Fit Milwaukee » half marathon

Rock ‘N Sole: Under New Management

Tracey — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The following may be a bit of a controversial statement:

I am super excited for this year’s Rock ‘N Sole Run at Summerfest!

No really. Before you guys start, I know what happened at last year’s race. I didn’t run it, but I saw all the tweets coming from the course about the lack of water. I read the race recaps about dehydrated runners and lack of general organization. Oh, and I watched the local news reports. I’m painfully aware of how everything went down last year.

So when I got the opportunity to meet with the race’s new management team, I went in with a positive attitude matched with a healthy side of skepticism. Sure, I expected to hear about how the race was going to be totally different this year. I don’t believe anyone would make the water mistake two years in a row. However, I had a bunch of other questions as well. For example:

What about the congestion at the finish line?
What about having actual rock n’ roll at a race called Rock ‘N Sole?
What perks are they going to add in order to bring back all the people who swore NEVER AGAIN?

I have to say I was impressed with the answers I got. I also appreciate the fact that they took the time to meet with people from the local running community to open a direct line of communication as to what people are wanting out of this event. So without further ado let me give you the general rundown on what I think will be most important to all of you who may want to participate.

First, get this part out of the way: WATER WILL BE PLENTIFUL! The half marathon will have 10, count them, TEN aid stations along the course as well as 5 misting stations to keep you cool.

Now that we’ve got that part settled, I was excited to hear that in addition to the half marathon, there will be a quarter marathon to replace the 10K (that’s 6.55 miles) and they’ll also be introducing a 5K. I love the fact that shorter-distance runners will be given the opportunity to participate as well. As for the course, the two longer race routes will still take runners across the Hoan Bridge and back (along with a new, less congested turnaround point) while the 5K will take participants just to the top of the bridge before coming down again.

ENTERTAINMENT. Yep, we’ll get our rock n’ roll. There will be 15-20 entertainment acts acts along the course, including local bands, school bands and cheerleading squads. The acts are yet to be announced but I think this is something a race of this size and caliber really needs and it will only make running 3, 6 or 13 miles a more enjoyable experience for everyone.

NEW FINISH AREA. To clear up any problems with congestion, the finish line has been moved to the south Summerfest entrance gate to provide a wider, more comfortable finishing area for all the runners, along with a larger space for spectators. There will also be live music at the post-race party and a special VIP area complete with free parking, private massages and other neat perks like a post-race brunch and beverages- including beer!

PACERS. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that they are adding pace groups to this year’s race. I know so many first-time half marathoners who chose this event last year and having a pacer who is experienced at completing the distance in a certain time window can be very helpful- whether you’re a first-timer or a more experienced runner trying to run a PR.

MEDALS. We all know that one of the best parts of finishing races is the bling. Medals will be awarded for all three distances as well as free general admission to Summerfest for any day in the festival. And for those of you who enjoy an extra challenge, if you register and complete the Madison Mini Marathon on August 18th, you’ll receive an ADDITIONAL snazzy medal. (Can you guess what is on my to-do list now?)

These are major points that stuck out to convince me into signing up this year. I’ve felt strongly for a while that Milwaukee really needs another big, successful running event like this one and it seems that the 2012 race is on the right track to be just that. With the addition things like seeded corral starts, a two-day health and fitness expo and a pre-race pasta dinner I’m hoping that this is the year Rock ‘N Sole starts becoming a Milwaukee tradition.

What do you guys think? Are you ready to let bygones be bygones and give Rock ‘N Sole another shot?

Fall into Fall Races

Tracey — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:41:24 +0000

Oh my gosh it’s fall! Here come the cozy sweaters, hoodies, tall boots, caramel apples and pumpkin spice lattes. Oh, and of course, fall races and events. After a summer of sweating and training extra hard (and for some of you runners, your longest miles to date) it’s time to start thinking about how you want to spend the “off” season. If you’re running a marathon this fall you’re probably still at the peak of your training schedule, but it’s not too soon to think about what you might want to sign up for once the leaves turn and the cold weather running tights start to emerge from the closet.

