Getting on soapbox about the events from last 24 hours

I'm getting on my soapbox to put thoughts and feelings into words about what happened in the last 24 hours at MSU. These are my thoughts and my feelings.

My heart is broken for those who are no longer with us and those who were injured. My heart is broken for the MSU students and the East Lansing community. What happened last night shut down MSU and many nearby school districts. An action of one person has not only affected lives directly by their actions, but also so many other people.

This person was a coward. They did what they did to defenseless students who were going about their day. This person likely had no connection to any of the students or the university. This person has now made a name for themselves in the growing list of cowards who have done the same thing.

I'm thankful for the fast response the local police had in responding to the situation. I'm thankful many of the police from nearby cities helped respond to the situation. Their fast response likely helped prevent more people from getting hurt from this coward.

As the day went on today, my sorrow started to turn to anger. I'm angry this coward did what he did. I'm angry shootings like this are becoming more frequent across the USA. I'm angry there hasn't been more done to help stop these from happening. Schools now go through active shooter drills, just like they do for tornado and fires. Law enforcement now go through active shooter drills to help better respond to situations like this. We're working backwards and dealing with the effects of this instead of working on the cause of it.

I'm angry about the amount of attention the press gives cowards like this. They don't deserve it. I have found there is more press about this coward than there has been talking about those who were directly impacted from this. I understand many families don't want the spotlight on them in times like this. There still needs to be a better way for the press to do their job in situations like this though.

We as a country need to do better. We need to be better. Other countries don't have this happening as often as we do. What makes us so unfortunately special out of all the other countries in the world? Why haven't we tried to learn from other countries about how to prevent this from happening, time and time again? It's obvious, one of the largest and smartest countries in the world is missing something these other countries are doing.

I'm getting off my soapbox now. Being able to put my thoughts into words has helped some in making sense of everything that has happened within the last 24 hours.

2019 Small Goals: Early Bedtime (UPDATE)

It's been awhile since I set the goal of getting to bed early each night. There was major progress with this goal overall. Having the alarm set on my phone has definitely helped. Not every night was a success though. A few nights I was working on something or watching a movie when the alarm went off and dismissed it. There were also nights where I was already in bed, sleeping when I had to wake up to turn the alarm off. I really do like the reminder though of when the alarm goes off, I should be in bed getting ready for sleep.

OVERALL: I will still keep the alarm set on my phone to continue to help get me used to what time I should be getting to bed. On those nights where I know I will be sleeping before the alarm goes off, I'll still keep the alarm set. Knowing how I am, chances are I would forget to reset the alarm and end up staying up later than I should be.

Since this goal has been going well and slowly becoming part of my daily life, it's time to select a new goal.

One thing I know I need to get better about is remembering to take a multi-vitamin every day. I know the benefits of taking one. That isn't the problem for me. The problem is actually remembering to take it. I'll go into more details on another blog post of why I made this a goal and how I plan on making it happen.

Here's to a successful 2019!

2019 Small Goals: Early Bedtime

The new year has officially started and many people have already made some new year's resolutions. I've never been big on them before. I always looked at it as "why wait until the new year, when you can just start doing things now?"

This year is different. There are small goals I want to try accomplishing this year. These goals are small, but will help make up my overall goal of improving myself over the year.

First small goal of 2019 is getting to bed earlier each night. I used to be good about this when my daughter was younger. I would be relaxed and tired by the time I'd get her to bed, I would go to bed not long after. My body knew what time it was each night. I never had to look at the clock.

To help get me back on track and to accomplish this goal, I have my phone set with an alarm for 30 minutes from when I want to get to bed. This will help remind me it's time to get in bed and give me enough time to get in bed. I already do this to help remind me of when it's time for my daughter to get in bed, so I'm already used to the alarm going off at night.

It's said it takes 6 weeks to make something a habit. I've got 42 days to work at this and make it become a habit. Once I accomplish this small goal, I will set another one and keep setting new small goals after I accomplish one until the end of 2019. It will be interesting to see how many small goals I'm able to accomplish by the end of the year.

