#RWHalf Festival Part 5: The Half

With 13.1 miles left on the schedule, the Runner's World Half on Sunday October 19 would round out the Runner's World Half & Festival Hat Trick.

The first portions of the weekend can be found here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

(Note: Runner’s World did sponsor my participation in the RW Half & Festival, but all comments are my own – ain’t nobody got time for lyin’!)

For a third-straight morning the alarms in our room were blaring at 6am. Thankfully I laid my race gear out the night before so getting ready in the morning would be a breeze.

Presley and I headed downstairs to grab another free breakfast from the Comfort Suites bar/breakfast area. I also brought my KIND bar with me to use for pre and during race fuel.

We met up with the third amigo Doug just after 7 to head to the Start area. The Start for the half was just past the Start for the 5k and 10k. We remembered Bart talking about hiding in the casino pre-race for warmth and bathrooms so we made our way there.

It was blustery that morning and my lack of a throwaway t-shirt was a quick regret. Brrr...

Thank you Sands Casino for letting us crash your party to stay warm.

We waited as long as possible in the warmth before making our way to the Start Area. It was definitely chilly, but we made the most of it working some sweet dance moves to keep warm.

We also saw that Matt left his mark on the course without even being there. Hi No Meat Athlete Fan!

During the first mile I spotted my friend Elizabeth, editor of Zelle, and I had to take that opportunity to snap a selfie!

We've been to so many races at the same time (she used to live in Boston), but this was our first action shot together. I snapped the pic and wished her a fun race. You can see Doug and Presley in the back of this photo wondering why I sprinted ahead to snap a selfie without them. :P

The wind was something fierce that morning and we braced ourselves for the upcoming hills.

Mile 1: 9:52 Mile 2: 9:36

We worked our way through the city streets and neighborhoods of Bethlehem. With the RW Half you truly were getting a glimpse of the majority of the city. ;)

The neighbors were out in full force once again and if they didn't provide enough entertainment for you there were the other participants to check out.

Like these two running in sumo wrestler costumes. I give those two sooo much credit for donning those outfits on a day like we had - wind wasn't their friend. haha. They were awesome to run near and totally took a pic with us while we took a port-o-potty stop. I wish I could find them to get a copy of it. :)

Mile 3: 12:07 Mile 4: 9:12

Can you tell which mile we stopped to take a break? It was great because I saw my friend Jacqueline and we used the port-o-potty break as a spot to catch up. Except we took an extra minute chatting before realizing we were in the middle of the race and should probably keep moving. Ha.

The hills DID allow for some pretty sweet views.

As we came down from this hill, we noticed a Happy Birthday sign - but the runner was nowhere in sight. Darn! We wanted to find him to make our "Singing Happy Birthday during a race" 3-for-3 for the weekend. Sadly we never caught up to him and no Happy Birthday was sung during the Half.

We started asking random strangers if it was their birthday, but no one fit the bill.

At the crest of the next hill, I saw the wonderful Sarah from SparklyRunner.com! Ahh what an amazing sight to see a familiar face. Mid-run selfie - check!

This little selfie put me far behind Presley and Doug so I had to play a little catch up.

Then the mile of fun truly started.

We had seen these bears all over the city so we had to stop and snap a pic.

Then have a dance break with the band.

Mile 5: 9:48

But Mile 5 fun led to Mile 6 heartbreak - the never-ending hill complete with angry drivers.

A quick shot of the line of cars that we passed.

There was one older lady that was super angry at the runners - not sure if she was late for church or what - but she was honking and calling out to runners. You can see Presley was not sure what her deal was.

Thankfully we spotted a cop coming to the rescue just after we passed by.

I'm not sure how the cars ended up on the course, but they definitely should not have been there. Especially ones with road rage. We didn't see anyone get hurt or touched by the cars, but always a scary sight to see cars on a course.

As we made our way up the never-ending hill, I spotted Sarah's boyfriend Matt and made sure we took a pic.

He was so in the zone with his music I had to call his name a few times before he heard me. Yeah I looked like a complete stalker. I have no shame.

Mile 6: 9:36

There were rumors flying around that the second-half of the course was flatter than the first so we held on to that thought to keep us moving forward. Note: that person lied. :P

We took a right and headed towards tiny neighborhoods and it was great to see families out on their lawns cheering on runners and offering up orange slices, etc.

We happily took a gentleman up on some Twizzlers. I enjoyed Twizzlers during my 20-Miler back in March and they really hit the spot!

Who says we don't fuel properly?

Mile 7: 9:25 Mile 8: 9:46

We were in Mile 7 and knew the Skirt Sports ladies would be hosting the water stop just after the Mile 8 marker as well as a #SkirtEncounter activity - volunteers would put you in a Skirt Sports skirt that you would be able to keep.

So of course Presley and I had to take part. Thanks for capturing it Doug.

When I wear skirts I like to double them up! :) It was something I never thought I would do during the race and I am glad we didn't pass up on the opportunity.

We waited for Presley to take another port-o-potty break before we got back to business.

Mile 9: 10:52

After leaving the neighborhood, we took a left on an incline heading towards a cemetery. As we made our way back up the incline, I noticed this gentleman rollerblading along the race. I had spotted him earlier, rollerblading and texting on his phone, but I couldn't get a pic then.

Once through the cemetery (interesting scenery), we actually caught up with comedian Liz Miele. I totally blew it in the catching an action shot with her, but it was great chatting with her. We explained more about what bloggers do/mean and she shared more about her running journey with us. It was such a cool experience.

It was during that time that we also passed another church and I HAD to take the opportunity to meet Jesus.

Oh hey Jesus!

High-five for days!

Mile 11: 10:07

We had just two miles left, which meant we were making our way back to streets we took in the prior day races. We could see runners who had already finished walking along the course with their medals.

We also used these final two miles to come up with our Finish Line pose. The important things right?

It was a great distraction as my legs were starting to feel the toll of the prior two days. My rainbow socks for the half were not compression and my legs could tell.

There was great crowd support coming into the final two miles and we soaked it all in.

Mile 12: 9:10 Mile 13: 9:05

We opted for a Charlie's Angel finish pose with Doug in the center and Presley and I on the outside. Doug went down the Finish chute getting high-fives from both sides of spectators.

