2018 Hachie 50 Mile Race Recap
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
August 15, 2018
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| Not sure what loop I am starting here, but this smile was on for the entire 50 miles. |
Side Note: Last year this race fell on my 34th birthday and I ran the 50k. This year it fell on May 5th, so the last day of my 34th year. It was the perfect way to close out a year and look forward to a new one.
Race Day
The morning started super early but mostly the same as any other race. I was meeting my dear friend, Neil, at his house so we could ride down to Waxahachie together. We enjoyed good conversation and coffee on the way. It was the perfect way to really wake up before a race. Once we arrived, we headed to check in and began getting our stuff set up next to the personalized chairs that each 50 mile runner had set up by the start line as part of our "race swag". I will say it is awesome to see your name and have a chair already set up for you.
Loop 1
At 5AM, the gun went off and away we went. It was still dark and so all I saw was the glowing head lamps in front of me. The temperature was perfect at about 68 degrees. I was feeling good; like really good. I settled into a pace and just decided to roll with it. I found myself alone the first loop. I knew there was a group in front of me but I was being patient. I had 5 loops to complete. Just before the turn around a group of men were on their way back and a few women. They were moving fast. I hit the turn around and was headed back toward the start/finish line. The thing I like about out and back loops is that you can see where everyone is behind you. I found myself smiling and giving encouragement to those I saw. With a mile left on the first loop I caught one of the women in front of me. But as I passed her, she quickly sped up and began almost sprinting toward the start/finish line. That's when I realized she was part of one of the 50 mile relay teams. I stayed on my pace and kept moving forward. When I came into the start/finish area, I dropped my trash, reloaded water and nutrition, grabbed a cold, roasted sweet potato and headed back out. Not realizing until much later that the announcer had said I was the overall leader at this point. Loop 1 done.
Loop 2 & 3 & 4
My nutrition and hydration remained on point. Prior to the start, I had set a reminder on my garmin for every 40 minutes for my eating intervals (In the past I always end up
Loop 5
I think the smile on my face continued to grow with each loop. I was feeling so good and moving smoothly. I quickly unloaded my trash and grabbed a few Spring packets and one last sweet potato. I could feel the temps beginning to rise at this point. It was time to switch into high gear and bring it in to the finish line. This loop seemed to go by fast. At one point I felt like walking the small hill in front of me and as I took a few steps, my calves began to lock up. Better to just keep running, I thought. I started back running & the cramping stopped. As I came into the second to last aid station, my friend Shaheen asked if I needed anything. "Nope, just finishing", I said. As I took off for the finish she yelled, "Get that sub-8!". I felt this amazing surge of energy go through me, I was going to get that sub-8 hour finish. I crossed the finish line in 7:52:06 and a 35 minute lead on the second place finisher. This was an hour and 3 minute PR from my last 50 miler! The smile on my face below says it all. THIS WAS A GREAT DAY!!
The Hachie 50 is one of my favorite races. It is fast and flat, but all on pavement. As a trail runner, I put a lot of miles on the pavement in order to get my body and feet ready for this race. I am so grateful to God that I was ready for this race and the conditions that day were perfect. I want to give a special thank you to the race directors of the Hachie 50. They are amazing guys and put on such a great race and make sure to make each and every runner feel special.
Thank you for taking the time to read my race recap!
Samantha, Blissfully Fit Mama
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| Is this not the coolest buckle?! |
Online Grocery Shopping
Thursday, May 3, 2018
May 03, 2018
Since I was 20, I have been living on my own. I have been
I'm not gonna lie, I wanted to be able to pick it up that afternoon, but being new to this amazing world, I was just excited that I didn't have to go to the store!
Tuesday morning, after dropping off my daughter at school, I received a text saying my order was ready for pick up. I clicked on the app and checked in and updated the color of my car and was on my way to the store. Once you check-in in the app will track your location so that when you pull they come right out with your groceries.
I pulled up and backed into a reserved online pick-up spot, the woman who did my shopping for me came out, confirmed my order, went over any items that were out of stock and/or were replaced with a different but similar item. I got to say whether or not I wanted the replacement item and then she loaded my groceries into my car, had me sign for them and I was back on the road on my way home. Now only if I could bring her home to unload them and put them away too....lazy. HaHaHa
It was really that simple.