When I think about fall races I think about 5Ks, Turkey Trots and other “fun” runs. It’s time to step back and reward yourself after a summer of hard training in pursuit of a PR or a new distance goal. Anyway, I thought I’d take a look around and compile a list of upcoming races to help you guys as you try to fill out your fall schedules. Many of these are races I’ve done myself and others are events I’ve heard good things about. If any of you have other recommendations for other events taking place in the Milwaukee area, let us know in the comments!

Photo by VanCityAllie

TosaFest 5K Saturday, September 10th. (This weekend!)

Briggs & Als Run/Walk Saturday, September 17th. 8K run/3 or 5 mile walk to benefit Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

Fox Cities Marathon Sunday, September 18th (Did you know there’s also a 5K and a marathon relay as well? Well now you do.)

Free to Breathe 5K Run/Walk Saturday, October 8th. Lakefront 5K or 2 mile walk in support of lung cancer research and awareness.

Panther Prowl 5K Run/Walk Sunday, October 9th – Run through the UWM campus and Lake Park in support of the UWM Alumni Association programs and student scholarships

Lake Country Mud Run Saturday, October 22nd. 8K. Mud. Costumes. What else could you ask for?

Lakefront Discovery Run Saturday, October 29th. A great middle distance race (15K) that always has a rockin’ t-shirt. Also: prizes for costumes this year!

Tyranena Beer Run Saturday, November 5th. Choose between a 1/6 barrel run (4.4 miles) or a 1/2 barrel (13.1 miles). A lovely, scenic route in Lake Mills, WI.

Badgerland Striders Prediction Run Sunday, November 6th. No watches or Garmins allowed. No mile markers. Predict your finishing time close enough and you’ll take home a turkey! 15K or 2 mile run.

Whoa. I’ve just barely reached the Turkey Trots. I’ll save those for another post. But this should be good start, right? Also, Running in the USA is a fantastic resource if you’re looking for even more options than the ones listed above.

What is your fall “must-do” race?

Reconstructing a Beer Runner: Spoons.

Sara — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 21:49:57 +0000

For those of you that have never heard of the “Spoon Theory” by Christine Miseradino, I encourage you to go to her website and read it. Then come back. It’s okay. I’ll wait.

This is the part where you visit Christine’s site, read the Spoon Theory, and then come back. Go! (And then come back!)

Photo by Eva Eckblad

The first time I read that piece, I cried. Hard. Someone had put into words exactly what frustrates me about my medical shenanigans. Each day I have a fixed number of spoons to use, and I have to plan my life around that. Along with work, kids, and other regular stuff, how am I supposed to maintain any sort of training schedule?

The past two months have been frustrating for trying to meet with my trainer on a regular schedule, to adhere to any walking or running plan, or even have enough energy after work to play with my kids or make dinner for my family. Some days, just getting showered and dressed takes everything I got. I get so frustrated.

So I’ve decided to look at training a bit differently.

I am always conscious of how many spoons I have at my disposal on any given day. I am also aware that sudden head pain or loss of vision could cut that number in half. I am no longer predictable. So here’s what I’ve decided to do. On the days that I only have enough spoons to get through the “regular” stuff, that’s what I’ll do. It might be disappointing if I was looking forward to a run with friends or an event that I’d trained for, but that is what I’ve got to accept, and I’m (mostly) done crying about it.

How will I make that all seem okay?

On the days that I know I’ve got extra spoons, I am going to get out there and rock people’s faces off. No, I’m going to rock my own face off. Or something. Well, whatever it is I’m doing, I’m going to rock it out. And apparently, there will be lots of people without faces, or, yes, well, it’s going to be really fucking awesome, is what I think I’m getting at.

An example of this face rocking madness? No problem.

This month I raised money for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. I was unable to train for the Half Marathon race this year, but I wanted to raise money for my favorite charity, go to Memphis to support my sister in her awesome kick-ass race day, and spend time with the patients, families and HEROES of St. Jude. It is my favorite Half Mary on the planet.

We drove 10 hours down to Memphis with no expectations. I went to bed Friday night with no expectations. I woke up on race day with no expectations. I dressed and walked to the starting line with an idea of what I could do, an idea of how many spoons I could burn today, and what it would cost me later in the week, but no expectations.

So, I started to walk.

Inspired by my REAL heroes, the kids of St. Jude, I pushed myself as fast as I could (14-15 minute miles), for almost 12 miles.

