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Meet the Relay Team: Road Runners

Anne — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:00:35 +0000

Kristina, Nick and Ryan all have kids in the same class at the same school. Kaari is Kristina’s sister. Their team name is Road Runners, because the mascot at their kids’ school is the roadrunner!

: Nick M.

Nick M.

1. How long have you been running?

About a year and a half, though I’ve been active in sports my whole life.

2. If you could run anywhere in the world, where would you run?

If I really had to choose, I would like to run across the Great Wall of China.

3. What other activities do you do to stay in shape?

There are other activities besides running? I enjoy chasing my kids around, they keep me moving all the time. An occasional P90X session does the body good too.

4. What is your favorite piece of running gear?

Summer, (ahem) body glide. Winter, compression shirts. All seasons, Vibram Five Finger, Bikila shoes.

Kristina M.

: Kristina M.

1. How long have you been running?

On and off, but mostly off, since 8^th grade. I never really ran competitively until three years ago. I did run a few 5ks and the Shamrock Shuffle in the mid-1990’s, but, I was really, really slow. In 2009, I ran 3 -5K races. In 2010, I ran 5-5K races. In 2011, I stepped it up a bit and ran 3-5K’s, 3 Half Marathons and the Chicago Marathon.

2. If you could run anywhere in the world, where would you run?

My absolutely favorite place to run is Siesta Key Beach. It’s amazing running on the beach. No distance is ever too far there.

3. What other activities do you do to stay in shape?

I do a few P90x dvd’s, ride horses, and occasionally bike to stay in shape.

4. What is your favorite piece of running gear?

My shoes!! I finally got fitted for shoes and what a difference it makes to my feet and my knees. No more blisters.

Ryan F.

Ryan F.

1. How long have you been running?

I wouldn’t say I have been running as much I would say I started working out about 1.5 years ago. After losing over 100 lbs, I am now able to run again.

2. If you could run anywhere in the world, where would you run?
Through the countryside of New Zealand

3. What other activities do you do to stay in shape?
I workout at a crossfit gym

4. What is your favorite piece of running gear?
My ipod

Jeff D.

Jeff D.

1. I began running the last week of August 2011 after being involved in a gasoline explosion, surgery, and then teaching my legs how to walk again. Prior to that i ran competitively in high school and college for four years till i broke my foot skateboarding which ended my collegiate partial scholarship.

2. The world is full of beautiful trails and i want to run them all.

3. Just about anything that involves being outdoors : hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, mountain biking. My work as a construction contractor and carpenter keeps me very physically fit.

4. The shoes on my feet that help absorb the pounding i put them through.

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?

Meet the Relay Team: Where’s the Beef

Anne — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Team Name: Where’s the Beef

Alyssa Feuerer

Alyssa Feuerer

· How long have you been running? Competitively, just about 2 years

· What was the last ‘big’ race you did? Haunted Hustle ½ Marathon, in Middleton, WI

· What is your favorite Milwaukee running event? Run into the New Year 5K, or as I call it, The Champagne Run.

· Do you listen to music when you run? Name three artists or songs that fuel your runs. I usually listen to podcasts – Nerdist, Mohr Stories or TEDTalks. Otherwise I usually listen to TV on the Radio, Daft Punk or Girl Talk

· What other activities do you do to stay in shape? Spin, Volleyball and Yoga

Laura Johnson

Laura Johnson

· How long have you been running? 12 years

· What is your favorite place to run? on the lakefront in Milwaukee

· What was the last ‘big’ race you did? the Haunted Hustle 1/2 Marathon in Midddleton, Wisconsin

· What is your favorite Milwaukee running event? any beer run!

· Tell us about the very first race you ever did. Briggs & Al’s 5k Run for Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

· What is your favorite piece of running gear? My ipod

· Do you listen to music when you run? Name three artists or songs that fuel your runs. Kanye West, Black Eyed Peas, LMFAO

· What other activities do you do to stay in shape? Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Hiking & Biking

Laura Leeman

Laura Leeman

· How long have you been running? 14 years

· What is your favorite place to run? Wauwatosa neighborhoods

· What was the last ‘big’ race you did? Free to Breathe lung cancer 5K

· Tell us about the very first race you ever did. Challenge Cup 5K at age 12 Appleton, WI

· What is your favorite piece of running gear? My Saucony running shoes

· Do you listen to music when you run? Name three artists or songs that fuel your runs.Britney Spears, Girl Talk, Usher

· What other activities do you do to stay in shape? Biking, Yoga

Nate Feuerer

Nate Feuerer

How long have you been running? – I guess I have been running probably since I could walk. However, I really don’t like to run. But, it definitely keeps me healthier than sitting on my couch, and it’s faster than going to the gym. So it’s been about 2 years now since I got moving.