I asked about tipping but the employees are directed not to accept tips and ask that you just fill out the survey that is sent to you after the order is completed.
I would love to hear about your experience with online grocery ordering if you have a one.
It was really that simple.
I asked about tipping but the employees are directed not to accept tips and ask that you just fill out the survey that is sent to you after the order is completed.
I would love to hear about your experience with online grocery ordering if you have a one.
XOXO,
Samantha
Blissfully Fit Mama
My "WHY" for 100 Miles
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
April 04, 2018
If you ask almost any ultra marathoner, they will tell you that you have to have a "why" when running ultra marathons. Once you pass the coveted 26.2 miles you officially enter into ultra marathon territory and that is no cake walk. I learned the hard way last year while being in the midst of my first ultra marathon (50k) that your "why" has to be powerful. That it has to be right in front of you at all times so that when you hit those "lows" you have something to bring you back out. At that first ultra, my "why" was to simply prove that I could do it. Not the right direction I needed to go in. It needed to be more personal and hold power. After that race and being disappointed that I didn't hit my goals, I thought long and hard about why I was running ultra marathons and what they meant to me.
At the time, running 100 miles was never even a thought for me. As the months passed by and the itch began to grow to continue to challenge the distances I was running, a new "why" came to fruition last May into June. I was in Michigan visiting my family with my daughter and spending Mother's Day with my Mom, when my world seemed to come crashing down on from all angles. My Mom was not feeling well most of our visit and the day that we flew back to Texas was the day she went to the ER and a soft ball sized tumor was found in her uterus. On top of that, my Grandpa took a fall and was in the ER that same day. A few weeks later we were back in Michigan. My Grandpa was diagnosed with lymphoma that was spreading rapidly through his bone marrow and put on hospice care and sent home. My Mom was scheduled for a full hysterectomy to have the, most likely cancerous, tumor removed. Talk about a s*!t storm all at one time. I was also gearing up to be the crew chief at The Badwater 135 for my friend, Neil, so my training was increasing weekly. I made it home in time to have a final talk with my Grandpa before he slipped into a coma and then slowly and painlessly drifted away over the next few days. My Mom was diagnosed with stage 3 carcinosarcoma of the uterus and was still hospitalized when my Grandpa had passed.
I didn't really know how to process all that was happening. As the realization set in that my Mom was going to be fighting a very aggressive cancer, I made the decision to dedicate my miles to her. I never want to know what it is like to have cancer...CANCER SUCKS. My Mom was given two routes for her treatment and she chose to take the most aggressive route. It was going to be tough. It was going to hurt. It wasn't guaranteed to work. She was going at it head on.
As the months went by and her radiation and chemo treatments took her hair and energy, she remained amazingly positive. In late October, after finishing my first 50 miler, I asked her if she would be at the finish line for my first 100 miler. I told her I was running it for her and the amazing fight that she was putting up. She tried to talk me out of running 100 miles 'cause she thought it was too much. But simply put, it was nothing in comparison to what she was going through. She agreed and we booked her flights. All of this was dependent upon her getting clearance from her doc as well. On Dec 22nd, my Mom's final scan and blood work revealed that she was cancer free. This was amazing news and she was cleared to fly to Texas.
On Feb 3-4, 2018, my Mom was there though it all. She helped my husband crew me as I made it to my 1st 100 mile finish. Knowing what my Mom's body had gone through the previous 6 months made the hurt that I was experiencing not seem so bad. Im' not going to lie, there were many times when I thought I couldn't take one more step. In those moments is when I had to remind myself why and what I was doing this for. Plus eating helped too...haha. I crossed the finish line hand in hand with my husband and my Mom waiting for me at the finish line with her awesome, and so fitting for her personality, pink wig on.
The reason I run all those miles has to be powerful because in those low of low moments, that "why" can bring us back out of that low. It can have the power to surge you forward in a way that you didn't think was possible. It can cary you to the finish line that seemed so far away.