And then I ran.

I ran the last mile or so. I ran my first mile since my second surgery. I ran across the finish line feeling strong and happy and completely out of spoons.

And it was worth it.

So that’s how I’m going to figure out how to do this. I’m on my way to being the beer runner I once was. One spoon at a time.

Later gators.

Team Challenge Race Recap!

Tracey — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 23:06:14 +0000

I am a little overwhelmed. How do I begin to put into words the events of this past weekend? I had the honor of traveling with Team Challenge Wisconsin to run in the Las Vegas Rock n Roll Half Marathon on Sunday. Not only was it a race with over 30,000 participants. but there were 1700 members of Team Challenge present from chapters all across the country who had collectively raised over 3.3 million dollars for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. It was kind of a big deal.

I joined Team Challenge this cycle for a number of reasons. As I wrote in a previous post, I was inspired by the group I saw run the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon in July. I had never fundraised on this scale before and thought that I certainly do enough racing and it was about time that made that leap. Last, and quite honestly, I thought it would be a really fun trip to take with my friends. My running buddies who had been a part of Team Challenge during the previous cycle all told me that it wouldn’t hit me the magnitude of what I was a part of until I was actually there.

I don’t have a personal story involving IBD. But every time I would read about other participants experiences in our weekly team emails I would realize think to myself, “Whoa. This is the right cause to be involved with.” I can’t imagine having to endure what some of my fellow team members have had to endure and the fact that they were training to run a half marathon in spite of it made be proud to be a part of such an amazing group of people. I’ve run half marathons and marathons before but because everyone around me was pushing themselves to new limits I felt that it was important to do the same. I set a very aggressive time goal for myself because I wanted to prove to everyone who had donated their hard earned money that this was not something I was doing “just for fun”. As it said on my fundraising page: “I AM COMMITTED! I WILL DO IT!” My previous half marathon record was 1:51:07 so I told everyone I was shooting for not only a new PR but also to get under an hour and fifty minutes. Even if it was 1:49:59.

I have to say I have never been in a race quite like this one. Just wrapping my brain around the fact that I was running with thirty thousand other people was the first step. But when a Cher impersonator began to sing the national anthem and the Blues Brothers starting playing after the starting gun went off I knew this was not going to be your typical race. Plus with 1700 other Team Challenge members out on the course if felt like you had an instant friend whenever you came across another runner in a bright orange singlet. And all those running Elvises! Elvi?

This photo is being purchased. I'm only stealing temporarily.

I’m not gonna lie. I had a tough time out there. I paced myself poorly and had to work with every inch of my being to eek out those last few miles. I could sense my PR slipping away and it made me sad. But then I remembered a part of one of the speeches form the pasta dinner the night before that had really stuck in my head. He said something like “They don’t’ get to quit Crohn’s. And you are not going to quit this race.”

So I sucked it up. Put all I had into those last miles and dove for the finish line.

1:49:59!!

Needless to say I was beyond elated but I couldn’t rest yet because I now had the job of cheering my other team members to the finish line. A few of us parked ourselves about a quarter mile from the finish and proceeded not only to cheer on our Team Wisconsin-ers, but every. single. person we could find sporting that orange tank top. As each runner or walker completed the race they joined our Team Wisconin pack and we brought home every last participant. And if you think that running for nearly two hours is difficult, try following that up with two hours of nonstop screeching and yelling. I confess I even got lightheaded at one point and needed to sit down and take a breather. Race cheerleading is hard!

Aaaaannd then we partied to Bret Michaels at the post-race concert. Hello 1987!

I would encourage anyone who’s considering joining Team Challenge for the next cycle (in Napa!) to stop hesitating and throw their hat in the ring. You won’t regret it. Even if you don’t have a connection to Crohn’s or colitis now, you’ll soon realize what an important cause it is and how many awesome, inspiring people there are out there living with IBD every day. For me, Team Challenge was worth giving up sleeping in on Sunday mornings for a few months. It was worth all the worrying over meeting my fundraising goal. (I did.) And it was worth almost puking at the finish line. Because they don’t get to quit Crohn’s. And I was not going to quit either.

