The Pittsburgh Half Marathon

So over the weekend I ran my second half marathon ever right here in the city that I love so much. This was my first go-around with the Pittsburgh half marathon & I am really happy to say that I had a GREAT experience. I might be a little biased since I was born & raised here,  but this was one of the most fun, energetic races I've ever run in my life with (hands down) the best spectators.

I decided to run for charity & the charity I chose was Steel City Greyhounds. I'm sure most of you know by now that I'm the proud owner of an Italian Greyhound myself (Luna) & my aunt actually adopted a retired racer (Ice) from Steel City a few years ago. They promote the adoption of retired racing greyhounds & they ensure they go to fantastic, loving homes. 

They're a fantastic organization run by fantastic people & I was really quite proud to represent them and their beautiful dogs.

They also hooked their charity runners up with some awesome gear & a handful of racers were on hand at the expo to work the crowd. I made sure to wear my SCG shirt to the expo & (obviously) had to stop and say hi to some 40 mph couch potatoes. Roger (black & white dog above) was my favorite even though he was more interested in holding his mom's hands than taking a picture with me! 

The expo was great, too. It was really crowded, but there were a ton of vendors there & I ended up finding some really sweet Pittsburgh gear to run in on Sunday. Swag bags were nice, too. I was pretty into the Red Bull Red edition that was in there. I'm usually not a fan of energy drinks but that thing actually tasted really good.

My ensemble on Sunday consisted of a shirt and shorts from Fresh Factory which is located here in Pittsburgh. The "Yinz Run Like Jagoffs" shirt is pretty much my favorite shirt of all time now. I freaking love anything that has to do with Pittsburgh quirks. I also wore my Boston Strong BIC Band which I ordered online a few weeks ago when they were released. They're $12 & 100% of the proceeds are donated to the One Fund. You can purchase them here. I've always loved BIC Bands, so this was a no-brainer for me.

The course of this race was really great until the very end. Running through the west end & the south side were probably my favorites. My family & boyfriend were in the west end, and the south side was just so much fun. There were people handing out gummy worms & the signs there were cracking me up. I hope people who come out and support runners know how much they are GENUINELY appreciated. I high fived everyone with their hand out and I made sure to smile at people that made eye contact with me. Even the guy who was simply saying "WELCOME TO THE WEST END" and giving everyone a thumbs up made me happy. It was an awesome, awesome atmosphere & it just further proves the point that Pittsburghers are awesome people.

Running over the bridges was totally awesome, too. It's just a really unique experience overall that I think only Pittsburgh can offer.

The last 3 miles of the race, however, were a total and absolute buzzkill. Apparently the course has changed over the years & a hill was added in the last stretch of the half. While it doesn't look like a super steep slope, it's a gradual incline that goes on for far, far too long. The rest of the course is relatively flat (a few slopes), but nothing quite like the end. A young man actually died at mile 12 this year, and many are saying that course elevation may have played a role. It makes me so sad to know that something like that happened at what was supposed to be such a celebration. I hope that race organizers consider making a change next year.

Jim (my boyfriend) made me a pretty amazing sign that said "Run Like Luna" (my italian greyhound) and he even drew an adorable little cartoon of her at the bottom. It brought a huge smile to my face at mile 8 :) 

I was very happy with my time (2:08) & I managed to shave about 20 minutes off of my half marathon PR since I ran my first back in November in Disney! Clearly my next goal is to finish under 2 - but I was absolutely happy with finishing so much faster than my first attempt at 13.1. I also have to say that I owe a lot of credit to Spider Tech Kineseology tape which I used on my knee & thigh. I had a strained muscle in my thigh from dance & my knee is always anti-social during my long distance runs. I experienced VERY little pain & I was absolutely shocked at how well this product worked. 

You can see my bionic blue leg in this mirror shot. If you have generic pain, I really recommend checking out their X Spiders ($30 for a 20 pack or $4 for a 2 pack) which are really versatile and can be put pretty much anywhere you're experiencing pain. Their pre-cut strips are also great for people like myself who can't just take a roll of kineseology tape and magically know how to apply it. I'm sure there are directions and stuff, but this was 4:30 in the morning & aint nobody got time for that. I managed to strap up my whole leg in like 5 minutes & I was good to go all day. So THANK YOU Spider Tech. You literally saved my ass.

Also, here is a link to the pre-cut upper knee tape I used. If you get knee pain while running, I would definitely recommend checking it out. I was a total non-believer in this stuff but I can now swear by the fact that it does work.

So thank you to Pittsburgh, Pittsburgers, Fresh Factory, Steel City Greyhounds, BIC Bands, Spider Tech, Jim, my family members, & all of the fantastic runners that made their way through the 'burgh on Sunday for making this one of the most memorable races ever. I truly had the time of my life.