What is your favorite place to run? — I enjoy the Milwaukee lakefront, although I don’t get there enough. I like my neighborhood (Jackson Park) a lot, it’s easy for me to keep track of my distance and speed. And I get to say hi to my neighbors. I also really like the Pettit in the winter, because I a) have a deathly fear of slipping on ice on the sidewalk, b) love that it’s 30 degrees warmer in there than outside in January, and c) like the people watching as they skate by me

What is your favorite Milwaukee running event? — I love running Bastille Days, to me it’s a great opportunity to see the city in a different way. The 2009 run was also my first “race” since 8th grade. And maybe, just maybe, I like the fact that I end up having a bunch of beers before (and after and sometimes while) I hit the streets .

Do you listen to music when you run? Name three artists or songs that fuel your runs. – I listen to music on my runs, unless I’m running with someone where we can chat between my gasping for air. My playlist varies quite a bit, for the Summerfest Half Marathon, I played a list of 1 minute snippets of around 130 songs, just to keep my mind moving along with my legs. My playlist must haves are Ke$ha, Nicki Minaj, Steel Panther, and recently LMFAO.

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If you’d like YOUR Indoor Marathon Relay team featured on Fit Milwaukee – send your info to anne@fitmilwaukee.com. Captains, ask your team 4 questions and get photos from everyone and we’ll introduce you to Fit Milwaukee

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?

Dirty Girl: Achievement Unlocked

Tracey — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:48:43 +0000

Remember when I was talking about how popular mud runs were getting? Well I finally went out and conquered one of my own. This past weekend I participated in the Dirty Girl Mud Run in Johnson Creek, WI. Held at the Milford Hills Hunt Club, the race covered three miles of trail with a bunch of fun obstacles thrown in along the way.

This event was all about Girl Power to say the least. From the “No Dudes Allowed” sign at the start to the mini-cosmos handed out at the finish, it was a great place for some quality female bonding. And the color of the day? Pink, pink and MORE pink. Pink tutus, pink knee socks, pink fluffy headbands. A portion of the races even went to the National Breast Cancer Foundation so I saw pink ribbons and survivor shirts as well. Clearly, the ladies were representing today.

When I was approached to write a series of training blogs for Dirty Girl, I was excited about getting a team together for the event but a little bit apprehensive about conquering the obstacles. I mean, I’ve heard all about the Tough Mudder and frankly it kind of frightens me. How am I going to get my butt over a big wall? Luckily it turned out that this event was less about overcoming crazy hard obstacles and more about having FUN! I had assembled a crew of three other girls to be a part of Team Honey Badger and we had agreed beforehand that 1. We would all stick together and 2. We would get as filthy as possible. The fact that it started to thunderstorm on the drive out of town would make the second requirement easier than ever.

So… how did it go? First of all, I don’t know why I ever worried about the obstacles. They were meant to make the event more challenging but not make it overly difficult or impossible. We had to do things like climb over a mountain made of bales of hay, hop through tires, and scale a big cargo net. And the wall I was nervous about climbing? It had footholds on the sides so it was way easier than I thought it was going to be. My absolute favorite though was trudging through the pools of muddy water. I could have run through the course again just to do that.

The surprising thing about the race was that the most difficult part was the trail itself. Because it had been raining, the already muddy path was really difficult to navigate at points. There were a couple of stretches were it felt I was going to slip and fall with every step. I had visions of me sliding on my backside down an entire hill. Eventually I just gave in and started crawling on my hands and feet like a bear. It made it more interesting to say the least. At one point we decided to play “slip n slide” on our stomachs. The more mud we could plaster onto our bodies, the better.

The verdict? I liked it. It was nice to have “no pressure” race where you could just let go, be crazy, and have a great time. No Garmins, no splits, no competition. I would definitely be interested in doing a race like this again, although now I have to admit I’m considering maybe trying something like Tough Mudder. Maybe.

Sorry for the blurry photo. Also, it was taken by a BOY.

Have you ever done a mud run before? What was your experience like?