If Team Challenge sounds like it’s right up your alley, check out their website here or email Becky Burris for more information.

Team Challenge for the Big Win

Tracey — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:15:02 +0000

Photo by Becky Burris

Looking for some great motivation to help you follow through with your training? Why not commit to raise money for a charity? Taking the fundraising leap can give you that extra push you need to stick with a tough running schedule. You can choose an event and fundraise on your own, but there are also many great programs out there where you can train with a team and complete a race together.

For the past few months I’ve been a member of Team Challenge, a program that helps you prepare to run or walk 13.1 miles while raising funds for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. I’ve run in half and full marathons before but this time I wanted to be a part of something bigger- something that would not only allow me to give back, but also give me that extra push to do well. In the past I’d raised money on my own for breast cancer research when I ran the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, but I had never committed to program where I’d be responsible for raising a specific sum of money. Plus, the events that Team Challenge participates in are “destination” races like the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon or (the one I’m going to next month) the Rock & Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon. You mean I can raise money for a great cause and spend the weekend in Vegas? Sold.

Over the course of our training I teamed up with some fabulous friends who had experience working with Team Challenge during the last cycle, and together we planned fundraising events like a yard sale, movie night and a bowling event. I also rummaged through my basement in order to sell items on eBay and of course, received many generous donations from family members and friends for which I am eternally grateful. Our team has not seasoned runners, but also walkers, run/walkers and beginning runners who are participating in their first race. What we all are though is a TEAM that together has raised nearly $130,000 for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation!

As I am approaching my own undraising goal now, I feel very proud of the work that I’ve done and READY to represent at the race next month. Because so many people have supported me and supported CCFA, I feel a need to perform at my absolute best and I’m *hoping* to PR at the race. Hearing stories from people who deal with Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis every day has made me realize even more how lucky I am to have my health and I look forward to cranking out 13.1 for CCFA. (Plus, Bret Michael’s is playing at the after party. Woot!)

Does a program like Team Challenge sound like something for you? Check out their website for more info!

Reconstructing A Beer Runner – Beer Runner By Proxy

Sara — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:29:57 +0000

Months back, I was hit with the realization that I wasn’t going to be able to train for the half marathon that I had been planning for this winter. It was really hard for me to accept. Recovery had been taking longer than I had hoped, and accepting the fact that I would not be running for awhile was crushing.

My husband Augie looked at me that day and said, “If you can’t do it, then I’ll do it for you. I can’t make you better, and everyday I wish I could. I can do this, and when you are ready to get back to it, I’ll be ready to run beside you.”

And he wasn’t even a “runner”.

With the help of our Fit Milwaukee support system, the amazing folks in the dailymile community, and a lot of heart, Augie became a runner. A Beer Runner. Last weekend, Augie ran his first race. (EVER!) He ran the Tyranena Brewery Half Marathon. For me. He says I’m his inspiration, but he inspires me every day.

Photo of Augie on race day by Sarah Booth

We currently have plans to celebrate the one year anniversary of my first brain surgery together, on the course of the Door County Half Marathon. I know I’ll get there. He carried the torch while I was down so I could find my way back.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank my Sarah’s (Sarah B. and Sarah S.), Amy, Tracey, Rochelle, Annie, Stacy, and all the FitMKE kids that cheered Augie all the way through the course. Thanks to Amy for creating this awesome video below. I still cry every time I watch it.

And to Marty Burian. Marty, you are a dear friend, and amazing coach and one of the best human beings on this planet. Your support meant so much to Augie, and so much to me. Sticking by his side and running each step with him is something we will never forget.

And above all. Augie. Wow. You really did it. Being a part of your training has kept my mind in the game, even when my body has been at rest. I look forward to all the miles ahead.

A big thanks to Stacy Snook, Tracey Gessner, Sarah Booth and Amy Kant for the amazing photos used in the video. xo

Lessons I learned from my first endurance race

Amy — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:38:34 +0000

Last weekend, I completed my first half marathon. I wasn’t first, and I wasn’t last. My time was, well, twice that of some of my friends, but in the end it didn’t matter. I checked the ol’ half marathon off my bucket list. I also learned some valuable lessons throughout training and the race itself. Oh, and I got a kick-arse medal. Let’s not forget about the medal.