Keep Running,

Kelli

Local Runs, a Milestone, & Nuun

I have a love/hate relationship with running 5k's & such in my immediate neighborhoods. While I truly appreciate the fact that I can wake up 15 minutes before the race and still have time to chill beforehand - I don't know how much I love seeing A LOT of people I know.

Mainly because I spend .73 seconds getting ready for races that start prior to 8:30am. That + people you haven't seen since high school = don't mind me stretching behind this tree off in the distance hoping that you don't see me looking a hot mess at 7:45am.

But I digress.

I ran the annual 5k in Carnegie, PA on Sunday that benefits the police department there. It's the town that's right next to mine, so it was nice to support a local cause. I did look for photographic evidence of my existence at the race, but the photographer took pictures of 16 random people coming across the finish, dogs, and everyone who won the 50/50 raffle.

Another thing I love about small community runs is the improvisation that needs to occur in order to fit in 3.1 miles. Start line in the parking lot everyone running the race parked in? Sure why not. As you can see by the picture, there was a pretty nice turn out & the crowd extended even farther out to the right, as well. I think they managed to raise close to $15,000 for the department - so that's nice.

For a smaller run, this was very well organized I must say. I think this was their 6th year doing this, so they have it down pretty good. They also had a crap load of 50/50 prizes (none of which me, my aunt, or my uncle won..) & the vibe was good overall. Very supportive & friendly despite my attempts to be anti-social.

This also happened during the race.. so that's pretty awesome.

I ended up finishing 7th in the age category of Women 18-29 which had 49 runners, and 73rd out of 479 overall. I actually had my best 5k time of 2013 during this race which was 25:36, 8:15/mile. Good stuff.

Before my runs I have been drinking water with Nuun tablets, as well. I feel like this time of year, hydration really becomes a problem with me because of the heat. I haven't had any issues since implementing this strategy, so I'm going to stick with it as it continues to heat up. If you're unfamiliar with Nuun, they're tablets that turn your water into an electrolyte drink that caters to high-intensity activities because the type of electrolyte blend used absorbs quickly. If you have issues staying hydrated during your runs - I'd absolutely recommend checking them out.

They come in little tubes of 12 tablets and they're available in like a billion different flavors. I am personally a fan of the banana because it kind of makes your water taste like banana runts. I must say that Nuun certainly does add a pop of flavor, so definitely check them out if you're looking for a nice alternative to paying $3 for a bottle of Gatorade. You can get a 4 pack of tubes (that's 48 tablets) for $22 through their website. Please stay safe & hydrated as the weather gets warmer, friends :)

Pittsburgh half marathon in t-minus two days! Pretty excited :) 

Keep Running,

Kelli

Go Ahead... Say It

I don't think there's any question that runners are absolutely incredible at self-motivation. I tell myself things during distance runs that would be downright laughable in any other situation. When you can go from thinking "oh my GOD my legs are absolutely killing me right now" to "SCREW YOU, VOICE IN MY HEAD - I AM SO MUCH STRONGER AND BETTER AND PRETTIER AND MORE AWESOME THAN YOU GIVE ME CREDIT FOR" - you know you're a runner.

So yes, I am a fan of cocky slogans. I am all in on pushing my body to its limits to prove both myself and any doubters wrong. I think when you're involved in a sport that is so mentally driven, you absolutely have to embrace the "Say I Won't & I Will" lifestyle.

So when Brent from SAYiWON'T got back to me - yes, I was absolutely thrilled. I had been checking out this company for quite some time and I was all in on what they stood for. It's a combination of believing in yourself, constantly striving to be better, and not giving an ISH what anybody else thinks. 

If you didn't see my last post on the Burgh's Pizza & Wing Pub 10k, I wore a SAYiWON'T shirt to that race & I had a couple people ask me where I got it. I absolutely wanted to highlight their brand on the blog because not only does it stand for something I believe in, the clothes are truly comfortable & high-quality, as well. Here are a couple of my favorite items from them:

"I'm Going Pro" shirt (on sale right now for $11.95!)

"Finish Under 2 (Say I Won't!)" shirt ($21.00)

How perfect is this training for my half marathon right now!?

Long Beach Beanie ($19.99)

Also, if you guys use the code sayiwontRUN2013, you'll get 15% off your order right now.. Stock up for your summer runs! You can be all confident & cocky out on the course and look good while doing it!

They honestly have a TON of merchandise through their website which I think is really fun since so many athletic apparel brands have like 4 shirts to choose from and that's it. They have a full men's line, a full women's line, and a ton of accessories that include wristbands, car stickers, koozies & even kids apparel. Everything can be found here if you're looking to check out the full selection.

