You completed your first half marathon on May 5 – go you! Do you have any top tips for runners thinking about taking the plunge to try a half marathon?

I did finish the Navigant Half Marathon which runs part of the way along the Blackstone Valley bike path. Because it was in early May, I knew I’d want to train all winter which meant learning to love to run in the cold. Surprisingly, I DID love it—with the right gear and the right attitude, the cold weather feels so refreshing and it was awesome to run outdoors when almost everyone else was feeling housebound.

For me, that distance—13.1 miles—was HARD. It took a lot of out of me to run anything more than ten miles in training and during the race itself. In hindsight, I wish I had done some strength training to build up my legs more, and I wish I had sought out some hills too. Running on flat roads is great for confidence but I’ve learned my lesson: Hill training will be part of my life from now on.

For runners who have done a 10k, a half marathon is a very real and attainable goal. I ran/walked at a 4 minute: 1 minute ratio which felt right for me, and I finished with a smile on my face. No, I wasn’t a speed demon, but it was still such a feeling of accomplishment.

We here at EBR like food. What are your favorite pre and post race snacks/meals?

In the mornings, I must first start with a cup of coffee (coconut creamer and sugar too!) and a banana. Anything more than that and I feel like my stomach has a lead weight in it. If I’m running more than 4 miles, I bring a “GU” and water to slurp down. GU is truly disgusting and you should see the faces I make when I eat it, but it gives me the biggest kick in the pants and is pretty easy to get down. I’ve tried the chews and my jaw gets tired trying to eat them!

After running, I usually don’t have much of an appetite for a while. But, after a long run, I definitely down a big glass of chocolate milk which has all but eliminated the crushing fatigue I used to feel after an hour (or more!) of running.

Tell us about your essential running gear.

I’ve been wearing Brooks’ Adrenaline running shoes for years and years. I just buy the latest-and-greatest model whenever I get a new pair. I love how much room my toes have;  these are just the perfect shoes for my feet.

I really like Target’s C9 by Champion line of running clothes which don’t cost a fortune but fit really well. And I just started wearing a Brooks running baseball cap which keeps my head cool and keeps the sweat out of my eyes. I can’t do without my Nathan Running Belt for my longer runs, and I put NUUN tablets into my water bottles for a little extra boost.

In the winter, I run in my old Hot Chillys skiing tights which are awesomely warm but not too bulky or hot, and then I layer, layer, layer on top. And, for running on snow, I adore my YakTrax which come on and off so easily and really do keep me from slip sliding away.

And finally (wow, I am a high-maintenance runner!), I prefer to run with music, so my iPhone is another essential piece of equipment. Tucked into my SPIbelt, it’s easy to reach if I need to take a call or check my pace on RunKeeper.

We know you dig tech. Tell us what social tools have helped you keep accountable while training.

The entire reason I am still running more than a  year later is because of Jeff Galloway and his wonderful apps.  I used his run/walk method to safely build up mileage without injury, and I will say it is a great way to get established as a regular runner without a lot of aches and pains which would normally derail me a couple of months into a training program. My pace was always pretty good, even with the walk breaks. I am now working on “only running”, and I credit Jeff Galloway’s method for preparing my body for this more intense workout.

I also love logging my runs on Daily Mile where friends can come and cheer me on or offer suggestions. And I just started tracking my progress on Run Keeper which allows me to see my progress day-by-day and also motivates me during a run by telling me my split times.

Are you inspired by any running bloggers? If so, who?

I love the Another Mother Runner website started by Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea who both wrote the Run Like A Mother and Train Like A Mother books. Their articles and podcasts are perfect for anyone who is trying to juggle fitness and family, and their sense of humor always makes me smile. Also the women on their forums and on the Facebook page (also known as BAMR’s–bad-ass mother runners) are so supportive, funny, dedicated, and helpful, they make me want to be the best runner I can be.

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Christina Refford is a homeschooling mama to three kids, Senior Associate Editor at Cool Mom Picks and Cool Mom Tech, and blogger at The Fairly Odd Mother. She lives south of Boston with her husband, kids, and lazy black lab who refuses to run with her. She hopes to do a triathlon in 2014, and maybe tackle another, flatter half marathon in the not-too-distant future.