Before the race:

Pee. Trust me on this.
Drink lots of water all week long, especially the day before and morning of the race. This is why #1 is important.
Don’t drink four margaritas 18 hours pre-race, even if you tell yourself it’s okay because you’re getting top-shelf margaritas on the rocks with extra lime and salt on the rim. Margarita salt is not an acceptable substitute for an electrolyte sports drink.
Go to the race expo. Pick up your packet. Make some impulse purchases you will later regret because everyone else is buying that balance bracelet. Stare at your race bib. Smack yourself in the head for thinking you could actually do a half marathon.
Follow a training plan. There are so many plans out there – find one that works for you and your schedule. Mine included 3 days/week of walking and/or running, 1-2 cross training or strength training days and 1 active recovery/yoga/pilates/easy walk day.
Don’t be afraid to modify the plan. I suffered many setbacks due to knee problems and a sprained foot/ankle. I made adjustments (like biking or doing the elliptical instead of walking or running because they were low-impact). I had to cut one long “run” short because my foot hurt so bad.
Train with others. I joined Team Challenge, an endurance/half marathon training program that raises money for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis research. You have a team of coaches (like Anne of FitMke) who make sure you cross that finish line at the race. We trained for 16 weeks, meeting every Sunday morning for the Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon. Sure, I had to raise a bunch of money, but the support and encouragement from the Team Challenge staff along with the coaches and my teammates were invaluable. Plus, I traveled to California to do a race that took me through vineyards. As in, where they make wine. There was a free wine tasting for participants at the finish. ’nuff said.
Stock your medicine cabinet with ibuprofen. And ace bandages. And keep some ice packs or frozen peas in the freezer. You will thank me later.
Make an appointment with a massage therapist halfway through training. I recommend Stacy Snook if you’re in the Milwaukee or Madison areas. She’s fabulous and will help work out the tight muscles in your legs and lower back.
Test out your gear. Everything that you plan to wear/drink/eat on race day, you should be wearing/drinking/eating prior to race day. I found that one particular pair of capris was more comfortable than the others on long run/walks. I also found that I liked wearing a visor rather than a baseball hat and sunglasses because of the sweat that dripped down my face. I found that I preferred the Nathan Quick Draw Water Bottle to a water belt. It was a good fit for my inhaler, too. I also found that I preferred my Garmin on my left arm and my iPod shuffle clipped onto my sports bra, right between my breasts. I liked using my SPI Belt to hold my cell phone and I preferred Honey Stingers and Power Bar Chews to Gu.

During the race:

Start out slow. Let’s face it. Chances are you’re not going to win the race, so don’t bother burning all your energy the first couple of miles. Save your energy and wait for the pack to thin out a bit as everyone finds their comfortable pace.
Drink water, even if you don’t think you need it. Keep yourself hydrated so you don’t feel faint. I drank a sip from my bottle every half mile or so. I also drank at every water stop and took both water and HEED (sports drink) when the sports drink was offered. You may not think you will need the sports drink, but suck it down anyways. The electrolytes will save you later on.
Don’t fall behind on your nutrition. I found I was able to keep my energy at a good level by eating one chew every mile (and two a mile for the last 4 miles). During training, you should have figured out what works for you. I found that on race day itself, this ratio worked wonders. Neither of the chews I had were particularly high in sodium, so I didn’t drown myself or overdo it (in my opinion. And I am not a professional by any means. This is just what worked for me. Please don’t sue).
Soak it all in. If you get too focused on your pace or that pebble in your shoe, you’ll lose sight of the amazing thing you’re doing – you’re running or walking a half marathon. Seriously, enjoy the scenery, enjoy laughing at the weird form other runners use. Giggle when you see guys peeing in the bushes so they don’t have to wait for a port-a-potty.
Say thanks. Don’t be a jerk. Thank the volunteers handing you water at mile 3. Thank the sentry keeping cars from running you over. Smile and wave at the spectators cheering for you. Don’t be an ungrateful prick.
Pass on the left. As much fun as it is to bob and weave through runners, you are bound to piss some people off. Be courteous and pass on the left. You will freak people out if you try passing on the right. Also, if you’re running the race with a partner (or more), don’t hog the whole width of the course.
Don’t stop. I am one of those people who, once I start a long run/walk, I try not to stop for anything. I have never had to stop to use the bathroom (knock on wood). I didn’t stop to get the pebbles out of my shoe at mile 8. I knew that if I stopped, I would not keep going. But, be smart about it if you follow this philosophy. Please don’t be one of those people who craps their pants. If your shoes are untied, for goodness’ sake, stop and tie them. If you get a cramp, stop and stretch. But if you’re feeling good, don’t stop. Keep on truckin’.
Don’t be afraid to walk. This should fall under both before and during the race. Here’s the dealio. I’m overweight. This whole training for a half marathon is totally new to me. I’ve never run a mile in my life. So, I started training with the intent to run/walk the race… with most of the race falling in the walking category. All in all, I probably ran the equivalent of 3ish miles during the race, never for more than a half mile at a time. Your goal for your first race should be to just simply finish. I had a time goal of 4 hours, with a super-secret time goal of 3:30. I finished the race in 3:49. I walked most of the race. And no one judged me.
Save a little burst of energy for that last tenth of a mile. You’re pretty much a rockstar for getting to this point, but if you sprint that last leg, you are officially a badass.