I honestly have to say that during my last 10k I started feeling really effing sore towards the end & I couldn't help but think to myself "You have SAYiWON'T sprawled across your chest right now, Kelli - Do you REALLY want to give ANYONE that opportunity?"

The answer was clearly no.

Say I freaking WON'T.... and I will.

Keep Running,

Kelli

Burgh's Pizza & Wing 10k Race Recap

After enduring a crazy week last week thanks to Luna's spay surgery-gone-wrong (she's okay now), I was really happy to be running again. I regretfully had to end up missing the Martha's Run 10k last weekend because of her emergency procedure, so needless to say - I was really antsy to get out there for the Burgh's Pizza & Wing Pub 10k on Sunday.

I was pretty pumped because the weather was supposed to be so nice, but it was pretty stinkin' freezing waiting for the race to start. It was completely the wind's fault, though. I've been waiting a REALLY LONG TIME to run without my dang Under Armour, but I had to suck it up and wear it on Sunday.

I know I'm kind of half smiling in this picture, but BOO to wearing Under Armour in April. 

BOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Also want to note that I busted out my SAYiWON'T Vintage Tee for this race. I'll have a post on them coming up in the next couple days, but this is currently the comfiest t-shirt I own & I was happy to run in it. It's $26 through the SAYiWON'T website (use code sayiwontRUN2013 for 15% off). It also has their badass mantra on the back, as well.

Fortunately it was pretty sunny outside which was nice because when the wind wasn't blowing you could soak up some of the heat. There were some pretty long lines to pick up race packets when we first got there, but they did a good job moving everyone along. There was a 5k before the 10k, though - so once the 5k started it cleared out the crowd.

Because it was so sunny, I wore my Tifosi sunglasses that make me look like a hot shot. I actually really enjoy running in these glasses though because they don't bounce around, but they also don't dig into the sides of my skull. I believe these are the "Vogel" model, which you can check out here. They come in a nice solid case with a cleaning cloth, too.

The Montour Trail was the venue for the race & it's one of the most popular running trails here in Pittsburgh. I don't do a ton of trail running, but this portion of the trail really made me want to opt for more trail runs than neighborhood runs. The scenery was so beautiful, and this particular portion of the trail sat high and went overtop of a roadway which warranted an amazing view. I also enjoyed the part of the race where you went through this little cave tunnel thing. I'm a sucker for scenery changes like that.

The course was also relatively flat except for just two areas that had a slight incline. Because it was an out and back, though - you could take advantage of downhills on the way back. My only complaint really would be that was because it was so narrow and they did take an out/back approach - you had to run almost in a single file line at points. Once things spread out enough, though, it really wasn't an issue at all. Just a little hairy getting started. Overall, it was a great course & I would actually consider driving the 20 minutes out there just to run it again for fun.

I ran a nine minute pace which I was happy with since I had only gotten to run once the week before this race due to Luna's surgery. Honestly, I felt great after the race which I'm really happy about since my half is in two weeks! My nose did get sunburnt though! Guess it's that time of year that I need to start remembering the sunscreen.. haha.

And big big big kudos goes to Burgh's Pizza & Wing Pub who catered the post-race festivities. Not only was there a HUGE selection (even after both the 5k and 10k races were finished), but everything was so good. From wings to pizza to cold cut sandwiches to a few different kinds of pasta - I was blown away at how above & beyond they went for us runners. It was greatly appreciated! Thanks to all who were involved... I will certainly be doing this run again next year!

Keep Running,

Kelli

Words for a Loss of Words

I'm still so sad about this.

I don't mean to sound insensitive, but whenever I read about most tragedies that happen - I can get through an article without feeling like I'm going to break down. Sure, I'm absolutely heartbroken for the victims & can't begin to imagine the pain their friends and families are feeling - but this time it's is different for me. Every article I read, every news story that comes on my tv... they all bring me to the verge of tears every. single. time.

Seeing the face of little Martin Richard puts a lump in my throat. Hearing about how the parents of Krystle Campbell thought their daughter was alive, only to find there was an identification mix up on the way to the hospital makes me nauseous.

How could this happen?

Runners are a family. We're soulmates. When you run past another runner on the sidewalk, you smile. You nod. You high five. This has affected our happy little community in the most horrific way possible. You might not know a single person who ran Boston personally, but as a runner - you feel like you know every single one of them. At least I know I do.

And the thing that absolutely sickens me about all of this is that a majority of these victims weren't even there to run the race that day. They were there to support their friends and family members who worked so hard to qualify for that sacred race. They were there to show love and support and encouragement, and THIS is what happened to them. This morning, I read about the man who was at the race to cheer on his girlfriend and had to have a leg amputated due to his injuries. You've probably seen his picture. He's the one being pushed in the wheelchair by Carlos Arredondo (the hero in the cowboy hat).