Race Review: The Great Pumpkin Run 5K Tough Pumpkin Challenge

Disclaimer: I received free entry to The Great Pumpkin Run 5K (Lansing) race as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

When signing up for The Great Pumpkin Run 5K, there was an additional option of the Tough Pumpkin challenge. This is where you select a pumpkin and carry it with you the entire race. Those who finished got an additional medal to go along with the 5K finisher's medal. There were small, medium, and large bins of pumpkins to choose from. Because I got to the race early, I had plenty of pumpkins to choose from. I went with one of the larger ones (turned out to be 13 lbs!). I wanted to make sure I earned that Tough Pumpkin medal.

Picture of the 13lb pumpkin, Linus, I carried with me the entire course.

The weather was great for a race. It was cool, but not cold. This was a welcome change from the recent heatwave from a few days ago. The course was through the woods and trails at Uncle John's Cider Mill, in St. Johns. There was one small hill near the first mile that was challenging to run up while carrying Linus. After that first mile, I worked hard on finding all the different ways I could carry the pumpkin. I carried it by the stem with both hands, holding on to it with both hands, carrying it on each shoulder.

Picture of myself taken during the race.

After crossing the finish line, I received by 5K finisher's medal and my Tough Pumpkin medal. I still had to carry Linus with me back to my truck. I had to make sure I had both hands available, so I could get a gallon of Uncle John's Cider and 1/2 dozen donuts. Freshly made apple cider is something I can't pass up!

This was the first race I've run that isn't the traditional road race. It was fun trying something new. Even with the struggle of carrying Linus with me the whole way, I wouldn't have changed anything. If I run this race again, I might even try a larger pumpkin!

Tough Pumpkin Challenge

"Disclaimer: I received free entry to The Great Pumpkin Run 5K Tough Pumpkin Challenge as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and checkout BibRave.comBibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!"

This Saturday (9/8) will be one of the few times I'm not running a "traditional" race. I usually stick to running races where all I need to do is put my toe on the line, run (follow the people in front of me), cross the finish line. It's easy!

When I heard about the Tough Pumpkin Challenge, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to do something different. It's running a 5K while carrying a pumpkin. The idea behind it sounded really fun! I know I can run a 5K. I've done MANY of those before. This gives me the opportunity to break that mold.

Since the beginning of August when I was able to get back to running again, I've been training and thinking about this race. I've been putting in a lot of miles, so I know I can cover the 5K distance. Because I'll have to carry a pumpkin with me the whole time, I've been putting in some extra time at the gym. Kettlebells make great substitutes for pumpkins. I've been lifting those with both arms to help make sure I've got enough strength to carry the pumpkin with me.

I'm looking forward to crossing that finish line and getting the Tough Pumpkin medal to go along with the 5K finisher's medal. That medal will definitely stand out and look great with my other race medals.

The hoodie all runner's are getting looks awesome and is a welcome change from having a tech shirt. The hoodie has a winking pumpkin on the front. Very cool! I will be wearing this hoodie a lot this fall. Might as well look good and stay warm at the same time!

This race will be held at Uncle John's Cider Mill in St. Johns, Michigan. This is about 20 minutes north of Lansing. There are many fun activities after the race for you and your family to enjoy. There are tractor-pulled hayrides, a corn maze, jumping pillow, free win and hard cider tasting (for those 21 and older), gemstone mining, and of course, APPLES and APPLE CIDER!

There is still time to join the fun. Use this link to register today! ow.ly/jN9E30kWxVZ

There is still time to register and join in the fun on race day. Register now! https://t.co/mJCDgxJ262

Coming Back From My Recent Injury (part 3)

With the new confidence my knee was starting to loosen up, I hit rehab with even more focus. I knew I could get my knee back to running condition again. I had to still be really smart about how I did it though.

At the gym, I was still riding the exercise bike for 10-15 miles. I changed up the speed and distance to not only help keep my mind engaged (riding a bike indoors is more challenging for me than running on a treadmill), I also wanted to throw different things at my body. Some days I would ride to see if I could keep a consistent mile pace going. Other days I would do intervals and see how many fast miles I could do. 

After each ride, I would finish up the workout with stretching and using my buddy Mr. Foam Roller. There were at least 5-10 different stretches I would do, all with different focus on my legs and lower back. I knew just targeting one area wouldn't really be beneficial. Using the foam roller was a bit painful (it almost always is). I made sure to roll slow and multiple times over the front, side and back of my legs. It wasn't easy, but I know it helped.

