My Birthday Run 3.9

Yesterday was my 39th birthday. This makes me slightly excited because I'm only one year away from the next age group! I'm not saying 40-44 is any easier, but I swear the best times at all my local races come from the 35-39 range.

I invited readers on Facebook to join me in a virtual birthday run... 3.9 miles of course. Thank you to those who dedicated your miles in my honor. As promised, I randomly drew five names to win a RUNwithJESS bracelet. Those lucky runners are... Gigi Becker, Celeste O. Hamilton, Joy Hale, Carie Austin and Christy S. Baldinger. Email or message me your shipping address. Thanks for playing along with me!

I can't remember a birthday that was quite as miserable weather as this year. Typically, I look forward to (and receive) and beautiful sunny fall day. Yesterday, however, it was dreary and rainy all day long. But there is simply no excuse for skipping my birthday run. It's become an annual tradition ever since I became a runner.

I awoke to two very excited little girls. My birthday ranks pretty high, right up there with Christmas morning. I received hugs, kisses, singing, flowers, and a bunch of handmade pictures (full of sparkly glitter as little girls do).  My husband always picks out a new running outfit for me on my birthday - even though I tell him not to. Somehow without me trying anything on, his choice is always perfect. This year was no exception...

The theme was obviously PURPLE.
How did he know my favorite color?!?

With rain and temps in the upper 30's, it was a chilly. I chose the long sleeve for warmth and the visor to shield my face from the rain. I headed out to my favorite place to run... Bradley Park.  The fall colors have started and I thought this might be the perfect place to take in nature's beauty (and perhaps those big trees could protect me a bit from the rain).

I love this park, but it's a challenging place to run. It's full of hills, but that is also part of the beauty. As I was climbing the second big hill, I started to wonder... No matter how easy I go, running hills two days after a hilly half marathon probably isn't the best idea.

But just then I looked up to see another runner coming down the hill towards me. Guess who it was... the guy who won Sunday's half marathon! He whipped out a 13.1 miles below a 5:30 pace just two days prior... and here he was running the same hills as I. Guess it wasn't that bad of an idea...

Climbing the age ladder can be depressing, but I run those feelings out of my head. My thirties have truly been the best years of my life, and I feel like every year gets better and better. I'm 100% healthier than I was in my 20's, which in turn, makes me one happy woman. I'm also extremely blessed in life with a wonderful husband and children. As long as nothing messes with my health or family, I welcome each new year with open arms!

Year #39... welcomed in with a 3.9 miles at an easy (hilly) 10:14 pace. In hindsight, it would have been neat if that pace was a 10:22 for my 10-22 birthday. Darn that ending sprint down the flat stretch!

Today, I'm heading out for 4.0 miles to honor Gigi's 40th birthday!

Do you celebrate your special day with a birthday run??

Desperately Seeking Hills

If we're friends on Daily Mile, you've probably noticed that I've been running a good share of hills lately and I'm not complaining.  In fact, I've been searching out the hills, running loops so I get multiple doses. No, I haven't gone crazy. It's part of strategic training.

After a marathon (like the most recent Route 66 Marathon), I sink into down time.  Both mentally and physically, I allow myself to recover from the rigors of marathon training. I linger a bit longer in bed on the weekends, catch up on house projects and give my kids/hubby some needed attention. I run whenever I feel like it, however far (or short) I want, at whatever pace feels right at the moment.  I call it 'no pressure' running.  I may even go days without running. Typically, I pump up my cross-training to stay active and loose... Spinning is XT weapon of choice.  Eventually (3-4 weeks post-marathon), I get called back to running. Not sure how to even explain it, but inside I have a yearning to not only run, but start training again. Recovery period over.

Jumping back into a rigorous training cycle too quickly can cause injury though. So I enter into what I call base training. Slowly, I bring my weekly mileage up. However, this is not the time to crank speed or be concerned about my pace.  Ideally, this the best time of the year to just run... naked. No watch, no music, just run and listen to my body's feedback.

Base training is also a great time to work on strength training, something I don't do nearly enough. Let me be completely honest... I hate strength training. I am not a gym rat. So you can keep the weight room, the CrossFit box, and the fitness classes where they lift weights over and over for an hour. I'm sweating, yes, but utterly bored. I'm a girl who likes to get a bang for her buck... and I don't feel like I am without constantly moving.  Plus I generally just prefer my fitness outdoors.

I'm using HILLS as my strength training.

Running uphill is a form of resistance training that directly targets the 'runner' muscles... quads, hamstrings, glutes and calves. Your upper body also gets a workout since you pump your arms more when you go uphill versus a flat road.  Hills transform your normal run into a strength training workout.  Since pace is not a concern during base training, it's the perfect time to tackle hills! In short, the best way to improve running-specific strength is to run hills.  And the only strength I'm really concerned about is the kind that is going to help me PR in Eugene next April.

Many of the locals like Springdale Cemetery, but my favorite for hill training is Bradley Park. I love the beautiful setting and the challenging hills. I've been there 3x this past week.

Get up that hill... or stop halfway to take a picture. 

This path knocks me on my a$$ every time.

Coming off the Route 66 Marathon, I felt a little defeated from the hills in the backhalf. So I came home and registered for the Georgia Half and the Little Rock Marathon, neither of which are classified as "flat".  Almost like I enjoy torture... or a challenge. Whichever, I'm determined to be better prepared for elevation in 2013. And when it comes time to start working on speed for Eugene, my muscles will be strong and ready for it.

Be Strong... Go Run a HILL!

In fact, join in the Jingle Bell Hell virtual run this week.

If you're local in Peoria, join the Sole Sisters this Saturday, Dec. 15 at 8:00am

for our own version of Jingle Bell Hell through Springdale Cemetery!