And I send a big thank you to Sarah for getting these awesome shots of us.

Can you tell I was having fun?

And just like that it was done!

Finish Time: 2:10:35

It was pretty spectacular that we actually ran all three races around the same exact pace and we didn't even set out to do that.

After grabbing our heat sheet blankets, bagels, bananas and water, we headed back towards the Expo to meet up with the Altra Running guys one last time.

Doug knows how to rock a heat sheet!

But first I asked Presley to snap my pic in front of the Finish Line (first pic in this post) and then I yelled to Bart. He turned around and said "I loved your Charlie's Angels Finish pose." YAY! People knew what we were doing!!

And we got this magical pic.

The course was definitely hilly. I found this meme online and couldn't stop laughing!!

Hahahahhaa!! I have never done the RW Half before so I am not sure how the course changed, but it definitely didn't feel that flat or fast.

Overall the race was a blast and had a great mix of scenery and small town neighborhood feel. The hills were tough and I applaud those who chose to race or PR on this course. I am not sure how many others experienced the traffic on the course and if that was also in the past RW Half races.

I had a ball taking in the signs, spectators and give a HUGE thank you to all of the volunteers along the course.

Once we said good-bye to the Altra Running crew, we headed back to the hotel. Presley and Doug had earlier flights than I did so we went back so they could shower before grabbing a quick lunch. Of course my lunch included a celebratory beer.

Oh this was DELICIOUS!! I need to find more STAT.

And with all of that the Hat Trick was complete. Bling for days... :)

***

Have you ever run the RW Half? How did you tackle those hills?

#RWHalf Festival Part 4: A Saturday Night In Bethlehem, PA

Fun. Awesomely awesome fun. Have you gotten that vibe through my first three posts (Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3) recapping the sweet weekend at Runner's World Half & Festival.

So how does one celebrate a successful Five & Dime and carboload for the following day's half?

Well after a great lunch with Doug, Matt and Presley, we sent Matt packing to head home while the three of us took the opportunity to nap/rock some much-needed compression time.

I am sad that I missed some of the amazing seminars especially the ones with Bart Yasso and Mark Remy, but I needed a little rest. Plus I had the pleasure of listening to both men speak during the Heartbreak Hill weekend.

Once we were properly rested and refreshed, the three amigos headed out for a quick snack en route to the Expo for an evening of laughs and carbs.

But first let's take a selfie. I mean it is the Funhouse, where fun people meet and party! :P

I was psyched to hear Liz Miele's comedy set, but first David Willey graced the stage.

Liz was hilarious and got on to Runner's World radar because of this I'm A Runner video from 2010.

Also we did in fact get a shout out before she started the set. Go us!

Additionally I made friends with one of the pacer's for the Half and quickly we had Matt replaced. ;) I kiiiiid. But it was fascinating to learn more about pacing as it is something I've thrown around as a possibility.

After a great comedy session, we caught up with the Runner's World PR team of David and Beachy. Presley and I asked Beachy to take a photo for us and this happened.

After a selfie session, the real picture was finally taken.

I am so thankful that David and Beachy invited me to be a part of Heartbreak Hill weekend and the Runner's World Half & Festival.

(Note: Runner’s World did sponsor my participation in the RW Half & Festival, but all comments are my own – ain’t nobody got time for lyin’!)

Before heading to the pasta dinner with the Runner's World Editors, Doug, Presley and I stopped by the Altra Running booth to ask founder Golden some questions.

Prior to heading to Runner's World weekend, Altra was nice enough to send us each a pair of sneakers to test out. Well I liked the sneakers I had, but they were a little too minimal for me - I needed a little more stability.

So I was able to grab Golden's ear on the subject and he said I was in the wrong shoe compared to what I normally wear. He switched me from the One to the Paradigm. I immediately noticed a vast improvement and cannot wait to try out the new shoes when they arrive.

Since the Expo had actually shut down awhile back, we invited Golden to enjoy some pasta with us and he agreed to join us. It was great to chat with him further about his running career and philosophy on running. We also met some great people at our table who were also participating in the Half the next day.

The pasta and salad was delicious and straight out of the Runner's World Cookbook.

Thanks to Golden for throwing signs with us before we retreated back to the Comfort Suites bar. This night turned into an early night once an unruly bar attendee ended up having the cops called on him. Ummm yeah that was our cue to head upstairs and be asleep by 10pm.

Overall it was a great day with friends and lots of laughs! :)

***

Up next? #RW Half Festival Part 5: The Half.

#RWHalf Festival Part 3: Five & Dime

Want to run a 5k? Sure! Want to run a 10k? Absolutely!

Want to run them on the same day? Umm... sure thing!

Hello Five & Dime. :)

Apparently Runner's World Half & Festival was more than just getting together with bloggers and checking out Bethlehem, PA - there was going to be running involved. :P

If you want to catch up on the first two days at the #RWHalf, check out these posts: Day 1 and Day 2.

(Note: Runner’s World did sponsor my participation in the RW Half & Festival, but all comments are my own – ain’t nobody got time for lyin’!)

Once again the alarms were blaring at 6am so that Presley (my roomie) and I could hit up the Comfort Suites free breakfast area/the Comfort Suites bar/where the karaoke magic happened before heading to the race. I opted for an english muffin with butter.

We met up with Matt and Doug at 7 so we could head down to the races. Thankfully the Start area was less than a mile for our hotel so we had an easy warm-up walk before running. We recanted the amazing karaoke fun and came up with our game plan for the actual races. We planned on running both together. No matter the pace we would stick together and have fun. This would be my first time having three people to run with and make sure to capture in my mind-run selfies.

The weather was chilly, but I was happy to show off my Runfellow t-shirt! Representin' Somerville baby!

We stretched and loosened up with a little pre-race dancing... Taylor Swift "Shake It Off" anyone?

The crowd was pumped up and ready to run. We were ready for a fun run!

I also opted to bring my pink sparkly microphone prop from the previous day's Amazing Shakeout Run to interview some fellow runners along the course.

We crossed the line and were off.

As we made our way through Mile One, I heard the other runners discussing the upcoming hills along the course. Oops should've looked at a course map pre-race. Eh we like surprises. :P

And my fellow participants weren't kidding about the inclines. I was really happy to not be fighting for a PR that day.