Not being able to run was starting to get to me. I hadn't run in a few weeks and my knee was slowly making a recovery. Was I greedy to consider running again? Should I be content with being able to walk normally again and be thankful I didn't have to have extensive physical therapy or surgery? I told myself to focus on getting through each day and keep working on getting my knee back to 100%. The answer to these questions will get figured out soon.

The Great Pumpkin Run 5K Tough Pumpkin Challenge

"Disclaimer: I received free entry to The Great Pumpkin Run 5K Tough Pumpkin Challenge as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and checkout BibRave.comBibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!"

This fall, I will be running a different kind of 5K race. I'll be running a 5K race while carrying a pumpkin with me throughout the race! I rarely run any "non-traditional" races, but when I heard of the unique challenge as part of The Great Pumpkin Run 5K, I knew I had to be part of it! I love the idea of having to carry a pumpkin with me and trying to still run a race.

The race will be on 9/8 at Uncle John's Cider Mill in St. Johns Michigan (20 minutes north of Lansing). 

Register today! The Great Pumpkin Run 5K - Lansing, Michigan

Coming Back From My Recent Injury (part 2)

Next up, I started going to the gym and riding the bike to help keep my cardio up, get the blood flowing and help bend/flex my injured leg. I know from previous physical therapy experiences, riding a bike is generally ok when dealing with a knee injury. I hit the bike on the days I would be running to help keep up my routine and really be focused on getting my knee better. After each bike ride, I would take some time and stretch. Another thing I learned from physical therapy, though one area may be injured you may need to target areas around the injury to help with recovery. I made sure to stretch my quad, IT band, hamstring, and Achilles. It was a bit tough because at this point I couldn't get my leg to fully straighten. It was discouraging to have this problem, but I knew I had to keep working at it in hopes to loosen things up and help my knee.

Since I couldn't run and was biking it, I did take advantage of this opportunity and participated in my first ever bike event. I was part of this year's Ability Tour in Lansing. I rode the 30 mile route. This would be the farthest I've rode before. I knew I could do it, if I was smart. I had the same mind set as taking on a new running distance - focus on finishing and not on the finish time. I did finish and it was a lot of fun. There were some challenging hills along the way, but I was able to make it up them without having to walk my bike up. My knee was doing really well during and after this event. I could tell it was starting to loosen up and play nice. It was just being really stubborn! 

Coming Back From My Recent Injury (part 1)

I believe I'm back at getting some miles in again. I was out for all of July due to a knee injury. It wasn't my left knee, thankfully. This was my right knee. I injured it while playing with my lilgirl. I knew something was up with my knee when I woke up and I couldn't straighten my leg and it felt like there was a vice around my knee.

First logical step - no more running miles. I've tried to follow the 'if you can't walk normal, you aren't running' logic. I don't want to cause further injury, so that first week I didn't do any running or go to the gym. During the day, I would take an extra walk around work or walk during my lunch to try helping my knee. After a few days of this, I wasn't seeing any improvements and was concerned there might be something more going on with my knee. I went to Urgent Care to get an x-ray done. I know an MRI would have been the most optimal, but at least an x-ray will help. The x-ray didn't show anything and they sent me home with a knee brace. The results from Urgent Care helped jump start my rehab plan. I was going to throw everything I learned about rehabbing a knee at it and see what happens.

Next up...(to be continued)

Headphones Journey

Disclaimer: I almost always listen to music during a workout. It helps me keep focused during my workouts and helps get me energized when I am struggling.

Here has been my journey with the different types of headphones used and what I thought of them.

The headphones I started out using were the on-the-ear headphones. These worked for me to listen to music, but it wasn't the most comfortable. The headphones had a tendency to slide off my ears during a run. They would also get wet from sweat, which made it uncomfortable after a while. It was also tough to get them to fit well over both ears.

It wasn't until a few years ago I started to use earbuds. The ones I started with were Apple earbuds that came with my iPod shuffle. These worked for me to listen to music, but they kept falling out of my ear during my workout. It was difficult to change the volume and change songs during my workout. I moved on to use the Apple EarPods with the mic. These solved the problem of changing the volume and songs during my workout, but still had the problem of them falling out of my ears during my run. I decided to try Yurbuds. These were very similar to the Apple EarPods with the mic, but they had a rubber piece over each ear bud that helped 'lock' the ear bud into your ear so they wouldn't fall out during the workout. I still had problems of them falling out of my ear or having to adjust them during my workout. It was less than a year when the ear buds started cutting in and out while a song was playing.

