May 2013

Week 9, AMR Virtual 5K: Finishing as Sole Sisters

Ready to kick some asphalt - Keli will be wearing her favorite Adidas tank and shorts, iPod shuffle, Garmin, Road ID bracelet and my awesome Asics Gel-Blur33's.

Ready to kick some asphalt – Keli will be wearing “my favorite Adidas tank and shorts, iPod shuffle, Garmin, Road ID bracelet and my awesome Asics Gel-Blur33’s”

1. How would you describe your virtual 5K training now you’re so close to the finish line?
K:  It has definitely been up and down with three kids, 5 and under, but right now, I feel like I can definitely do this final push before the race. In the last two weeks, I’ve had the flu, a sinus infection and an ear infection, so training has taken a backseat to, well, breathing. But I’m feeling almost 100% and I am ready to push it to the finish line! I am so thankful for Erin. She has been such an amazing friend and support system through all of this, and I know would never want me to quit.
E: It’s been a rollercoaster. It started out on a downhill, then I felt that I was definitely on an upswing, now I’m back on a downhill after a bone spur and a resurgence of plantar fasciitis and sesamoiditis. It’s definitely been a journey! There are times that I felt like I’d fully recovered from injury and was making a comeback and times–like yesterday–that I stopped running and had to fight back tears on this run. I am thankful that I have Keli in my corner during this virtual 5K, otherwise I might lose my mind.
2. Are you aiming for a specific finish time?
K: A sub-30 would be so awesome since I haven’t been able to put as much into this training as I would have liked, but, you know, just crossing the finish line will be pretty great.
E: I’m not. I was originally, but with everything going on with my feet (which I would like to state, for the internet database record here, are really big jerks), I’m just aiming to get across the finish line. I’m trying to not be too disappointed about this, because I was really hoping to come close to my previous 5K PR, but I know there will be other races.

Erin's 5K raceday outfit consists of "my favorite Athleta capris (they're amazingly comfy) and my Team Tommy t-shirt. I normally don't run in cotton tees, but this is the epilepsy walk for my son, so I have to match the rest of the team and proudly wear his name!

Erin’s 5K raceday outfit consists of “my favorite Athleta capris (they’re amazingly comfy) and my Team Tommy t-shirt. I normally don’t run in cotton tees, but this is the epilepsy walk for my son, so I have to match the rest of the team and proudly wear his name!

3. Arms in the air, fist pump, or leprechaun jump; How will you celebrate when you cross your virtual finish line?
K: Fist pump! I’m running a local Race for Adoption 5K where 100% of the proceeds will go directly to fund a local family’s adoption dream. So I’ll be fist pumping for adoption as well as fist pumping for Erin and Team Tommy. I wish I could run the Race for Epilepsy with Erin since my daughter is also epileptic, but I will be there in spirit.
E: Well, thanks to my feet, jumping is most definitely out! Because I’m running in an epilepsy walk in a team formed for my son who has epilepsy, this is always a moving experience for me. Last year, I spent a lot of time with tears in my eyes and crossed the finish line teary-eyed, smiling and fist pumping for all those kids who continue to beat epilepsy each year. I imagine I’ll do the same this year.
4. How do both of you plan on toasting each other for all your hard work?
K: A virtual margarita — and I think we each deserve to buy the AMR Sole Sister tee after the last couple of months! We are truly Sole (and soul) Sisters.
E: I keep thinking Keli and I need to buy AMR Sole Sister shirts for the day that we finally run a race together (I’m holding out hope this can happen soon). This might be a good way to toast each other, but we’ll probably rehash the past weeks via text and hopefully share a virtual margarita. We’ve both earned it!

Erin won't let the plantar fasciitis and sesamoiditis keep her from smiling as she wraps up her 5K training

Erin won’t let the plantar fasciitis and sesamoiditis keep her from smiling as she wraps up her 5K training

Week 9, AMR Virtual 5K: Speedy vs. Strong & Something Nearly as Sweet as Running with Your Daughter

"After an awesome run along the Huron River."

“After an awesome run along the Huron River.”

We’re in the homestretch of our Virtual 5K training, and this week we check in with mother runner Kafi, who talks about what she’s learned about herself after running on a treadmill and now running outdoors more often. She also shares something fun she and her 10-year-old daughter, also a runner, recently enjoyed doing together.
1.) In a nutshell, how would you describe your training at this point? What’s going well? Any particular hurdles?
Slow and steady. I’m in a pretty good routine of getting the practice sessions in each week. I’m having a harder time with the cross-training and fun workouts. I’ve been adding some distance to my runs, especially now that I can be outside more.
I’ve still been running on the treadmill because of weather and time constraints, but I have been able to get outside at least once per week. There is an awesome park/trail that follows the river—it has got to be my favorite running spot in town. I was so excited to be outside last Saturday that I did 5.25 miles!
One realization I’ve had is that when I run on the treadmill I’m speedy and outside I’m strong! And that’s OK! This has really changed the way I approach my outside runs and helped me get over a major mental hurdle.
2.) How are you feeling about the upcoming race?
I’m excited and nervous. I’m going to be running in my local Girls on the Run 5K on May 19. I’ll be running in a race with people I know, and that has upped the nervous factor. I’ve had to quiet the voices in my head negatively comparing me to others. Running the 5k in Chicago was easier because I was anonymous.

Matching mother-daughter shoes.

Matching mother-daughter shoes.

3.) You talked before about wanting to run with your family–how is that going? Are you running together much?
We haven’t yet. We talk about it, and are scouting vacation spots based on races, but have not actually run together yet.
My 10-year-old daughter and I did the next best thing, though: we got matching shoes. ;-)
4.) What have you learned from your training?
That getting up and showing up is way more than half the battle. My body knows what to do; I just have to get my mind out of the way.

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