Mile 1: 10:34

There was a sweet DJ along the course mixing some tunes, as well as other local high school bands, polka music and more. They were setting us up to dance our way through the race.

Mile 2: 9:32

Without even knowing it we were picking our pace up and approached negative splits.

I started interviewing Presley and Doug to get their thoughts on the race.

We made our way back towards the Start line and I wasn't sure what the path back would be. It was become the final stretch for all three races.

We ran parallel to the Finish Line before taking a loop around the block, which brought us right past the Casino.

Mile 3: 9:00

We used the last 0.1 to come up with our Finish Line photo pose. We opted for using something Altra Running founder Golden Harper taught us to correct our posture during a run - think of reaching towards the Sun!

Unfortunately I didn't get a good photo of it, but I heard it was a hit with the Altra team.

Final Time: 30:29

With one race down and one to go it was time to refuel with water and a banana. The 5k began at 8am with the 10k to follow at 9:30. This left ample time to hit up the restrooms and catch up with friends between races.

Hey sexy bloggers!

Sarah from SparklyRunner

After catching up and refueling it was 9:17am and time to head back to the Start Line for Round 2. We rocked some more sweet dance moves to loosen up and it was GO time.

The 10k started the same way as the 5k, but thankfully avoided one of the bigger hills from the beginning of the 5k by sending us left to cover more ground. Since the race announcer did remind us the 10k would be double the 5k. Oh right.

As we made our way through the first couple of miles, we fell into a nice running groove. It was interesting to run with Doug and Matt who are two mainly ultra marathon trail runners, while Presley and I mainly stick to road racing. It was nice to hear about their racing experiences in ultras compared to those on the road. The more laid back style seems to be the biggest.

Mile 1: 9:59 Mile 2: 9:55 Mile 3: 9:40

We made it through half of the race before someone - Presley - needed a bathroom break. Once she hopped in the port-o-potty we all decided to stop. I don't think I have ever taken the time to have a bathroom break during the 10k, but the quick break was nice.

We were making sure to utilize all the water stops and powerade when available.

After tackling yet another short climb we headed into Bethlehem's historic residential district, where the streets are tree-lined, flat, and wide.

And that is where we saw Editor-In-Chief David Willey running with participants. I saw him running back and forth with runners that I wondered how many miles he was actually logging during the races.

Of course I asked him for a selfie...

His response: "Sure I've already done 10 so far this race." :)

Then the group HAD to be included.

Thanks to David for letting those "bloggers" be selfies #11 and #12.

Mile 4: 10:31 (port-o-potty stop mile)

The crowds were out in full force with handmade signs and tons of high-fives. I would like to say I was 5-for-5 with high fives. Yeah little kids like my style. Haha.

As we wrapped through the Bethlehem neighborhoods, the quaintness of the town really started to show through on that Saturday. The vibrant Fall colors were gorgeous to run through.

All parts of the town were out to cheer on the runners, local churches singing, Lululemon employees out with their witty signs, local high school teams manning the water stops. It was a great vibe.

I need to thank these three for making this race fun and for dealing with my "Guys get over there and take a picture" requests over and over again.

Mile 5: 9:12

During the final mile, we caught up with marathoner and comedian Liz Miele, who would be performing that night before the pasta dinner. It was great to chat with her before her set. We were also hoping it would get us into the act. *Fingers Crossed*

Runner's World gave her a STAFF shirt to wear, which led to many runners to believe she was a writer for Runner's World rather than a comedian. Haha.

Mile 6: 9:04

With yet another Finish Line on the horizon, we needed a game plan. This time we would go for a jumping Finish Line photo. Again I didn't get a good shot of it, but will tell you all it was EPIC.

Runner's World website did a great way describing the Finish Line:

The finish lies under a flaming arch in the shadow of the massive Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces, the first of which went into operation in 1863. From these massive structures, the rail lines that traverse our nation, the Navy ships that fought in both World Wars and countless steel I-beams that serve as the skeletons of many of our nation's iconic skyscrapers were born.

Final Time: 1:1:11

And the Five & Dime was ours!!!

Overall they were beautiful courses with some climbs/hills. I loved the energy of the crowd and the eclectic music along the route. I do wish the time between races was a tad shorter. I know you need to leave ample time for everyone to finish the 5k, but it was tough to have almost an hour between races.

Thank you to Doug, Matt and Presley for keeping me laughing the entire time and reminding me how much fun running with friends can be.

After the races, we stopped by the Expo one more time to snap another Runner's World cover so you could actually see my phone at the top - the previous one was blocked by the title.

We went back to the hotel to clean up and grab some lunch before Matt deserted us to avoid the half spend time with his wife for their anniversary.

***

Next Up: #RWHalf Festival Part 4: A Saturday Night In Bethlehem, PA!

#RWHalf Festival Part 2: Amazing Shakeout Run, Altra Running Fun & Expo!

Alarms starting blaring at 6am on Friday morning - also known as Day 2 of the Runner's World Half & Festival weekend. Presley from Run Pretty and I blindly started hitting snooze on our iPhones before realizing there was no time for snoozing! Day 1 of the #RWHalf weekend brought us to Runner's World HQ and the Comfort Suites Bar. Since Day 1 set a high bar, I was excited to see what Day 2 would bring.

(Note: Runner’s World did sponsor my participation in the RW Half & Festival, but all comments are my own – ain’t nobody got time for lyin’!)

We headed on downstairs to meet the rest of the bloggers to see what this "Amazing Shakeout Run" the Runner's World PR gurus David and Laura had concocted.

In case you haven't picked up what I am laying down - our "let's take it easy because we have 22.4 miles to run this weekend" shakeout run turned into a "it's Amazing race and I need to win" 4-mile all-out sprint.

Let me back it on up for ya.

We huddled together in the Comfort Suites lobby at 7am on a Friday morning ready to get the 411 from David and Beachy (otherwise known as Laura). They let us know we would be breaking into 4 teams of 4 (each team would be joined by a member of the Altra Running staff).

It was captain time and guess who got picked.

ME!

That's right. Apparently the PR staff thinks I am a tad competitive.

Saayy whhaa?? Not sure where they got that. <>

So I had my power team of Matt from No Meat Athlete, Sarah from Picky Runner, Beth from Shut Up And Run and Brian from Altra.