Recently, I moved on to Bluetooth earbuds. I knew I wanted to go wireless. It made things easier during my workout. I didn't want to have a wire slapping me during my workout or be constrained where I put my phone. I tried the Altec Lansing sport headphones. These worked for the most part. The problem I kept having was the ear buds kept falling out in my ear and they would slip out of my ear during a workout. I was also having problems where the Bluetooth connection would cut in and out with the phone less than a few feet away.

Over the past year, I've been hearing more and more about Aftershokz headphones. These headphones aren't your typical over-the-ear headphones or earbuds. Aftershokz uses bone conduction to guide vibrations to the inner ear to deliver sound without covering or having something inserted inside your ear. Many people were talking about Aftershokz and how they don't cover your ears or have anything to put inside your ear.

A few months ago, I finally purchased a pair of Aftershokz headphones. I'm glad I did! These have been the best pair of headphones I've worn. It definitely lives up to the hype! I've worn them indoors, outside in the heat, and even in the rain - never had any problems. I'd highly recommend purchasing a pair.

Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Wireless Review

Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Wireless Review

Problem: I wanted wireless headphones that:

• Didn't have any parts that could fall out or off the headphones
• Didn't fall out of my ear during my workout
• Had good sound
• Easy to operate while working out

Review: I was a bit skeptical about how well the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium wireless headphones would work. I already had a lot of questions.

• Would it be easy to pair with my cell phone?
• It was really easy to pair with my cell phone. I had it paired within a few minutes of getting them out of the box.
• How long does a full charge last?
• I didn't keep track of how long a full charge would last. I know I made it though 4 workouts without it losing power. (my workouts are generally 1-2 hours long). Aftershokz claims the battery will last 6 hours.
• Does it take a long time to charge?
• I found it doesn't take long at all to give them a full charge. After using them for 4 workouts, I plugged them in to charge. They were fully charged again within an hour. 
• How difficult is it to power on and power off?
• The power button is easy to find on the right side of the headphones. I was able to power on and power off while I was walking.
• Is it difficult to change the volume level up or down during a workout?
• It was really easy to change the volume level during my workouts. The volume buttons are on the right and are really easy to find without looking for them.
• How difficult is it to change songs?
• This one was a bit tricky. I knew there was a larger Multifunction button on the left that was easy to find that had a lot of different functions. The manual says that single button can control play/pause and skip to next song. I kept getting into the phone options when I was pressing the button.
• With the speaker on the outside of your ear, how clear would the sound be?
• The sound was actually really good. I found it can vary depending on where exactly you have the headphones positioned. If you have them positioned right on your cheekbones, you get a better overall sound experience.
• Would I still be able to hear everything around me while a song is playing?
• I didn't have the headphones playing at a really high volume and I was able to hear the song playing really well, while still being able to hear everything around me.
• Would the headphones stay put during the entire workout? What about when I was sweating?
• I was surprised at how well the headphones stayed put. They never slid down my head while I was running. Even more surprising, they stayed put while I was stretching. I thought they would slide off while I was in downward dog yoga pose.
• Would I be able to wear a hat at the same time and be comfortable?
• I was able to wear a hat and not have it interfere with where the headphones were. It didn't matter if I had my hat on forward or backward. The headphones didn't move from the original position before I put my hat on.

Verdict: I really love the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Wireless headphones! They give me the wireless connection to my phone I was looking for. I haven't had any problems of losing connection with my phone during my workout. I really like how they rest on my cheekbone and don't have to have anything covering or inserted within my ear. I can hear songs clearly during my run and still be able to hear everything around me. I highly recommend getting a pair!

*NOTE: I did not try the phone features. I only wear them when I am working out and I don't take any calls during my workout.

Still 2017 & 3 Races In 2018 Called My Name (OK, Technically More Than 3)

As 2017 is slowly coming to an end, there are races in 2018 that already have had registration open; Bayshore, Detroit Free Press Marathon, and Bill Roney 5K. I've ran each of these races before and had a really good experience at each of them.

