Fav running socks

These are my all-time favorite running socks. They are Balega socks that were highly recommended from the Columbus Running Company. I had to use a gift card and bought two pairs, one for me and for Brandon before the Cap City Half Marathon.

Sidenote: And if you do need shoes, try the Columbus Running Company. They have the nicest people who are so helpful and take time to see if they shoe fits your feet.

The cool thing about the Balega hidden sock type is that they go up higher on the ankle so you don't get rubbage or sores that bleed while you run. And the cool thing is that you can wear them for two workouts even if you have a super sweaty run. Love that. They are $8, but even Brandon who is extremely thrifty loved them and proclaimed them his favorite.

Cap City Half Marathon

Wow. All I can say is thank you Lord I finished!

We started race morning at 5:30 am. I made us peanut butter, honey and banana toasts with coffee. I told Brandon I was having a problem eating it and thought it was my nerves. I felt like I had a hole in my stomach because I was so nervous (later find out it wasn't just nerves).

We got dressed, loaded up and headed into Columbus about 6:30 am for the 8 am start. Brandon works at Nationwide Insurance and we went into the building and hung out and I went to the bathroom no less than 5 times. Around 7:40 we headed down to the start about 5 minutes from the parking garage. Nice!

Start
The start was awesome. We were in a corral that was a little crowded, which was hard to get into. The lead sax player from OAR played the National Anthem and then we waited 90 seconds for the horn to blow.

What I liked most was that they did the corrals in waves. Each corral had to wait for a separate horn for them unlike the Columbus Marathon where everyone starts together and you feel like you are in the Wild West! Elbows out I told Brandon.

The actual course was really nice except I felt like the first 6 miles were spent doing little bunny hills up. We ran towards Grandview and then did a loop and headed towards Lane Avenue.

Brandon and I were going to try to run together if we felt good. We were both aiming for 2 hours. At mile 2, Brandon and I split up. He was feeling really good and I was struggling with stomach issues. At mile 3 I saw Jess, our friend, and started crying, I think being sick just made me feel off and it was so nice to see her. I was in survival mode and even thought about getting a DNF (Does not finish), but told myself I would regret that forever and didn't want to quit.

I saw the quarter marathoners heading in and thought about going with them.

At mile 6 I started getting in a better place although I was shivering and felt really cold. I thought I could do it if I just kept my pace at a certain speed. I couldn't go faster or my stomach would rebel. My feet felt great and my knee was awesome. I was on a 9:27 pace here, but thought, if I pull back I can finish.

I saw Amber who was also racing around mile 10 in the dreaded German Village part and we ran together a little bit. It was so nice to see a friend!

I had told Brandon that running from German Village to High Street is the hardest part -- people were walking up the big hill at mile 11. Elevation went from around 100 to 800-plus.

I did a steady pace up and then blessed the race director who chose to have us go by the Vern Riffe building -- a total downhill stretch where you felt like you were flying. Thank you race gods.

I finished the race at 2:09 almost a 20-minute PR (Columbus Marathon 2:28)! Brandon finished at 2:00:17. Whoohoo! It was his first!

Congrats to Tonia and Amber for finishing speedy! And to Katie for her amazing time. Seriously, girl you are fast!! And to Dave for breaking 2 hours. Whoohoo.

Thinking back it wasn't the 2 hour mark I craved, but I learned that struggling through and pulling deep was a better reward. I didn't quit, didn't give up and gave my all.

Champaign at the end never tasted so sweet.

And next time you know what my goal will be. :)

Kind've sad today when I looked at my training program and saw this:

Hello Erin Shmidt, You have no upcoming workouts...

I have a new goal in mind in June. You will have to wait and see!

Our drive in to Columbus. 

Brandon hanging out.

Me posing. Hey, we had 15 minutes to waste. :)

At the start

Brandon and Dave after they did awesome in the race! 

Jess and I after the race--thanks for cheering Jess!

Sipping champaign at the finish line party. 

Becca acting like she works at Northstar where we went to get some amazing ricotta pancakes. 

Can I have cream and sugar please? We also take paparazzi shots. 

Sharon and Creston were so nice to come down and watch the girls. Thanks guys!

Letting won the half marathon with a 4:58 pace. Seriously?

So proud of you Brandon! You did amazing.

It's that time!

This year my races are going to be the St Pattie's Day 4-miler and the Cap City Half Marathon. I am pretty excited that it's time to train again. I love having a goal and a plan to follow. Guess I am a geek like that.

I started running for fun after a mountain climbing trip with Brandon on Grays Peak. I saw several people running partway and wanted to join in the fun (yes, it did look fun-but tiring).

After keeping my base mileage this winter in 20-plus degree weather and sometimes lots lower--read 0 degrees--I am now training for the Cap City Half Marathon.

I really wanted to try a break two hour plan on Runners World. During the first half I did in the Columbus Marathon, I did a great job at having fun and not going too fast. I finished with a time of 2.28. But, I also had a horrible chest cold and it hurt to breath. This time I have incorporated some interval training and cycling in the basement, which have helped my speed.

I was so excited yesterday. It was a glorious 38 degrees, beautiful with the bluest sky ever. I even got to 6.33 per mile on my last mile interval at the end of a 6 mile run after never getting there before! I say that because I never thought I would hit that target....ever...ever....

It shows that sticking with your plan, no matter how easy or hard it may seem...works..

After my run on at Glacier Ridge on Saturday I could tell that all of those days of slogging through heat, ice and rain had paid off.

Having got the bug, I love to listen to Run Run Live Podcast (free on itunes) during runs. It's a great show for "runners, wannabe runners and mid-packers (me)" of all kinds.

I love love what one lady said to me waiting in line at a downtown restaurant in Columbus before the start of the Columbus Marathon last October:"I just needed something more in my life than chicken nuggets and soccer."

Love that.