Please pick a team name. Done.

TEAM DOMINATION

We headed outside behind the hotel to get the first clue, which was sponsored by Skirt Sports. Our Altra rep stood by 4 bags of costumes to help each of the bloggers grab a costume, change and run back to tag the next blogger. Once all 4 bloggers were dressed, you snapped a pic and received your first clue.

Since we were the second team done, we had the added bonus of adding a second Altra employee - yay Ashleigh - to our crew. We bound out of the parking lot.

Now we probably should've stopped and figured out where we were going before leaving the parking lot, but we were ready to roll. That led to a little extra mileage added to our total. While in the moment we regretted, but thankfully didn't hurt our overall performance.

Since this was a group of bloggers we had to Instagram and tweet our locations each time we figured out a clue. Thank GOODNESS I have mastered the art of running and IGing. :)

#WhatTheZelle

(Note: This is where my friend and Zelle Editor Elizabeth's son asked her if I was Katie Perry. #DayMade)

As we made our way through the first two clues, the third was sending us to the Sands Casino. Yes for the first time ever I can say I have sprinted through a Casino.

It was JUST before entering the Casino that we made our move from second place to third! Take THAT Team Wombat.

After texting in our final pic to the Runner's World PR team, we received our final clue and headed back to the ArtsQuest building. We were a quick crossword puzzle away from first place.

That's right - WE WON!

Did y'all expect anything less from me? :P

Each Team Domination member will receive a $100 gift card to Altra Running!

Once the other three teams returned, it was breakfast and story time.

While enjoying strawberries and yogurt, Budd Coates spoke to us about his book Running On Air. He was talking about the proper way to breathe while running. He did some exercises with us where I learned I cannot follow directions. Ha.

Following Budd was Golden Harper, creator of Altra Running AND the current marathon record holder for a 12-year-old with 2:45. Yeah you read that right.

It was fascinating to hear more about the Altra Running story. I had no idea the company was so new on the market - about 3 years.

After getting a sneak peek at what Altra is coming out with in 2015, it was time to hear more from iFit.

Prior to #RWHalf weekend, each blogger had been sent an iFit Tracker to test and I had really gotten hooked on mine. In addition to testing out the trackers there was a small competition amongst the bloggers put on my iFit.

And. Guess. Who. Won. :)

MEEE!!!

And I won a...

TREADMILL!

I am BLOWN away and psyched. This will benefit not only me, but my entire family. My mom had her knee replaced this past summer and had been wanting a treadmill. Now we have one. :)

After hearing more about the iFit products, including a membership where you can link google maps to your treadmill and basically run anywhere in the world. I mean really? Wicked cool.

Once I was officially pumped from my win! It was time to get a quick "learn to run" session with Golden before Yoga for Runners.

Yoga for Runners was HILARIOUS. The noises of agony we were making were loud and unanimous.

Since this reiterated that I need to do more yoga, the yoga gear they hooked us up with will come in handy at home. The instructor told me to start with easy poses for 15 minutes a couple of times a week and build up. I let her know how bored I get in yoga classes, which is why she suggested starting small.

After so much activity and winning :P, it was time for lunch. The chefs created another delicious meal out of the Runner's World Cookbook, while we listened to Elizabeth from Zelle and Sean MacMillen from Team RWB.

It was finally time for me to grab my selfie with Bart Yasso! #TripMade

With a happy stomach and an inspired heart, it was time to head back to the hotel, clean up and sneak in a nap before the evening began.

I ended up heading to the Expo with Matt (NoMeatAthlete), Presley (RunPretty) and Doug (RockCreekRunner) for some fun!

We headed to pick up our bib, t-shirt, hat and socks (we got all three since we were doing the hat trick) before heading down to the Expo floor. I made sure to thank our sponsors before gunning for the "Pretend you are on the cover of Runner's World" booth.

Yes folks those covers you saw on social media were in fact fake. Womp womp! :P

Then Presley and I wanted to be recognized on the cover for our selfie taking skills.

What the photog caught

What we caught

Doing a cover shoot was fun. <<Hint Hint Runner's World Hint Hint>>

I made sure to head right over to the Sparkly Soul booth to see my girl Pamela and pick up some of the latest headband designs.

Awesome!

With the Expo officially owned, it was time to do some carbo-loading ... Casino style.

While I personally do not gamble, I am really good at WATCHING other people gamble. ;)

Presley hadn't gambled before so Doug and Matt were going to be the mentors.

The gambling didn't go well so we grabbed salad wraps and headed back to the Comfort Suites for some karaoke. The locals had the place packed so we did our best to grab a table and blend in. Well as much as we could being about 35-30 years younger than the rest of the people in attendance.

Adorable duet from Matt and Doug.

Even Pamela joined in on the fun.

After closing down karaoke (it's how we roll), we all headed upstairs to bed with visions of not one, but two Finish lines dancing through our heads.

***

Up next? #RWHalf Festival Part 3: Five & Dime!

#RWHalf Festival Part 1: Runner's World HQ Tour & S'mores

When one gets invited by Runner's World to hang out for a weekend of racing and other fun running-related fun, you clear your schedule and jump on the next plane to Emmaus, Pennsylvania! So that is EXACTLY what I did!

Fine you all are on to me. There wasn't much on that calendar anyway, but let this girl dream. Okay?

The Runner's World Half & Festival took place in Bethlehem, PA October 17-19. I, and 14 other bloggers, invaded Bethlehem on October 16 to get a head start. :)

(Note: Runner's World did sponsor my participation in the RW Half & Festival, but all comments are my own - ain't nobody got time for lyin'!)

I headed out to Pennsylvania on a Noon flight on Thursday, but first enjoyed a pre-flight Harpoon IPA. Cheers to a fun weekend!

Once I arrived in Bethlehem, we headed straight out for a fun night at Runner's World HQ.

That's right. This girl got to go to Runner's World mecca. Pretty sweet.

On the ride from our hotel to RW HQ, we were able to get to know each other. I knew a handful of the bloggers, but was excited to meet the rest of the crew.