Personally, the City Sports Back in the 10K turned out to be a pretty tough race, due to the stifling heat and humidity and the hills (like, really freakin’ steep hills). I was mentally prepared for both and in general, started well; I went at my own pace and tackled the first three hills and several miles with determination. Then the heat and hills started to get to me (though man, thank you to the people of Somerville who sprayed me off with a hose). I ended up having to walk some of it, which was a bit of a bummer because I know I can run 6.2 miles, but I did finish strong (man, I look so serious in the photo below…I should have had what #583 had for breakfast!) and it was a nice surprise to have Jon and the girls waiting for me at the finish line.

Image credit: Racewire.com

I definitely want to tackle another 10K…possibly even a half marathon. But I think next go around I need to take the course details a bit more seriously and either only opt in to a race that’s generally flat (since that’s what I train on in my neighborhood) or train appropriately for the type of course (so, go train on hills if it’s a hilly course). Because the reality is, when I run a race, I want to run it without walking (even though really, I know there is no shame in walking!). Given that I’ve been running pretty well in the heat this summer, I think that despite the stifling weather I could have finished without walking if the course was relatively flat.

As for details of the race itself, hats off to City Sports! The race was well organized, with plenty of people and signage offering directions, several water stops, the aforementioned unexpected community hose-downs, and lots of great sponsors at the finish (sorry I drank so much of your product Vita Coco). I think I would do it again next year if I could motivate to train on hills! Meanwhile, I’m looking at a straight 10K (no walking) and/or a half marathon as my next goal!

I love to run with someone, and my daughter is just old enough to come with me. I love it! She’s got more energy in her one pinky finger than I do in my whole body. So she keeps me going!

“Come on, Mom”! She’s cheering me on, coaching me, and giving me encouraging words.

What better way to go for a run!

If you’d like to send in a picture to be included in a future Where Kids Run post, e-mail eatblogrun [@] gmail.com and include: 1) photo; 2) name/link to attribute to the picture; and 3) brief description of what’s happening in the photo. Thanks!

Nathan has a few different options (touted for being lightweight and bounce-free). Here are the main standout features with the model I picked (btw, it was awesome to have the dude at the running store break down the major differences for me!):

• 8 ounce bottles: You can choose from 8 or 10 ounce bottles. I wanted to go smaller; less weight to carry.
• High-flow race cap: just squirt and go. Other Nathan belts have bottles with spouts you have to open but I figure, why bother with that?
• Velcro belt: The other option is an adjustable buckle. The velcro seemed easier to me.

One other noticeable difference between the 8 and 10 ounce belts is that the 10 ounce belt had a bigger (zippered, if I recall) pocket, perhaps more convenient for carrying your phone. This was definitely something I wrestled with because when I run races I like having the option of carrying my phone so I can snap pictures. However, given that it’s going to be hot for my weekend 10K, I’m just going to forego the phone. I’ll probably be too sweaty to handle it anyway!

I’ve done a few trial runs with this belt and it’s worked great; easy to gear up and the bottles are easy to take out and put back in while running. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a lightweight hydration system!

This past week I hit a local running store to get a water system and hat (my RHS has not been ideal) in preparation for my upcoming 10K. Just before I left, I paused in front of the array of GU and other energy products. I felt like I should get something for during-race fuel, but in the past I have just wanted to gag whenever I have tried these products.

However, it was clear from my latest longer training run (60 minutes) that I need something en route. I did that run without carrying anything (per usual) and in the last 10 minutes I was getting pretty thirsty and my energy was starting to flag. It was a good experiment and confirmed that for the 10K I needed to figure out fuel.

I’ll report back soon on the water system I bought (which I have to exchange for a different size before I try it out…I really should read labels better…), but meanwhile, I wanted to share this post I found on the best natural fuel for runners. I was THRILLED to find this article, given my aforementioned gag reflex to GU. The article shares everyday food recommendations (and scientific rationale…yay, science!) for fuel consumed 3-4 hours pre-run, 15-60 minutes pre-run, during the run, and post-run.

YAY. The recommended foods are not unusual given what I normally eat pre-run and I’m going to experiment over the next couple of weeks with during-run fuel.

Does GU make you gag or is it essential for your running fuel? What are your favorite pre-, during, and post-run fuels?

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net (with text added by Christine Koh)

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!”

What are you listening to on your summer runs?

I’ve been wrestling with toddler-induced plague for two weeks now but, knowing that I have a 10K at the end of June –and because I always feel better when I exercise — I’ve kept running. Last weekend while I was in the height of feeling like crap, I hit the number of minutes I wanted to run (45), even though I was mentally prepared to not hit that target. And it wasn’t onerous. In fact, I loved the idea that toxins were pouring out of my body with each passing minute! After that run, I realized that my current approach to running has served me really, really well. Today I wanted to share my 5 tips for less stressful race training.