I read things like that, and I can't help but think of the times I've begged my boyfriend and my mom and my dad and my friends to come watch my races. I cannot fathom the grief these runners feel who had a spectator there for them that fell victim to these horrible events. It makes me so sad that I can't even express it. It makes me so angry that I can't even express it.

And Bill Iffrig - the 78 year-old who was finishing Boston in a little over four hours - was knocked down by the blast, got up, refused a wheel chair, and walked six blocks to his hotel. Those stories of strength bring me to the verge of tears, as well. How about the runners who KEPT RUNNING past their 26.2 goal to go and donate blood? It's unbelievable. Heroes came in all shapes and sizes that day.

When I run Pittsburgh on May 5 - every single step I take will be for the victims who were lost, the victims who are injured (both physically and emotionally), and this beautiful, positive community that I am so proud to be a member of. I will slap as many hands as I can to thank the spectators for supporting us during this incredibly difficult time. I can't even imagine how much more I will appreciate every smiling face I see alongside the road that day. Running might not be a team sport, and I say that all the time, but right now - we're all a team. The runners, the spectators, the race directors - we are all in this together.

I'll think of Boston every time I run.

No Matter What - Keep Running,
Kelli

Very hard not to be shook by this.

Thoughts & prayers go out to everyone in Boston today.

5 No-Brainer Ways to Spice Up a Neighborhood Run

I live in a relatively small suburb outside of Pittsburgh known as Crafton, PA. While some don't like the idea of living in a town where you know a vast majority of the population, I truly like where I come from. I grew up in Crafton, and until my boyfriend and I buy a house (hopefully) later this year - it's the place I currently call home.

When the weather isn't 100% unbearable outside, you can generally find me running through Crafton. The town itself isn't very big, but I've mapped out both a 5k and a 10k course (the 10k does involve a bit more "circling the block" than I'd like, though). The nice thing about running in Crafton is the fact that there is a nice mixture of "holy crap" hills, "not-so-bad" hills, & flat land. I've found it to be great in terms of training for both short & long runs just because it's perfect for endurance building.

Because I consider myself somewhat of a "regular" when it comes to neighborhood running, I've listed five easy ways to spice things up when you're starting to get bored. As someone who has tested all of these strategies, I can tell you that they really are a nice way to break up an otherwise typical "neighborhood run". 

1. Don't Obey the Law: After running the same route for quite some time, I realized something funny about the course I chose to take. Because I was so used to not only running through Crafton, but DRIVING through Crafton - I noticed that I totally was obeying "One Way" streets on my runs. One day, I decided that I was going to make an effort to go the opposite way up these streets & it was surprisingly awesome. This works especially well if you're very familiar with an area, because you're able to get a view that you wouldn't normally get when driving through the area.

2. Go Down Memory Lane: If you live nearby or in the area where you grew up, I can't tell you how much fun it is to literally turn your run into a trip down memory lane. Make a point to run past places where you used to hang out, old friends' houses, the swimming pool where you used to spend every summer, etc... Every time I do this, I find that I get so lost in my own thoughts that I end up running longer without even thinking about it.If you want to up the ante - create a playlist to listen to during your memory run that's full of music from the decade you grew up in.

3. Get Funky: While this doesn't specifically apply to running in a neighborhood, it's something that I only do on training runs (not during timed races) to have a little bit of fun. Whether you want to do it with your current playlist or put together a new one - make up a "movement" for a part of every song. It could be something as simple as playing the air drums during the chorus or you could make it more challenging like doing a spin move and a tuck jump when the bridge comes in. Not only is it fun to listen to every song start and think "Ok, what's my move for this song?", but it's also a nice way to add in a little bit of extra "OOMPH" if you get fancy with your cues.

4. Switch It Up: I've found that so many runners JUST run and totally forget how important strength training is, as well. To incorporate leg work into your regular neighborhood run, do lunges down alleys instead of jogging. Anytime you know your approaching an alley, slow down a bit to regulate your heart rate, and lunge the length of the back road. Lunges will not only help you build strength in your legs, but they can also help reduce your risk of injury & improve your balance.

5. Capture It: This is something that I just recently thought of & I'll eventually be chronicling it here on the blog. At some point on your run, choose a spot to stop and take a picture. Try to pick a location with some character, too. Take a photo in this same spot every single time you run. It could be on your warm up, in the middle of your run when you find you typically need a break, or somewhere on your cool down. If you're a regular neighborhood runner, there's a good chance you take the same or a similar path back home when you run. Right now I only have 7 of these pictures, but I am loving this project already. Once the seasons begin to change, you can imagine how interesting it will be to see the transformation.

Keep Running,
Kelli