After the race:

Wear your medal with pride. I didn’t take mine off for 3 days.
Have some chocolate milk. It does a body good.
Eat whatever the heck you want. Please note: this excuse is only valid the day of the race. Don’t follow the Amy Kant school of thought and drag this out for a week.
Visit the med tent (if needed). They’ll wrap you up like Sunday leftovers.
Smile. You did it. You’re officially an endurance athlete. No one can take that away from you.

Read my novel-length race report at Losing It Without Losing Me.

Beer Runner in Wine Country

Guest Author — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:43:27 +0000

Guest post by Tim Cigelski – Originally posted on beerrunner.draftmag.com

Seems like you’re doing something wrong if you run 19 miles on a 13.1 mile course. But I just did that, and it was one of my favorite races ever.

It actually had nothing to do with the wine at the end.

Since March I’ve been coaching the Wisconsin chapter of Team Challenge, a half marathon training group raising money for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. This morning about 1,000 Team Challenge members from around the country met in a vineyard to run the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon.

Many of these runners are racing because a loved one or they themselves have Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis, an irritable bowel disease beset by random and severely painful flare-ups of the digestive tract. There currently is no cure.

In one case, one of my runner’s training was disrupted when his son accidently destroyed his medication, and he fell behind on treatment. Another runner — who has one of the most positive attitudes of anyone I’ve ever met — was told by her doctor last year that she needed her colon removed. Thankfully, her condition has improved and she hasn’t needed surgery.

Many join the team because they’re raising money to find a cure, not because they necessarily like to run. Several are first-time racers, and some have never really run before.

At the first practice I told everyone we were going to run easy for 30 minutes. We would have to go slow to build up to 13.1 miles.

One runner later confessed to me that his mouth dropped open when I told him we were running for 30 minutes. I need to train before running that long, he thought. The first few practices were tough. Some runners later told me they couldn’t move the rest of the day after our progressively longer Sunday runs.

But as any runner knows, something happens when you faithfully put in your miles, bit by bit. One day you go out to run and realize you feel better than you ever thought possible. You may even wake up some morning to find you actually enjoy running.

Finally race day was here, and my job was to run back and forth on the course to run with as many teammates as possible. It was a unique challenge that required me not to run for time, but to cover as much distance as possible.

In reality, we coaches were incredibly lucky. I got to keep crossing the finish line over and over again, the best part of the race. And I got to see the look on people’s faces as they realized what they accomplished.

As a nationwide group, Team Challenge raised $2.2 million in this one event alone. I won’t soon forget the sea of orange Team Challenge members rallying around the finish line to bring home the final finishers. This is one of the most inspiring events I can recall.

Then the party began. They gave each finisher a wine glass, and you took that around from table to table for wine tastings. Yes, I had some finish line wine.

But then I found the lonely keg of local Lagunitas IPA, and immediately changed course. It’s one more reason to come back next year with Team Challenge.

*Or, join Team Challenge in Las Vegas on December 5th!