1. Start now, even if you don’t have a race on the books. When I first started experimenting with running, I loved the Couch to 5K plan; probably because the segments were short and doable. However, every time I have looked at 10K and half marathon training plans, I feel completely daunted. I mean, I totally understand the need to prepare properly, but these plans look so regimented, and with no degrees of freedom to account for things like toddler induced plague or work travel. So, I recommend getting into a running routine now to build your general fitness and endurance, even if you don’t have a race on the books — the below recommendations will flesh out why.

2. Remember that short runs count. I once read in a running magazine that 10 minutes of running is better than nothing. That recommendation has always stuck with me; in fact, it’s similar to what I used to tell my violin students (5-10 minutes practice a day is better than an hour the day before the lesson).

3. Build runs into your everyday tasks. I have two kids and I work full-time. Time is pretty tight. On the weekdays, it’s easiest for me to work in fitness if I’m on my way somewhere, these days in the form of transporting Violet to day care. I walk her in the jogger (20 minutes) to wake up my legs and run home (or a longer loop to home).

4. Go for consistency. Consistency is the key, and will be supported by #1, #2, and #3 above. I usually run 3-4 weekdays, via the Violet-to-daycare approach + one weekend day. After the slushy winter roads cleared a few months back I spent one month simply walking Vi to school (20 minutes) and running home (11-12 minutes) and on the weekend I would do a 20-30 minute run. The next month I upped my weekday runs to 20-30 minutes and my weekend run to 30-40 minutes. This month I’ve been trying to keeping my weekday runs in the 25-30 minute range and upping my weekend runs (so far to 45-50 minutes) in anticipation of the 10K on June 30.

5. Be flexible. The reality is this: some days you will have the plague, some days the weather will be against you, and some days your legs just won’t carry you. Instead of feeling bad about these things, change your mindset and be flexible.  For example, I have had days where I’ve gone out intending to run for 30 minutes and just felt like crap; I keep #2 in mind and even if I can only run 10-15 minutes, I do it and celebrate the fact that I did something. Or this week two of my weekday runs (including today) were deterred by downpour. So, instead I did yoga, which in my opinion is the best way to stretch and prevent running injury. I’m actually now feeling well positioned for a nice longer run tomorrow.

I cannot say enough how well the short, consistent, and flexible approach to running has worked for me. Based on my ability to run 45 minutes with the plague last weekend, not only is this approach clearly helping with my general fitness and endurance, but the approach is fun and not stressful; I don’t feel horrible that I’m not checking off a specific box on a specific day yet I’m still pretty certain I’ll be properly trained up for the 10K. I’ve got two more weekends to experiment with longer runs (hopefully, 55-60 minutes this weekend and 60-65 the next…but I will retain a flexible mindset!) before the 10K and I’m feeling good. If all goes well with my approach, I’m thinking that I want to extend this approach and take the plunge and sign up for a half marathon!

If you want to do a running event just for you this Summer, then pin this image or share it on facebook to make your declaration public! You can do it!

My running buddy is looking for the perfect half marathon event to keep us going further and further. She’s come so far since running her very first event with me this spring. I can barely keep up but so what.

Too hot to train outside? Do some indoor exercises to cross-train.

Summer travel plans? Pack light and remember your sneaks.

Ready to run? Post your race to our Eat Blog Run page.

Summer is here and it’s time to get outside for a run. No excuses. Most of the spring obstacles have passed, I haven’t sneezed in a few weeks and the rain has mostly stopped here in Seattle. The roads are dry and ready for running.

Time to revel in that red faced and wind swept look. The kind you get from a good run, when your face is more red than a beet and your hair is permanently feathered back.

How’s your summer running going?

Melody (pictured above) loves her running headband and hates to get on the road without it. But since the morning of the MCFunRun she couldn’t find it, she is also modeling the basic mid-ponytail below.

Here are your choices:

a.  Grand Rapids Kids Melody (also pictured above) has a sleek and high ponytail.

b. Make and Takes Marie is wearing her small clippy to keep her hair back.

c. Boston Mamas Christine keeps her hair back with a stretchy headband.

d.  Musings of a Housewife Jo-Lynne Shane has my go-to look: the ponytail with running cap is easy to do and keeps the hair, sweat, and sunshine out of my face.

e. Something else entirely. Not pictured are your other creative ideas. Do you fashion a bun or braid? Go free and flowing?

So, what’s your favorite running hairstyle? And is it different on race days?