Bayshore. This didn't require much thought. I'm lucky enough that my work will pay for the registration. I just need to cover hotel and travel costs. I've ran the half marathon before, and am signed up to run it again in 2018. I felt really good about being able to get registered, I had the hotel booked in beginning of November. I've learned, though it is possible to drive 3 hours in the super early morning, run a half marathon, then turn around and drive 3 hours back, it's not the most fun experience. Having a hotel room definitely is recommended.

Detroit Free Press Marathon. I had to think about this one. Originally, I was thinking of running Grand Rapids Marathon for the first time and hoping to get a BQ (Boston Qualifier), taking advantage of the flat and fast course. Though it would be great to run in a race I've never ran before, there was another 'carrot' dangling in front of me. This year, the Detroit Free Press Marathon has the Motor City Challenge Series. Because it's the first year for this, and I like crazy challenges, I decided to sign up for The Supreme (marathon, 5K, 1 mile). I still plan on training hard for the marathon and still am going after that BQ. That part hasn't changed.

Bill Roney 5K. Last year was my first year running it, and I got a 5K PR! It's a flat and fast course. All proceeds from the race go to support the Hansons Brooks Distance Project team too. If I'm able to keep working hard over the winter, I'm thinking another 5K PR might be obtainable.

I know there will be other races I'll be running in 2018 that I haven't signed up for yet. I'll be running Mason State Bank 5K, Crim 10 Mile/5K combo, Capital City River Run Half Marathon. I've ran those races before, have had really good experiences and set PRs there in the past.

Here's hoping to an injury free rest of 2017 and a strong start to 2018!

The Streak Is Over: My Marathon Training Journey For The Half Marathon Race

For my last 10 mile race and last half marathon race of the year, I wanted to get a PR in both. I knew I could follow a half marathon training plan. I did follow the Hansons Half Marathon training plan for Bayshore Half Marathon in May. I did get a 10 minute PR in that race. I wanted something more. I knew getting a PR in both races would be a challenge (my 10 mile PR was set 20 years ago!).

Many runners consider the Hansons Marathon training plan to be tough. I knew I might revisit running a marathon again in the future, and was curious to see if I could complete the 18 week training plan. I planned the 18 weeks to end the same weekend as the Capital City River Run Half Marathon race. During the training, I would also be running the Run Thru Hell 10 mile, Crim 5k/10 mile combo and Lake Lansing Team Marathon Single Loop (5.2 miles). Essentially, I was signing myself up to do something for fun (because, why not?!?)

I really like how the Hansons training plans have the speed/strength workouts on Tuesdays and tempo runs on Thursdays, Wednesdays are rest days and Sundays are long run days. I got used to that pattern when I followed the half marathon training plan, so there wasn't too much adjustment. The adjustment would come with running long tempo runs and higher mileage long runs.

During the training plan, I learned so much about running that helped me with my training.