Here is a list of who was in attendance:

• Matt from No Meat Athlete
• Katie from Ms Fit Runner
• Kristen from Fit Bottomed Girls
• Sarah from Picky Runner
• Ali from Ali on the Run
• Presley from Run Pretty
• Katie from Runs for Cookies
• Jamie from From Couch To Ironwoman
• Beth from Shut Up And Run
• Lauren from The Foodie Runner
• Charlene from FAB Running
• Dick from Better Cheaper Slower
• Aliah from The Get Fit Diva
• Doug from Rock Creek Runner

After enjoying a delicious dinner straight out of Runner's World Cookbook, it was time to have a personal tour of HQ led by the amazing Mayor of Running Bart Yasso and Editor-In-Chief David Willey.

The first stop on the tour was the Kiva. A Kiva is a room used by Puebloans for religious rituals. The writers and editors go in to think, brainstorm and find possible clarity. I tried to bottle up all the positive energy I could from the room. I will be selling it on eBay later. ;)

We continued upstairs to see the actual offices.

As soon as you made your way through the first set of cubicles, you enter an area covered in pictures of Runner's World covers from around the world. In the middle you will find a large table, a standing desk with treadmill and a stationary bike.

A spot where employees can do their work and work out at the same time.

Just around the corner we saw THE wall. The place where the next issue of Runner's World was being drawn up.

Along the top you could see every Runner's World cover since January 2010. David Willey and Bart Yasso shared their stories of their favorite covers. It was fascinating to hear, which they loved more. I wish I had taken down better notes during that time, but I was secretly trying to write Dani and Weight Off My Shoulders on the blank pages of the storyboard for the next Runner's World.

Yeah it didn't work. Darnit!

Then it was time to enter the magical place known as Bart Yasso's office. I cannot put into words the inspiration that room exudes to the people that walk into it. I really did try to harness as much as I could before having to vacate so someone else could get in.

The party continued down the hall to David's office.

David has been the Editor-In-Chief for 11 years and go toe-to-toe with Bart when storytelling. Seriously, I could've listen to those two swapping running stories all night long. I have a lot of reading from Dr. George Sheehan to do based on recommendations from David.

Photo of Dr. George Sheehan hanging in David's office

After a quick visit to the bike room, where the Bicycling Magazine test bikes hang and commuters leave their bikes, it was S'mores time.

Woo! S'mores. I can't remember the last time I had a good S'more. It was great to finish the tour with sugar. :P

Anyone notice Mark Remy totally photobombing my pic? I knew he wanted to get mentioned here on my blog.

After bidding the RW Editors adieu, we loaded on the bus to head back to the Comfort Suites. There was a killer DJ turnin' beats at their bar and we couldn't miss our opportunity to hear some sick tunes!

***

Next up? #RWHalf Festival Part 2: Amazing Shakeout Run, Altra Running Fun & Expo!

Come Play Two Truths And A Lie With ME! :)

I love the game two truths and a lie and sometimes play it with my running buddies during those cold winter long runs. Since I love it so much, I thought I would share the game with all of you. Okay the rules are easy. Of the three statements below - two are truths and one is a lie. Your objective: pick out the lie.

Got it?

***

Here we go:

1) I was bit by a dog while running a marathon.

2) While running in Chicago one morning, I discovered not one, but two dead bodies.

3) I took a mid-run selfie with Bill Belichick during the Rock 'n' Roll Nashville marathon.

***

Soooo it is up to you: which is the lie?

How To Pack For A Multi-Race Weekend In ONE Carry-On Bag

Never ever ever going to check my running gear when flying to a race. I couldn't imagine the panic I would go into having to try and replace those necessary items while out of my comfort zone.

That is why I make sure to pack - if not all of my clothing - at least my running gear in my carry-on.

Now when I went to Disney for one week for the Dopey Challenge, which included four races with different costumes for each, I successfully packed everything in two carry-ons. #WINNING

So how did I turn this...

... yes that is everything I packed for this weekend's trip to Runner's World Half & Festival in Pennsylvania. I am doing the Hat trick which means I am running the 5k and 10k on Saturday and the Half on Sunday.

Anywho. I turned that mess into...

THIS!

That's right folks. I am a packing genius.

What?

Too far?

Fine fine. I got my packing groove on and got a little excited.

***

Packing for a weekend or week with multiple races can be overwhelming so I break it down to make it easier.

1) Clean off a big space to work with - couch, bed, table. When dealing with multiple races the best thing to do is lay out everything in front of you so you are less apt to forget something major.

2) Begin with the race outfits themselves. Make sure you have the necessary clothing pieces for each race. I usually start from my head and make my way down to my feet.

Sparkly Soul headband, Zensah sports bra, Shirt, Moving Comfort Shorts, Sparkle Athletic Skirt, Fun knee-high socks and sneakers

Once I complete one race ensemble, I put everything in one pile and move on to the second race. I keep the same pattern for each race.

My tad sense of OCD really helps with this. ;)

3) I set up a "shake-out run" or back-up race outfit... just in case! It is also a way for me to bring back-up carpis in case my shorts randomly break down. :P

4) Recovery tools. I pack my Zensah compression shorts as well as two pairs of compression socks/sleeves.

It is tough to know whether a certain airline will let you through with your foam roller or the large Stick so I opt to leave those at home. Plus who wants to snuggle with their foam roller for a flight. I will opt to bring the traveling Stick or Trigger.

5) Electronics. It is time to make sure that Garmin watch is IN the bag and not left on the charger. IF it is on the charger, be sure to leave a post-it note in its place so you do not forget it when packing up.

While I do not run with music, others will need to include their iPod or other music players at this time.

Additional electronics are: laptop, phone charger, activity tracker charger, etc.

6) FUEL!! How can anyone forget about the fuel? It is a great time to take inventory of what you are missing and will need to pick up at the store or Expo. I am keeping it simple for Runner's World Hat trick with ENERGYBits and KIND Snacks Bar.

** Once the race gear is set, we can focus on the rest of the weekend. ;)

7) Non-race clothing. I tend to bunch these by types: pants, shirts, underwear, socks, PJs, etc. Thankfully I am only gone for a four-day trip so I don't require too many extras.

8) Toiletries. Let us NOT forget the deodorant, razors, toothbrush, etc. It is really to benefit everyone around us. ;) Luckily the toiletries are the easiest to buy on-site if necessary.

***

Once the necessary items are laid out ... and checked about seven times to make sure I didn't forget anything, it is time to start packing.

This is where the proper carry-on bag comes in handy!