A Little Competition

Tracey — Mon, 23 May 2011 12:00:29 +0000

Photo by Cr4nberry

What does it mean to be competitive? Is it sprinting to the finish line to beat the girl in front of you? Maybe it’s besting your previous personal record at a race? Racing can mean something slightly different for each individual. I’ve been in many races where my goal has been “just to finish”. But there have been other instances where I’ve definitely been bitten by the competition bug. Overall though, I tend to think that I’m mostly competitive with myself. These days I usually have a time goal in mind for a race and I zero in on it like a hawk. At most races I find myself trying to shave precious seconds off a previous recorded time. Over the past three years those seconds have added up and I have to admit it’s been rewarding to watch my name climb in the standings. Even though I’ll probably never win a race, it’s incredibly satisfying to set a goal, work like crazy towards achieving it, and then have that goal come to fruition on race day.

As long as I’m being completely truthful, there have been times when I’ve felt a little bit of competitive spirit towards other runners. Usually it comes in the form of me picking somebody who appears to be at my level up ahead and saying to myself, “I want to beat THAT PERSON.” It’s nothing against them, and I’m sure they’re totally nice in real life, but it helps to have that extra reason to push when you find yourself losing focus. Sometimes I’ll keep picking new people as I’m running so that I always have that new incentive in front of me. (Also, at the Icebreaker Indoor Marathon Relay this year, there *may* have been a little bit of smack talk between a couple of the relay teams. I believe the word “destroy” was bantered about? It was all in good fun though. At least I think.)

Finding a healthy way to be competitive can be a bit tricky. It can be hard if you work so hard for something and then fall short of that goal. Sometimes no matter how prepared you are, it may just not be your day. I worked for six months to break a 1:50 half marathon last year and I kept missing it again and again until I finally broke the barrier in December with a 1:49:59. (Yes, it was by one measly second but I worked darn hard for it so I’m taking it!) Because that particular goal was harder to achieve it was that much sweeter when I finally got it. Again, I wasn’t racing anyone particular out there, but it was rather me against the clock.

In the end, I feel like the most important thing about being competitive is to keep it positive. It’s less about beating someone else and more about bringing out your personal best. How many of us are in the running to actually win races anyway? I may out-sprint a random girl at the finish but odds are there were dozens- in some cases hundreds- of people who crossed that finish line way ahead of me. If that short burst of competition down the final stretch clinched me a coveted PR though? Then maybe I owe that girl a beer.

Do you consider yourself to be competitive?

Race Bling

Tracey — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:30:00 +0000

What’s your favorite race medal and why? How about sharing a photo?

Mud Runs: The New “It” Race

Tracey — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Photo by Presidio of Monterey

Races go through trends just like fashion, design, food, and well, just about anything else. There are certain events that will catch on and suddenly it seems like everyone is hosting one and everyone you know wants to participate. For a while it looked like half marathons were the “hot” race of the moment. Although halfs remain very popular, there’s a different breed of race that (although they’ve been around for a while) looks to be picking up momentum as far as popularity goes.

What’s the draw of a Mud Run? Well, it’s a new challenge! Road races are great but they can get old after a while. People are looking for different ways to challenge themselves and events like the Warrior Dash, Dirty Girl, or the Madison Mud Run are providing the chance to do just that. When you show up at the starting line at a races like these you have to be prepared to tackle obstacles like scaling walls, jumping through tires and yes, crawling through mud. Just looking at pictures from any of these events and you can tell right off the bat that you’re going to get more than “just a little bit dirty.”

Photo: Dirty Girl Mud Run

There’s something exciting about finishing a race and being able to physically see just how tough it was. Being covered in mud, soaking wet or even scraped up a bit can be seen a badge of honor. It also can be kind of freeing to not worry about how filthy you’re going to get. Although mud runs project an air of toughness there’s also a carefree element surrounding them as well. When’s the last time you got filthy dirty and didn’t care what anybody else thought about it? When’s the last time you did that with a group of your best friends? Tackling a race like this with a bunch of besties can be a great bonding experience. And you’re bound to have a great story to share with others after you cross the finish line.

Have you ever completed a Mud Run? What was your experience like?