1. Easy days: You got to keep the pace E.A.S.Y. Don't run these at race pace, or even a fast pace. Take full advantage of these days. Work on learning what an easy pace feels like. It isn't an easy thing to do, but it can happen if you work at it. My goal race pace was 7:30. My easy runs were around 9 minutes a mile. I loved my easy runs! If I felt the run wasn't challenging enough, I would try to focus on getting even, or near even, splits. This helped me keep my mind engaged and it became a game.
2. Rest days: Don't underestimate them! Some runners may want to do some type of workout on these days. I always took full advantage of doing absolutely nothing. I knew the next day would have a tempo run waiting for me. I wanted to be fully rested and able to hit the pace and complete the distance of the workout.
3. Shoes: It should be common sense by now: the more miles you run, the more shoes you will need to buy. What I didn't know was how having a second pair of shoes that you rotate the days you wear them, and how that can help extend the life of your shoe. I ran with the Brooks Ghost 9s (4 pairs of them), Brooks Launch 3s (1 pair) Brooks Launch 4s (1 pair).
4. Strength training: I knew it was important, but when I started to incorporate it in to my routines on a regular basis, I was able to see big gains. I was starting to get stronger with hill workouts and I didn't feel my quads burning as much. The hills on the Hansons Lake Orion store group run were starting to feel less intimidating and I wasn't slowing down going up them.
5. Hydration: It goes without saying, you need to be hydrated when you run. What I learned was how important it is to stay hydrated even when you're not running. If you get dehydrated before you start your run, it doesn't matter if you have a water bottle with you during the run. Your muscles will definitely complain to you. I made it a point of drinking at least 2 bottles of water each day, and 32 oz of water after every workout.
6. Sleep: Many people struggle with getting enough sleep each night. When I started the training plan, I was exhausted by the end of the day. I found it tough to stay awake past 8pm! I was able to adjust and stay awake until 9pm, but I would never stay up later than that. I knew I needed rest to let my body recover, so when my alarm went off I would be ready to get my run in.
7. Weather: Weather is something we can't control...to a point. I wasn't able to change the weather. What I was able to do is change when I got my workouts in. I got most of my workouts in between 5 and 7 am each day. Usually the weather was still cool and I didn't have to have the sun blasting down on me. I really believed this helped me when running intervals, tempo runs, and even long runs. One long run ended up being in the afternoon. It wasn't a super hot day, but I wasn't used to the heat and humidity. I started the run ok, hitting my paces. As time went on, I was struggling to hit my pace and had to finish the workout using the walk/run method.
8. Group runs: For majority of my workouts, I did them alone. It's something I'm used and have done for most of my running life. I found making it to a group run every now and then can be a lot of fun. One of the local groups I started running with was very inspirational. The girls in the group weren't the fastest, but they were determined and were able to run twice as many miles (or more!) for their long runs. I really enjoyed the conversations we had when we would be out at Dark O'Clock on a path to get some miles in. Another group I ran with a few times was with the Hansons Lake Orion store group. This was a different group than the local one. This group was more focused on getting the miles in and getting the job done. That focus isn't a bad thing though. It helps when there are other runners trying to hit the same mile pace. I found the course challenging, but fun at the same time.
9. Preventative Maintenance: This should be baked into every runner's mind. There are reasons why a warm UP is called a warm UP and a cool DOWN is called a cool DOWN. You need to get both of them in on interval, tempo and race days. A warm up helps get your body ready for the workout. A cool down helps get your heart rate down after a workout. Stretching should be thrown into this category as well. I didn't know much about the different types of stretching. This was before I was getting injured and seeing a physical therapist on a regular basis for those injuries. I learned to get in a few dynamic stretches, like high knee lifts or butt kicks, will help get your body ready for a workout. After the workout, that's when the traditional static stretches are done. I would spend 5-10 minutes taking my time with each stretch. I found I was way more flexible at the end of the training plan than when I started.
10. Social Media Groups: Like most things, if there are others who are going through a similar experience, it usually helps you get through it as well. There are many runners who have used Hansons Marathon training plan in the past and many who are still using it. This really helped when I would be hitting a rough part of the training plan. I was able to look on social media to see others who have completed the same workouts and survived it! They all have told me the same thing - trust the plan.

By the end of this training plan, I had racked up a lot of personal bests.

• Most miles in a single training run
• Most miles in a single week
• Most miles in a single month
• 5K PR (since I was in high school)
• 10K PR
• 10 Mile PR
• Half Marathon PR

One of the additional goals I had added to my list was to run 10 consecutive weeks of 50+ miles or more. Looking at the training plan, I was looking at the training plan and thought I would be able to hit this goal by running one more week after the training plan ended. That last week would be more of a 'victory lap week', and would be solely focused on getting miles in. I was on track week after week to hit this goal. I wasn't getting injured and I was still able to follow the training plan. After week 9 of this goal is when things changed. I started to get sick and could start to feel the wear and tear of marathon training on my body. I knew I was close to hitting 10 weeks and had only around 35 miles left to go in week 10. I decided to pull the plug and let my body rest and heal. I would rather make sure my body is able to recover and get back to training again sooner, than push for a goal. It's tough when I know I was so close. I look back at what I've accomplished with my other goals and PRs and know missing one goal didn't define my race season.

There were some people who thought it was odd or maybe a bit funny that I was following a training plan for a marathon, but not running a marathon. I like challenges and proving people wrong. I chose one of the tougher marathon training plans out there and survived. I got a lot of PRs and was able to get in the best shape of my life. I would definitely do it all over again.

Why not?