Weds, August 11, 7:00 pm Wauwatosa WAC	Join over 900 Team Challenge participants for the ultimate Vegas experience. Whether you walk or run, this event is guaranteed to rock your socks off! Expect 13.1 miles of a high-energy, action-packed course that screams the excitement of Vegas. With bands along every mile and more live music at the post-race concert, you are in for a one-of-a-kind event. Grab a friend and get ready to rock the strip on December 5th 2010!
Sat, August 14th, 9:00 am Westwood Health & Fitness
Tues, August 17th, 6:00 pm JCC Milwaukee
Thurs, August 19th, 6:30pm Oak Creek Library
Weds, August 25th, 5:30pm Koss Corporation

Game Plans: Half and Full Marathon Training

Tracey — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:26:00 +0000

Spring is finally here (well, I hope) and that means race season is just around the corner! There’s only a few weeks left for those of you training for the Wisconsin Half Marathon on May 1st so hopefully your mileage is increasing at a steady pace. If you’re running the full 26.2 mile race that day, or later in Rockford, Illinois on the May 16th, I’m sure you already know the most intense long runs are coming up in the next few weeks. Many of you may already be following training plans but if you’re a first timer who’s been flying solo I suggest looking into a specific guide- especially for the peak mileage weeks. I’m a big fan of Hal Higdon who has created a number of great training plans for races of various distances that are well respected by runners. Here’s a peek at his Novice Half Marathon Training Plan:

And a sample of the Novice Full Marathon Training Plan:

As far as marathon training goes there is a mountain of information out there. When you’re preparing for your first race-no matter what the distance- there are tons of questions that come up that seasoned runners probably haven’t even thought of in a long time. (See John Mosey’s 5K report for a good example of this!) Though I didn’t end up following Higdon’s plan to the letter, I used it as a general guideline for how many miles I should be running a week at any given time and how far my long distance runs should be on the weekend. I also picked up his book, “Marathon”, which I found inspiring on so many levels. Not only does he cover his own personal training and experiences running over 100 marathons but I loved the chapter that featured “regular folks” quotes about completing their first 26.2 mile race. He also talks about all the little details you might want to know about race day like “How should I fuel/hydrate during the race?” “What should I expect post-finish?” or “Omigosh what if I have to use the port-a-potty?”

Immersing yourself in all of this info can be daunting yet fun. I found that it helped my confidence a lot to read everything I could get my hands on regarding marathon training. I must have watched the documentary “Spirit of the Marathon” at least three times. (FYI: Even if a marathon is not on your radar AT ALL this is a fabulous and inspiring film.) If you’re not ready to tackle 13.1 or 26.2 just yet but thinking about it for the fall, you might want to check out these training articles from Runner’s World Magazine as you make your decision and map your path:

Runner’s World Ultimate Marathon Training Plan

Runner’s World Half Marathon Training Plan

As always, good luck!

13.1 Miles: Who’s In?

Tracey — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:06:00 +0000

What do you mean a half marathon is too scary? You’ve got 2 1/2 months to train, right? Let’s do it together.

Fit Milwaukee is getting together a group of runners to run a half marathon on Saturday, May 1st in Kenosha! (There is a full 26.2 mile marathon that day as well but this time we’re participating in the half.) We’ll be trying to train together for some Saturday morning long runs as well as caravanning to Kenosha on race day. If you’re having doubts about whether or not you’d be able to train and complete it on your own why not join us? We can be kind of pushy- I mean motivating. Even if you can’t make the Saturday morning runs you can still join us for the big race.

Here’s an example of a half marathon training plan for first timers.

If you can run around 4 miles right now you should be ready for 13.1 at the end of 12 weeks. (Ok, so we’re technically 11 1/2 weeks out from race day so adjust the schedule accordingly. It’s pretty darn close!)

You can register online for the race at WisconsinMarathon.com. If you use coupon code 10WISP you can get 10% off the $50 registration fee. Yes, it’s a bit steep but hopefully it will be a lot of fun and totally worth it! They sold out last year so don’t wait too long to decide. Drop us an email if you are interested or you have any questions. If there’s enough interest maybe we can get a walk/run team going as well. There’s even a 2-mile Family Fitness walk going on too so that’s an option. We’re planning this one as we go but it should be a good time.