How I Knocked Out My 5K PR

Anne — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 22:03:01 +0000

“Sub-25”

This is now a word in my vocabulary. I’ve been trying to run a 5k in under 25 minutes for over a year now. It was on my 2010 goals list, and I didn’t quite cross it off. After I got a 25:02 in November I realized it was possible, but to actually DO it was a different story. So I put it on my 2011 goals list as a carryover from last year.

I finally chased that goal down today. I ran a 24:31 at the Frostbite 5k!

The way I deal with 5ks:

Pretend I’m not racing them.
Live in a lazyland of denial until the gun goes off. Then I decide in the moment whether I’m going to give it my all or not. Once I’m there, usually the ‘what have I got to lose?’ mentality kicks in. But this is important to my mental game plan… it eliminates all the pre-race anxiety I might feel.
Warm up for the race.
Run the course or at least part of it to get the jitters out. Two miles will do the trick. When the gun goes off, I can start at the right pace off the bat without having the sluggish first mile to deal with.
Bank the first mile.
My target pace for this 5k was about 8:00 pace. I know I have energy for the first mile, so I go all out and push while I’m still feeling “excellent” to “good”. I run Mile 2 by looking at the ground directly in front of me. Anything beyond that is too much to fathom. I lose a bit on pace during mile 2, and I feel like death but if asked, I might reply “ok”. If get halfway and am still mentally ‘in the game’, I can push my body to keep going. I can call on my legs even if my lungs sound like I’m wheezing my last breath. As long as I see that last turn on my horizon, I can call up enough stamina to hang on, and kick it in when it counts. If you ask me how I’m doing at that point, you’ll get a grunt or a death stare. I can no longer form words.

All these things came together for me today, plus one crucial element: Support.

My friend John Jerge ran with me today, and my friends John and Melissa Seamonson were on the course cheering. It was such a boost to have John J. as a running partner. He asked me how I was doing a few times, and my response deteriorated each time, as I explained above. But he reminded me that I would have something awesome to write about if I just hang on til the end! He’s a Team Challenge alumni, but today HE coached ME.

Proof.

This was a tough course, with hills at mile 1, 2, and 3. I deal pretty well with uphills, lowering my arms beside me and pumping my way to the summit. It’s the downhills that kill me. John urged me to coast down them. He knows I hate them, and he loves them, and so we balanced out. We powered up the incline, then I chased him down.

There were a few points where he held out his hand to ‘pull’ me. I wanted to punch him for that. Like I said, I’m going to death stare you if you even speak to me after mile 2 of a 5k. But I was relieved on some level that he wouldn’t let me give up. On the final stretch, I gave everything I had.

John shouted in celebration as we crossed the finish line! I had nothing left but a stupor of exhaustion but I knew I had done it. I was too delirious to laugh or cry. I saved that for the car ride home.

My splits: 7:52, 8:07, 7:59. 24:31, 4^th in my division, 6th of all women, 39^th overall.

Sub-25? Check.

How do YOU deal with 5ks? Do you have a goal time you’re trying to beat?

Girls on the Run Comes to Bay View!

Tracey — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 23:24:18 +0000

Over the past couple of months I’ve been lucky to come into contact with a great little organization called Girls on the Run. Who are they exactly? In a nutshell, they provide a 5K run/walk training program for girls ages 8 to 13 that focuses not only on physical health and fitness, but self-esteem, teamwork and emotional fitness as well. Over the course of 10 weeks the girls participate in running/walking workouts and games that revolve around relevant topics chosen specifically for pre-teen girls. Girls on the Run has all around the Milwaukee Area but this is the first year a site is being held in Bay View. (Can you guess who is coaching at this location?)

So here’s the deal. Right now I’m looking for girls in 3rd-5th grades to join our Bay View site. Practices will be held every Monday and Wednesday at Beulah Brinton Park from 5:30 to 6:45pm starting on Monday, March 21st. The program culminates with Laura’s Smile on Saturday, June 4th where all the girls will complete their first 5K! Registration is $150 dollars which includes the 20 practice sessions, race entry to Laura’s Smile 5K, a Girls on the Run t-shirt and a water bottle. If you have a daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece or friend who may be interested in joining, you can either contact me at tracey@multiply.org or call Girls on the Run directly at 414-254-3286. There will also be a parent info meeting held at Tippecanoe School (357 E. Howard) on Monday, March 7th at 5:30-pm. You’ll hear more about the program as well as get all the info you need for your girl to hit the ground running at the first practice!

You can check here for other Girls on the Run locations in the Milwaukee area.