I've been thinking a lot about what's out there in the running world I haven't done yet. I've ran fast times. I've ran multiple half marathons and even a marathon. I've set PRs this years (post high school PRs). I consider high school version 1.0 of my running life. I don't think I'll ever get back to those times. That's ok! I'm running on borrowed time now and want to get as many things checked off my 'running to-do/accomplishment' list as possible.

This August at Crim, I'll be running a 10 mile race, then right after I'll be running the 5k. Why not? The mileage adds up nicely to a half marathon. I've ran 10 mile races before and survived. I've ran half marathon races before and survived. I'm guessing the 5k will be more like a cool-down after the 10 mile...but who knows?

My first marathon was a 'I just want to cross the finish line' race. I wasn't able to properly train for it and did most of the training getting in bike miles. But...I still crossed the finish line! Next year, I'm thinking of running my second marathon. I was looking at shaving off 3 hours from my current PR. That would put me at 3:30. Being able to do that would be AWESOME! It's not often you're able to say 'yeah. I shaved off 3 hours from my marathon PR'. Looking at the 3:30 finish time got me thinking though. I wondered what it would take to qualify for Boston? I've never really thought I'd be remotely close to that time. I know I'm talking about a marathon - 26.2 miles. My comfort zone is with the half marathon. I don't think I'll be running many marathons in the future either. My body has been reacting well to the training I've been running this year. I'm more fit, stronger, and faster than I've been in about 20 years. If all goes well, I'll be running the Grand Rapids Marathon in October 2018. Why not see what my body can do and if I can get a 3 hour PR or even qualify for Boston?

Found Really Comprehensive Running Playlist - Part 25

Here are the comprehensive running song playlist - the X, Y, and Z bands.

XX	Crystalised
XX	Intro
XX	Islands
XZibit	Hey Now
XZibit	Los Angeles
Yahel Sherman	That Night
Yeah Yeah Yeahs	10x10
Yeah Yeah Yeahs	Date with A Night
Yeah Yeah Yeahs	Gold Lion
Yeah Yeah Yeahs	Heads Will Roll
Yeah Yeah Yeahs	No No No
Yeah Yeah Yeahs	Y Control
yeah yeah yeahs	Zero
Yeasayer	Sunrise
Yellowcard	Bombers
Yellowcard	Breathing
Yellowcard	Cut me mick
Yellowcard	Fighting
yellowcard	Hollywood Died
Yellowcard	Ocean Avenue
yellowcard	Way Away
Yes	Owner of a Lonely Heart
Yes	Starship Trooper
Ying Yang Twins	Shake
Young Disciples	Apparently Nothing
Young MC	Bust a Move
ZZ Top	Doubleback
ZZ Top	La grange
ZZ Top	Legs

Found Really Comprehensive Running Playlist - Part 24

Here are the comprehensive running song playlist - the W bands.