For this trip, I am leaning on my Apera Performance Duffel bag.

This bag is the perfect size for a carry-on.

To make packing easier I simply pick up my piles, roll up clothing when applicable and place them directly into the bag. I know ground-breaking idea right there. :P

To save space, I will put my socks, underwear, razors, etc inside my sneakers. Every spare inch counts when packing.

Now the best part of the Apera bag would be the side pockets where I can put my sneakers. Each side of the bag can hold a pair of sneakers, which frees up a ton of space within the bag.

Some runners will wear their sneakers to the airport, but I don't go that route. I like to keep them in my bag and wear slip-on shoes or flip flops to the airport for an easier interaction with security.

There are also a ton of pockets, which can hold my Sparkly Soul headbands toiletries and chargers.

And voila my bag is packed for four days of travel including three races and extras!

***

I can also sleep easy knowing I can avoid the potential for lost luggage and race-day headaches.

I will carry an additional carry-on for my wallet, reading materials and a place to put any swag I will inevitably pick up at the Expo.

So go on your way my merry friends and pack smart!

***

What process do you have to handle the joy of packing for a racecation?

*RECAP* Closing Out The Distance Medley With BAA Half

You may know the Boston Athletic Association from this tiny race they put on called The Boston Marathon. I know I know it is rarely talked about so not everyone is in the old loop about it. Well it takes place on Patriots Day in Boston every April. A couple of folks get together and enjoy 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston. Still don't know about it? Eh it's okay. It's never televised or anything. ;) Well the BAA puts on more than that little marathon. In 2012, the BAA created the Distance Medley and you know I had to take part. I was a challenge consisting of a 5k (April), a 10k (June) and a Half Marathon (October). If you completed all three races, you would receive and additional medal.  YUP that's where they had me!

In 2014, I would complete the Distance Distance Medley. Yes I made that up but it meant I would be running the BAA 5k, 10k, Half AND Full. No extra medal was offered, but I will pretend I got one and offer that up to the BAA for future ideas.

So Sunday marked the final race in the Distance Medley - the BAA Half.

This is one well-run race. The BAA has the system down pact and as a participant I truly appreciate that.

The race began at 8:30 so the wife and I jumped in the car just after 7am so she could drop me off near the Franklin Park Zoo, where the race began/ended. I opted for an english muffin/pb before leaving the house and a KIND bar to use as fuel before and during the race.

I arrived at the Start Area just before 7:30 and was glad I chose to wear a throwaway shirt as it was chilly! Hello Fall. I beelined for the port-o-potties to get that out-of-the-way and started taking laps around the Start Area to stay warm. Okay I was also looking for anyone I knew since I knew a ton of people at the race, but hadn't made specific plans to meet up with anyone.

Thanks Pattie for finding me and catching up!!

At 8:05am I made my way over to the Start Area. I remembered in 2012 that the Start Corrals were a mess as folks ignored the Pace signs and just tried to get into the Start Corral. Things seemed to run much smoother this year.

While the acting race director (actual race director of BAA was in Kona competing in Iron Man World Championships) and the Mayor spoke, I stretched in the Start Corral and took the opportunity to snap a selfie.

For the first time since the Dopey Challenge in January, I opted to run with music. Since I was sick the last thing I wanted to do was spend 13 miles listening to my horrible breathing/coughing. :P I'd let the people around me suffer through that. ;)

Following the wheelchairs going off, it was our turn. Just after 8:30am, me and 8000 of my closest friends set out to enjoy 13.1 miles.

I didn't have a hard time goal for the race, but in the back of my mind I wanted to finish sub-2. But I knew I would have to listen to my breathing and my body during the race to really set the tone.

The announcer reminded everyone that the first half of the race is more downhill, while the second half was the uphill fun and to race accordingly.

Just like the Boston Marathon the Half starts out on an immediate downhill. I could see myself getting swept up with the runners around me so I recommitted mentally to focusing on MY race. It wouldn't be a PR day - not close to it - so no reason to race recklessly.

I didn't have anyone out specifically cheering for me, but since I knew so many folks racing I hoped to see many familiar faces on the course cheering and running.

Mile 1: 8:06 Mile 2: 8:40 Mile 3: 8:30

I LOVE the Mile 3/4 area of the race because it features an out and back. So not only do I get to see the elite athletes FLY past me, but after I go through the turnaround I can see my friends coming towards me. :)

Mile 4: 8:17 Mile 5: 8:32

5-Mile Check-In: 42:51 (8:34 min/mile pace)

I appreciate BAA offering runner tracking for free for the BAA Half. It allowed not only my wife to track me, but I could update Twitter on the fly. BAA sent out Start, 5-Mile, 10-Mile and Finish Time updates. I love me some free updates.

The weather was perfect and it helped keep my breathing in check. I made sure to take water or gatorade at every water stop and walk through those stops. That 10 second break for my legs and breathing was crucial to me feeling in control throughout the entire run.

Mile 6: 8:33

Just after the 10k mark, I took a quick walk break to have another portion of my KIND bar. Now I am not one to usually carry part of a bar in the back pocket of my shorts and I know why. Hello sweaty KIND bar. :P But it did the trick and thankfully didn't taste any extra salty. ;) I'm happy I carried extra fuel!

Not sure if BAA had a discussion with the trees, but we were entering a gorgeous typical New England Fall landscape and I was loving it.

Why yes the pretty landscape made the incline we were tackling a tad bit easier. Okay not sure everyone would agree with me on that, but it is how I felt in the moment.

I was doing a really good job of ignoring my Garmin during the run. Pace was the farthest thing from my mind. I wanted to soak up the beauty.

And cherish that I was healthy enough to be out on this great course doing something I love.

With my feet moving on auto pilot, my mind was allowed to wander to think about how my life has changed due to weight loss, Weight Watchers and running.

A quick text to friends and the wife letting them know I had hit Mile 7 and I was back to soaking in the race.

Mile 7: 9:07

The crowds were pocketed, but mighty. Spectating a race can be a chore I know - waiting around all that time to catch a glimpse of the person you love come by - but I want to thank all the spectators for cheering on the countless strangers. Many a time that extra high five from a little kid has picked me up enough to push through to the next mile.

