Race Report: Turkey Trot Half Marathon

Previous PR: n/a-- never run more than ~5K with the double stroller
90% Goal: 2:30
50% Goal: 2:20
10% Goal: 2:15
Result: 2:06

Training:
Um, nothing. I did a few 5K-ish runs with the double in preparation for last weekend's Lab Rescue 5K, but, otherwise, haven't done any double stroller running. 

I've kept about 20-25mpw for the last while, with long runs of ~10 on the weekends, but haven't done anything over 10.5mi since childbirth. 

Background:
My husband and I have a tradition of running a race every Thanksgiving. With the exception of the year our first child was born (on Thanksgiving), we've done this every year we've been married. When we're in ATL, we've always done Atlanta Track Club's Thanksgiving Half. This year, though, we didn't register for it when prices were at their lowest, because I wasn't sure I'd be half-marathon-ready so soon postpartum (spoiler alert: I totally was). 



By the time we realized I would be, and that we wanted to do a race, the Atlanta Half was almost $100... per person. Add that to the fact that we'd need to find childcare (i.e. dump our kids on our family) and be away from our visitors for a good chunk of the day due to logistics, and we started feeling guilty about wanting to continue our tradition.

Sooooo, we found a different race that was: 
1) cheaper (in fact, we both qualified for free entry due to the race we did the day before my due date)
2) stroller-friendly, meaning we could do it WITH the children
3) close to home and small, meaning zero logistical troubles
and
4) multi-loop, so we could bail out after each 5K if the kids got restless AND family could see us multiple times if they wanted to come spectate

WIN.

So, we signed up for the half with the hope of me completing not only my first official half marathon with the stroller (I've done a ton of 13.1mi training runs with the single stroller, but no races beyond a 5K) but also a half marathon with the double.

Pre-Race:
Setting yourself up for success pre-race is always critical. When I'm going for a PR, this usually involves proper fueling, bathroom usage, warming up, and shedding layers at the right time. 

When I'm running with children, it's all about making sure everyone is changed, fed, dressed, and that I've got the stroller loaded up with appropriate supplies. Today's biggest challenge: making sure the baby's 2-3 hour feed/change cycle aligned with the race duration. 

We arrived 45min before race time. My husband bottle-fed the baby while the older one and I took a stroll to locate the finish line and use the port-a-potties. I set up the double stroller and made sure we had the requisite snacks, blankets, water bottles, and number of potential layers I'd want for a race that started with a "feels like" of 38 and would be around 50 degrees at the finish. 

Stay warm, kiddos!

Race:
We arrived at the start line a little too late to appropriately self-seed, and paid the price with the first ~2mi being the craziest obstacle course I've ever encountered. Fortunately, the bulk of the participants dropped off after the 5K, making the last three loops of the race much less stressful. I had no thoughts of pace, and just wanted to run happy. 

...and that's what I did. I loved every freaking moment of that course. I shared the first two loops with my husband, and also got to see another mother runner friend who was ahead of me most of the time on the ONB legs for the first three loops. I talked with my four-year old. I thanked the volunteers. I stopped a few times to make sure the baby was still alive, because I hadn't expect such sound, long-lasting sleep. I enjoyed every moment.

This picture is one of my absolute favorites.
It captures so many things that make me feel beautiful, strong, and confident.
This, right here, is why I run.

And then I realized I'd crossed the finish line in under 2:05... with a double stroller... less than four months postpartum. HOLY STROMBOLLI. 
 (The course was short, so I kept running until I had 13.11 on my watch-- 2:06:20)






Reflections:

• This race meant so much to me. Our second baby took much longer to conceive than we'd wanted, which meant our older one had almost outgrown the double stroller by the time we had a need for it. I'm beyond grateful that I had this opportunity to do a long race with both of my babies in the double, because I don't know that I'll get another.
• I'm so freaking proud of myself for running the WHOLE way with the double.
• ...and amazed by my time. I don't even run 10KTuesday that fast these days. I didn't even feel like I was racing-- just running comfortably the whole time. 
• Clearly, my body is ready for another training cycle... maybe a fast half for spring 2020?

Race Report: Atlanta Lab Rescue 5K

Previous PR: n/a (first double stroller race)
90% Goal: 33:00
50% Goal: 31:30
10% Goal: 30:00
Result: 27:03

Training:
Um, none? I've been running ~25ish mpw for the recent past, but haven't done any sort of actual training. 

Also, I think I've run with the double stroller less than ten times total. lol.


Pre-Race:
Um... nothing of note? MomLife = showing up half an hour before the race to feed littlest one a bottle, change 'em, and then figure out how to use the bathroom myself with two littles and a double stroller that didn't fit through the bathroom door. 

I'd originally expected to have my husband as back-up parental support on-site, but he's been super sick and opted to stay home where it was warm instead of standing out in the cold for 30+ minutes (legit). 

So, today's biggest success was simply abandoning my double stroller and bringing both kiddos into the stall with me... and making it to the start line on time. 

with my squishies 

Race:
I had zero goals for this race on pace or even effort. All I planned on doing was enjoying a run pushing both of my little ones. Kid #2 took a lot longer to conceive than we'd planned/wanted, and, as a result, I don't think we've got more than a few months where my oldest will still fit in the stroller to even have need of a double. This breaks my heart, so I'm just incredibly grateful to have had even one opportunity to share a race with both of my babies. 

I started a few rows behind the start, because having to weave around people (and dogs) when you're pushing a double is even worse (in my mind, at least) than self-seeding too fast because it's so much more dangerous. I had a few struggles off the line, but seeded myself well enough to avoid any issues. 

I've done this race since 2016 (save the year I was on a peg leg, 2017), and recalled it being an uphill out and a downhill back. Uphill with a double stroller is THE WORST because I'm pushing a 40lb older kid, ~20lb younger kid, 10lb carrier/carseat, and a 33lb stroller (that's 100lbs for those of you who "can't math"). 

I didn't even look at my watch for pace at any point during the race, especially because I felt like I was so slow that I didn't want to know.  Turns out, I wasn't slow, but was definitely using a different type of effort than I usually do. I wasn't breathing hard, because I could talk to my kids the whole time, very conversationally. I was, however, definitely exerting myself in other ways. 

When I crossed the finish and saw I was sub-30 (and by a good bit, too), I was absolutely shocked. 

Reflections:

• If I can hit this time with a double stroller on zero taper, with zero training, and not anywhere close to tempo effort, I feel REALLY good about where I could be with a taper, race effort and any sort of training.