Waking Ashland	I am For You
Walkmen	the rat
Wall of Voodoo	Mexican Radio
Wallflowers	6th Avenue Heartache
Wallflowers	One Headlight
Wang Chung	Everybody Have Fun Tonight
Warp Brothers	Going Insane
Warrant	Cherry Pie
Warren Zevon	Lawyers guns and money
Warren Zevon	Things to do in Denver When You're Dead
Waycross	Nineteen
We the Kings	Check Yes Juliet
We're From Barcelona	Oversleeping
Weather Girls	It's Raining Men
Webb Wilder	Tough It Out
Webbie	Independent
Ween	A Tear for Eddie
Ween	Help Me Scrape the Mucus off My Brain
Ween	I Got to Put the Hammer Down
Ween	Piss Up a Rope
Ween	Spinal Meningitis Got Me Down (Live in Chicago)
Ween	Stroker Ace
Ween	The Stallion Pt. 3
Weezer	Beverly Hills
Weezer	buddy holly
Weezer	Hash Pipe
Weezer	Pork and Beans
Weezer	Perfect Situtation
Weezer	Say It Ain't So
Weezer	undone
Weezer	Memories
Weezer	This is Such a Pity
Weird Al Yankovic	Pretty Fly For A Rabbi
Welle Juli	Perfekte
Whatever You Want	Status Quo
wheatus	teenage dirtbag
White Stripes	Blue Orchid
White Stripes	Catch Hell Blues
White Stripes	Icky Thump
White Stripes	Seven Nation Army
White Stripes	Theres No Home For You Here
White Stripes	blue orchid
White Stripes	icky thump
White Stripes	there's no home for you here
White Tie Affair	Candle Sick
White Tie Affair	You Look Better When I’m Drunk
White Zombie	More Human than Human
White Zombie	Thunder Kiss '65
Whitesnake	Here I go Again
Whitney Duncan	So Sorry Mama
Whitney Houston	I want to dance with somebody
Whitney Houston	It's Not Right but It's Okay
Whitney Houston	Love is a Contact Sport
Who	Baba O'Riley
Who	Eminence Front
Who	However much I booze
Who	Pinball Wizard
Who	The Seeker
Who	Who Are You
Who	Won't Be Fooled Again
Why On Earth	Get That Back
Wicked	Defying Gravity
wideawake	Maybe TOnight Maybe Tomorrow
widespread panic	action man
widespread panic	you got yours
Wilco	Heavy Metal Drummer
Wild Cherry	Play That Funky Music
Will Smith	Gettin Jiggy With It
Will Smith	Miami
Will Smith	switch
will.i.am	Scream & Shout ft. Britney Spears
William Orbit	L'Inverno
Willie Nelson	Highwayman
Willie Nelson	The Maker
Winger	Seventeen
Winter Sounds	Candlelight
Wiseguys	Start the Commotion
Wolf Parade	You Are A Runner and I Am My Fathers Son
Wolfmother	Dimension
Wolfmother	Joker and the Thief
Wolfmother	Woman
Wreckx-N-Effect	Rump Shaker
wu-tang clan	da mystery of chessboxin
Wu-Tang Clan	Gravel Pit
Wu-Tang Clan	Protect Ya Neck
Wyclef Jean	Sweetest Girl/Dollar Bill

Found Really Comprehensive Running Playlist - Part 23

Here are the comprehensive running song playlist - the V bands.

Valley of the Queens	Star One
Vampire Weekend	A-punk
Vampire Weekend	Cousins
Vampire Weekend	The Kids Don't Stand a Chance
Vampire Weekend	Walcott
Van Halen	Ain't Talkin' Bout Love
Van Halen	Cant Stop Loving You
Van Halen	Dreams
Van Halen	Hot for the Teacher
Van Halen	humans being
Van Halen	I'll Wait
Van Halen	It's My Life
Van Halen	Jump
Van Halen	Panama
Van Halen	Right Now
Van Halen	runaround
Van Halen	Running With the Devil
Van Halen	Unchained
Van Morrison	Bright Side of The Road
Van Morrison	Brown Eyed Girl
Van Morrison	Come Running
Van Morrison	Comfortably Numb (Live) FT Roger Waters
Van Morrison	Sweet Thing
Vanessa Carlton	A Thousand Miles
vangelis	chariots of fire
Vanilla Ice	Ice Ice Baby
Vanilla Ice	Ninja Rap
Vapors	Turning Japanese
Velocity Girl	Finest Hour
Velvet Revolver	Fall to pieces
Velvet Revolver	slither
Vengaboys	Movin' Around
Vengaboys	We Like To Party!
Veronicas	4ever
Veronicas	Untouched
Vertical Theory	Haujobb
Veruca Salt	Seether
Veruca Salt	Volcano Girls
Verve	Bitter Sweet Symphony
Verve	Love is Noise
Verve	Lucky Man
Verve Pipe	The Freshmen
Victorious	Tiesto
Victorious Cast and Victoria Justice	Make It Shine
Vince DiCola	Training Montage
Vince DiCola	war/fanfare from rocky
Vines	Get Free
Vines	Ride
Vintersorg	Odemarkens Son
Violent Femmes	Blister in the Sun
Violent Femmes	Gone Daddy Gone
Violent Femmes	Kiss off
Virgin Black	The Everlasting
virgins	rich girls
Vitalic	No Fun
Von Bondies	C'Mon C'Mon
Vonda Rhea	Over Like a Fat Rat
Voodoo & Serano	Blood is pumping
Voodoo Child Radio	Rogue Traders
Voodoo Glow Skulls	Los Hombres No Lloran
Vowel Movements	Eligible Bachelors