Mile 8: 8:27

Through Mile 8 we were making our way back towards the Franklin Park Zoo and the final climb to the Finish. I hadn't run the race since 2012, but the course came back to me as the miles passed.

I was coughing more, but seeing friends I knew on the course kept me pushing forward, but I needed help from my social media crowd to push through the final 4 miles, which I knew were hillier than the previous 9.

A call to social media meant I needed another selfie.

Mile 9: 8:17

Just after I took the Mile 9 selfie I noticed the boyfriend and the fiancee of two of my Tedy's Team teammates.  They didn't know how much I needed those smiles and high-fives. Again, it motivated me forward.

It was time to start playing the mental games of "Oh you only have 4 miles left" and "You ran that with Sarah yesterday you can do it now."

The Mile 10-11 stretch is an out and back with a hefty incline attached to it. I remembered this portion in 2012 seeming never-ending, but this year it wasn't as tough as I recalled. I guess that means I feel stronger now or I built it up more in my mind. You decide. ;)

Mile 10: 8:39

10-Mile Check-In: 1:26:41 (8:40 min/mile pace)

Mile 11: 8:19

Just after the Mile 11 water stop comes the biggest hill of the race. THIS was what I had apparently blocked from my memory. Ha. As we took the right to start the ascent up, I noticed a bunch of spectators walking up the hill to the left. I asked a few if they wanted to tap in and finish the race for me, but they just laughed at me. Apparently they didn't think I was serious??? :P I also asked a group of spectators if I was running in the right direction for the beer. Again just laughter. Well at least I could entertain them, right?

Can we tell I have a little fun while out on the course?

After the incline we are treated with a mile through the Franklin Park Zoo. How can you be angry when you get to run through a zoo during a race?

I tried to snap a picture of the birds, but it didn't come out very well.

Also it was a little BS that I couldn't buy some mid-run Dippin Dots for fuel.

I do regret not going back and attempting to take a mid-run selfie with the Camel in the Zoo. I feel like I let myself down there, but I didn't spot the camel until I was well past it. Next time I'll be more aware! I promise. :)

Mile 12: 8:39

The crowds were thick as we came out of the Zoo and headed to the Finish chute. We finish along the track within White Stadium, which is pretty sweet since the stands are full of spectators.

Mile 13: 8:18

I decided I wanted to up my selfie game and snap one as I crossed the Finish Line.

Now I am just waiting to see how it looked from the MarathonFoto photographers' angle. :)

Official FINISH TIME: 1:52:58 (8:37 min/mile pace)

Besides my Garmin saying 13.34 miles the finish time was spot on. I beelined it to my friend Greg, who was handing out Finisher's Medals. I had promised him that we would take a selfie together after he hung my medal around my neck.

Greg is an unbelievably motivating person who kicks ass on the running and triathlon fronts. Plus he let's me bother him with my asinine training questions. :) Thank you internet for brining Greg into my world.

Following the Half medal pick-up, I had to grab my Distance Medley medal.

Oh hey hey pretty bling!

After you pick up your medals, you are directed right into the post-race food area: protein bars, bananas, bagels and additional snacks from B.Good. I went STRAIGHT to the bagels and was psyched to see Chocolate Chip bagels. I have never seen Chocolate Chips bagels at the end of any other race than a BAA one.

Mmmm worth every Weight Watchers Point.

The only downside is BAA races don't offer post-race beer. We know that is a must for the races I sign up for. So this is an exception.

Overall the race was a great experience as always with clear directions/signage, tons of volunteers and great spectator support. Plus the bling is pretty sweet.

My second distance medley was in the books and I think I will keep adding it into the mix every couple of years. It is hard to commit in January when sign ups occur to be home each of those weekends in April, June and October.

I highly recommend the Distance Medley to all of my friends. But if you aren't up for that the BAA Half is a great first half for any of my friends/readers ready to take that next step in their racing.

***

Have you ever done a race series challenge or the Distance Medley itself?

*RECAP* Run, Beer & Pretzels Equals Cambridge 5k Oktoberfest 5k Fun

For three-straight years it's rained during Oktoberfest 5k, why would we assume it would be any different on October 5, 2014. It was even raining on Saturday when I went to pick up my race bib and sweet t-shirt.

Thankfully the rain made other plans on Sunday and for once the Cambridge 5k Oktoberfest 5k would be held under the shining sun! Wahoo!

Since the race was a mere 15 minute ride from my house, I could sleep in until 8am and casually get ready for the race. Race would be kicking off at 9:30am.

Apparently I was a little too casual about the race as I almost left the house without my bib. Umm thanks honey for noticing that. Oops!

Maybe I should get back to laying my clothes out the night before ANY race not just the marathons. ;)

I enjoyed my water and toast with peanut butter on the drive over. I wanted to make sure I had some fuel in my body, but not too much that would weigh me down for the shorter distance race.

Oktoberfest 5k, which benefits Cambridge Family & Children's Service (CFCS), was moved to a different section of Technology Square in Cambridge and it was a great decision by race director, Eddie. The space is much larger than the previous space and allowed ample space for the post-race party and dance off.

I managed to run into a bunch of people I knew - blogger friends, Weight Watchers members, fellow Slumbrew Happy Soles and more - while wandering around before the race. I love being able to catch up with so many people at a race. It always puts a big smile on my face. :) Who knew I would be so happy meeting up with folks at races and making so many friends through running.

All of a sudden I checked my iFit and realized it was 9:20am. Yeah I should probably start moving over to the Start Area I thought to myself. I was going to be living on the edge opting not to wait in the never-ending port-o-pottie line and chance it.

I also need to promise that I did't purposely match my outfit to my race bib. :P It just happened to work out that way.

I opted to wear my lighter ASICS Gel Hyper Speed6 sneakers since they are more of a racing flat. I like how they are lightweight for the 5k distance, but anything longer than that I tend to stick with my trusty ASICS GT-2000s.

There are a ton of speedy folks that run in the Cambridge 5k series so I tried to get up to the front-ish to make sure I could get into my own groove with limited people passing me on the onset.

Oktoberfest is the biggest race of the Cambridge 5k series so there tend to be more congestion than at any of the other races so placing yourself correctly is crucial.

