainer. I ran a lot of miles. I did a lot of dryland strength training (no pools/no open water swimming). 

2020 Totals:

1. 1151.5 miles of running (the run streak continues)

2. 2881.3 miles of cycling 

3. 181,146 yard or 102 miles of swimming

I was interviewed on 3 different Podcasts. I faced my fear of biking outdoors and started to actively bike commute once our facility reopened. I may have been doored (5 times), cussed out by motorists, had bottles thrown at me (twice), flipped over the handlebars of a Divvy Bike (in slow motion) and rode like I was in the Tour de France (more than a handful of times). My bike handling skills greatly improved. My anxiety of riding in traffic eased up. I rode in oppressive heat, unrelenting winds, pouring rain, snow, 19 degrees (not fun), early morning and late at night. I learned that I’m a better biker than I thought. It was years of others telling me that I was not good enough that got in my head. Not anymore, albeit there is still some anxiety, doubt and fear in the back of my head.

So that brings us to 2021.

• I'm a brand ambassador for @TrainingPeaks, @nuunhydration,  @fuerzacoffee, @blueseventy,  @honeystinger,  @coeursports

● I am approaching 250 days of running in a row. I’m continuing with 5 Zoom Pilates Classes until in person classes return. Although I think I will continue to keep 3 classes going.

● I will be presenting at a conference (virtually).Hopefully, this will lead to more opportunities.

● #TeaserTuesday and #WundaChairWednesday posts will continue. Some other things are in the pipeline which will be announced later on.

● Race wise, I only have technically 3 races in 2021: Rev3 Williamsburg Sprint and 70.3 distance in June, ITU World Championships in Aquathlon in September and the Chicago Marathon (it’s really a work day) in October.

So, that is it for now. Here’s to a great start to 2021!

200 DAYS...of running

This morning marked a milestone for me. I have made it 200 straight days of running. Some days were just a mile and other days were 13.1. Total runs actually are 236 and counting. When I set out on my #runstreak back on May 1st, I was looking to only go through the #chimarathon.

When that became clear it was not going to happen, nor would any of my races or events, I decided to keep going because as my hashtag has been since the world stopped due to Covid-19, #trainingisnotcancelled.

So why do a #runstreak? It was something to keep myself accountable. It is something that kept my stress and anxiety levels down. It is something that helps me clear my mind and either just zone out or think of ideas/solutions.

Since I have hit the 200 day mark, I have run a total of 924.2 miles. Last year, my #runstreak started a month later (June 1st) and at the end (October 13th), I ended with 525.14 miles. That’s a huge increase but remember, I started a month early and I was doing some (okay, a LOT) of virtual challenges. But, another item I realized is that today also marks my #ironversary, the day I crossed #IMAZ 7 years ago. 

Some people have been wondering will I return to the full Iron distance and the answer is yes. Not in 2021 unless something magically happens, but definitely in 2022.

Now when will my #runstreak end? You just have to find out.

2020...as the world turns topsy turvy

Today is June 1st. A new day, a new Monday and a new month. For the past 77 days, I have been SIP (shelter in place and "unemployed"). 2020 has been interesting and stressful to say the least. The year started really well. Training for Rev3 Williamsburg Sprint and Half Iron distance race in June and also my A race which was the ITU World Championships in Almere-Amsterdam for Aquathlon in September. But then Covid-19 reared its ugly head. Rev3 Williamsburg has been postponed to August of this year, although I have decided that I will defer until 2021 due to the lack of swimming since March 15th. And just last week, the ITU World Championships in Almere-Amsterdam has been cancelled and will reconvene in 2021 but I still have my spot. Hey, at least I purchased my TEAM USA uniform!

But let's get to the heart of everything that is happening NOW! As a Black Woman... in America...I'm tired. I am mentally exhausted. I am so happy that I do not have a television but the live feeds from the protests of the death of George Floyd; or let's add the death of Amaud Aubrey while he was running; or  Breonna Taylor who was shot in her home is too much for any one to take. What do I have to worry about? I have to worry about being followed by the police when I am running in my neighborhood. I have to make sure that I am wearing something that is non-threatening (a running skirt and a brightly colored top). I have to make sure that I have my ID on me at all times. Look, I'm just trying to workout for my sanity since gyms are closed and I do not have the space (or the money) for a treadmill.

Everyday is a struggle. I wake up, throw on my running clothes and running shoes to hit the pavement. I run to escape try and soothe my soul. I run for my mental and my physical health. I run because I need to be free. I have learned, while we are SIP that there are some streets here on the Northside of Chicago, where I live, I really have no business running down. Learned that the hard way. I have dealt with my share and will continue to deal with racism throughout my daily encounters. I have dealt with it in racing, in training (I'm a Pilates Trainer and Group Exercise Instructor) and Coaching.

I'm tired, but I keep going because I shouldn't have to cower in the corner.

I'm tired, but training is not cancelled.

I'm tired, but race day will return.

I'm tired, but I have an obligation not only to myself to remain healthy, but to my clients and athletes.

I'm tired, but I hope to one day see a world where I am not judged based on my skin color or my sex.

That is all.

#afrocoach