Little Rock Half Marathon Training

In two weeks, I will run my second half marathon. I ran my first one ever...and three months later I'm doing it again.

Lots of stuff has been going on around these parts lately, and I'm sorry I haven't gotten to tell you about it any sooner. But let's have some sharing time. Or I'll share and you can read...and then share in the comments. Because I love comments. Seriously. Sharing is caring peeps.

I ran 11 miles this morning. It was windy and cold. But I was in rare form. And by that I mean my attitude was of another person. Usually windy and cold runs means I'm going to be a super Grinch. I mean I hit total diva status when it's below freezing, overcast and windy. You can ask anyone.

But today was perfect. A windy and cold delight.

I've found my most favorite place to run in Little Rock. Or I should say North Little Rock, if specifics is what you're after. North Little Rock did the River Trail right. It's right on the river. I mean so close you could fall in. The rock walls are beautiful, and there are plenty of bathrooms along the trail...if you're into that.

I can't even describe how beautiful it is to me. The Big Guy knew what he was doing when He carved that rock quarry. End o' story.

I spent 9 of the 11 miles singing "I will walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more." Followed directly with "DADADADA..." Nobody sang the responses back to me. Bummer.

So basically the premise of this post is to show you I've been training for the Little Rock Half Marathon, and things have been going well.

I ran 9 miles at Two Rivers Park a few weeks back. Around mile 4, we decided to throw in a mile of trail running just off the River Trail. It was the highlight of the run.

I ran 10 miles last weekend. My  first long run after turning 25. YAY for birthdays. We ran from the Clinton Library to Burns Park and back. Not my best run. I was cold to the bone. No sun. Windy. Total diva princess...and not in a good way.

As a treat to starting my 25th year, I bought some new trail running shoes.

Hello unofficial Brooks spokesperson. #runhappy

After a 2.5 mile birthday trail run on the Pinnacle Mountain Base Trail, I decided trail shoes were a must if I didn't want to die running over all the rocks, roots and occasional small animal.

There will be a post about trail running once I get some more experience with it. But as of right now, I can tell you without hesitation trail running is the best kind of tough. Badassness just exudes out of you. Oh, and you'll be introduced to a new kind of tired.

I'm currently recovering.

Long runs are the best. Reading is the best. How I Met Your Mother is the best.

If I don't see ya before, I'll see ya at the finish line on 3.3.13. BOOM!!!

An Ode to Brooks Running Shoes

In honor of half marathon training beginning next week and because I love Brooks running shoes more than any other shoe on the market, I thought it would be a good idea to write the wonderful people at Brooks a little thank you note for making running shoes that my feet love. Overpronated feet have a tough time falling in love with a shoe...But that's neither here nor there.

Dear Brooks,

Thank you for making the Adrenaline series. It is my "go to" shoe, which I think it important in this day when we, as consumers, have so many choices and opinions floating around on the World Wide Web.

A large reason I think I fell in love with running was because I was fitted for the Brooks Adrenaline 11 when I started running over a year ago. You can read about that experience here. I loved my red Adrenalines so much  I was sad I had to retire them when tread wore down to nothing and my feet began to ache. Those shoes saw many miles and lots of first finish lines.

But I got a new pair of the Adrenaline 12s when I went to the New Orleans Rock 'N Roll half marathon in March. Not long after that, I signed up for my first half marathon. Per my mom's advice, I got another pair of Adrenalines, the pink 12s, to add to my training rotation. I'm still trying to figure out a way to get the purple Adrenaline 12s in my rotation. Somehow I think it's necessary for me to have all the Adrenaline 12s made.

Not long after I got the pink ones, I read about the Pure Project. I would love to try out the PureCadence, but I'm scared my feet have too overpronated for this minialist shoe. They just look so cool. I can't help myself. I envy all the people who wear them. Seriously. I think about ways to trip them and steal their shoes...Don't tell them I said that.

Thank you for making shoes I love. And please keep making them for us broken ankled overpronated people.

Love from your Adrenaline junkie in Arkansas,
Ashten

And something extra I found last night while I was reading through old blog posts....This post about running and learning is a gem. I crack myself up. You will get a clear understanding of how my brain actually works.

(Disclaimer: Brooks Running did not ask me to write this. I didn't receive any type of compensation. I just wanted to show them a little love because they made shoes my feet don't hate...which in my case it pretty amazing.)