The gun went off and so did we. I did pass a couple right off the bat that seemed a little shocked at how many speedy people there were. Not sure what they were expecting at a 5k race. But the folks that run the Cambridge 5k series run the gamut from the 5:xx min/mile runners to first time walkers. That is what I love - everyone is welcome!

The course was different than in previous years and was touted as being flat flat flat. I liked the sound of it, but doubted it being pancake flat. FYI I was right. ;)

I tried to get into my own groove, but for some reason my body had other ideas. I felt sluggish right from the get go. I knew my lack of sleep and not pristine eating habits over the past week could catch up with me ... and they did.

I honestly thought I was running in place for part of Mile 1, but I trusted my body was in fact moving in a forward direction.

Mile 1: 7:23

Now normally I would be thrilled with that for Mile 1, but I was disappointed. I have been working on getting faster and it was paying off recently, but on this day the body had other ideas.

It is always something to remember - you never know which body will show up on race day.

So I decided just to go with the flow. Either way I would be thoroughly entertained by the costumes around me. Many folks took the German theme and ran with it. *Ba dum dum*

There are random droppings of spectators along the course so I relied on the volunteers for some pick-up energy and they didn't disappoint. Big thanks to those folks along the course directing runners, handing out water or offering up a high-five.

Oh and you can welcome some inclines to the party. As I traveled upwards I thought to myself how that was in fact not flat. :P I didn't really mind, but always find people have different definitions of flat.

Mile 2: 7:41

Lots of potholes on the roads of Cambridge so I made sure to triple check the ground before snapping my mid-run selfie.

Yup I felt myself slowing down, but just kept telling myself to move forward and either way the BEER would be at the Finish.

Just after Mile 2, I saw my Slumbrew teammate Pat sit down on the side of the road and grab his knee. I ran past him then made sure to back  track to see how he was doing. Without thinking about it I stopped my Garmin. Yeah that doesn't happen during a race. It did show me that Pat and I chatted for about 17 seconds. ;)

Pat said he was okay and didn't need medical help so I restarted the Garmin and got back on the course.

The final mile of any race is always a mental game with me. I started passing the time - since I didn't wear headphones - by counting my steps. It calms me down. I've also come to realize 150 steps is 0.1 miles so I play games with myself. I know cool kid. :P

Some of the course looked familiar as we crossed over some of the streets from the Cambridge 5k Yulefest 5k, which is held in Harvard Square in December.

The sun was high and the shade was at a minimum. The short sleeves, while they sucked before the race, came in really handy during the race itself.

Mile 3: 7:43

The final stretch included three separate turns, which made the final 0.1 seem like an eternity. But coming through to a bunch of cheers and familiar faces is always a joy!

Final Time: 24:16 (7:49 min/mile pace)

While I was disappointed with my time - no one to blame but me - I was extra mad to be 54 seconds slower than last year's Oktoberfest. Grr... Some races I seem to be going backwards in my speed instead of forwards. Again I know every day and every race is different, but it can still be frustrating.

Something I am going to focus on and work on in the future.

The good thing was the race was done, the water drank and it was time to move on to the beer and pretzels!!

Cambridge Brewing Company provided beer (Pale Ale and Pumpkin Ale, Swiss Bakers had the pretzels and Jason Wirth also provided food.

Eddie, race director, set up the square with 4 different beer tents pouring to try and shorten the beer lines, but unfortunately with 2100+ runners there were still lengthy lines at times.

We entertained ourselves in the line as best we could. :)

Just after 11am, we gathered as many of the 56 Slumbrew Happy Soles as we could for a team pic.

It is amazing being part of such an awesomely supportive and great group of people.

Big props to Slumbrew runner Craig who came in #1 overall with an amazing time of 17:05. How amazing is that? I wonder what it is like to break the tape.

With Craig and some other speedsters on the team, Slumbrew took the #1 team overall. Waaahhh!!

Our team never wins until Big Bad Wolf 5-Miler in September, when we were 2nd overall.

The prize? A growler of CBC Pale Ale ... which we all shared on the spot. :)

Victory tasted delicious!

After many hugs and high fives, it was time for me to head home and continue my Sunday. I missed the dance off, but heard a Slumbrew Happy Sole member actually walked away with the crown there too. Hollah!

So if you are thinking about checking out Cambridge 5k Oktoberfest 5k next year ... do it! You might see a familiar face ... or 10!

***

Want in on the final Cambridge 5k race of the year? Join the Slumbrew Happy Soles and I at Yulefest 5k on December 14. Register here.

Monday Musings: Mental Block

I've had this post open for weeks. Just a blank piece of the web staring back at me. That damn cursor blinking back at me. So much in my head wanting to escape, but the words just wouldn't pour out of my brain.

There were a couple of topics I wanted to touch on. But with so many bloggers out there someone already wrote about it ... and about 1,000 times better than I could. So I say to myself: why bother?

It's like for the past few weeks I have diminished my right - no need - to blog. I started Weight Off My Shoulders to give myself a place to release the demons from my mind, share the ups and downs in the life and to impart on folks the lessons I have learned along the way.

So why tell myself I am not worthy to do that?

Why?

Because I am feeling off track and that impacts all other areas of my life.

Sleep? Not happening and really frustrating since some of that is not out of my control.

Balanced eating? Not happening to what I expect from myself.

Fitness? Not happening to the standard I want.

So what do I do next?

Write.

No matter what I am feeling or what the topic is. I am going to work blog each and every day this week. It should open up the creative juices and help me break through this mental block.

Training Plan.

I am also meeting up with my best friend on Saturday to spend the day together and part of the day will be writing up a new training plan for me. I need to have a game plan to keep my fitness level to the point where I want it to be.

I have 9 races left on my calendar for 2014 and I want to finish strong!

Set A Bedtime.

Starting today my goal is to be in bed with lights off and maybe music playing at 9:30 and asleep by 10. This should offer a semblance of a routine back into my sleep pattern. I hope.

***

Get ready folks Weight Off My Shoulders is coming at ya this week! :)

***

REMINDER: I am hosting my first Instagram giveaway with Sparkly Soul and it ends Friday. You can enter once a day on IG by sharing #HowISparkle. This doesn't mean you have to be wearing a Sparkly Soul headband - I know some folks are trying to win their first - so show me how you sparkle: volunteering, playing with friends, inspiring others, etc...

***

Have you ever experienced writer's block? How did you push through?