Samantha
Blissfully Fit Mama
Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile Recap
Monday, February 26, 2018
February 26, 2018
Leading up to race day
For the weeks and months leading up to this race, I experienced a roller coaster of emotions. What if I couldn't do this? Am I prepared enough? What if I don't finish? I thought of all the possible things that could go wrong. I had to dig deep to think of all the things that could go right. My training was pretty smooth. I came off of running and PR'ing at Brazos Bend in December, but had to take a little extra time to recover from it. Once my training got back on track, I was all in. I even had a few runs that were thirty miles long and I got them done out on the trails by myself. These were key runs for me, as they gave me the confidence that my mental toughness was in line. Or so I thought...
Race Time
My husband, mom and I arrived in Huntsville on Friday afternoon. I was feeling good about everything. We checked in, listened to the pre-race meeting and headed off to dinner and then checked in to the hotel. I laid everything out for in the morning, took a shower and tried to go to sleep. As with most races, I didn't sleep very well the night before. For some reason my mind races and I can't get it to turn off. Go figure...haha.I woke up at 4AM and started getting ready. Today I decided that with the chaffing I had endured that last few races, I was going to basically Skin Glide my whole body. My husband helped me get the places that I couldn't reach. I finished getting ready and we were out the door by 4:45AM. Once at the start/finish line, I started warming up a little and the nerves started setting in. The nerves really began to set in. My husband, Casey, reassured me that I was going to do great and that I just needed to "run my race" and not anyone else's. As start time neared, I kissed Casey and headed to the start line. For some reason, this time I didn't go near the front. I settled in somewhere in the middle and waited for the start.
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| Just before start time! Feeling excited to start! |
Loop 1
6AM and we are off into the dark. But I am not running or even jogging. There is this accordion effect happening as everyone starts. Instantly, I feel myself panic. I feel "stuck". I'm anxious to get around everyone that is walking but also know that I just need to be patient. Maybe this is a good thing. This will force me to walk a little bit more. But I still felt "stuck". It took me about 3.5 miles to work my way around people to a place where I can finally jog and run. And then the rain started. I pulled my rain jacket out of my pack, put it on and kept moving forward.
As I made my way from aid station to aid station, I was feeling good. The rain sucked but hey, race day conditions are not predictable. At least I was staying somewhat dry. The longest stretch & most technical was from the Damnation aid station out to the Far Side aid station and back. Nine miles of roots and soon to be lots of mud. I took my time, made it out and back without falling and finish the first loop just under 5 hours... right where I want to be.
Loop 2
Before I headed back out for the second loop, I changed my socks, got on a dry shirt, switched to a wind breaker, emptied out my trash and repacked my pack. Casey asked me how I was doing and I guess I replied with a "Meh, I'm okay." I don't remember saying this and when I think back on it, in my head I was feeling good. Back out for the second loop.My mind was focused on keeping this loop easy but also getting back so that I could pick up my first pacer, Nick, to really "start the race". The rain had stopped for a little bit and I thought that it was going to be over but as I made my way to the Gate aid station, it really started to come down. The jeep road turned to slick mud. I took my time and made it to the Gate. There, Michael, from Dallas Dirt Runners started talking to me as I collected myself a little and then he walked/jogged with me for about 5 minutes or so. This helped me so much and got me out of my head. I began running again and was off towards Damnation. This time the out and back to Far Side was a lot more messy. I managed to get out and back without falling (which not so many people were able to do). By this time I was beginning to feel my left hip flexor start talking to me a bit. It was bothering me on my way back to the start/finish but I made it in around 5 and a half hours. Right on track.
My down fall to this loop was the fact that I didn't stay on top of my nutrition. I emptied out more food than I should have and Casey told me to eat. I took in a few calories and just wanted to get back out there. All the signs were pointing for me to eat more but I wasn't listening to it. I changed my socks & shirt again, grabbed my rain jacket & flashlight/headlamp, and tried to roll out my hip flexor before heading back out onto the course with Nick.
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| Neil working on my hips. |
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| Nick & I heading out on loop 3 |
Loop 3
I was so excited to have Nick pacing me, but at the moment, all I could think about was my hip flexor. We talked on and off as I tried to gather myself and get out of my head. The best thing that Nick kept saying to me was, "We just need to get to the next aid station. Thats all you need to think about right now." This worked for a while but as I kept moving and kept forgetting to eat, I began to sink into my first "low" of the night. And it was LOW. I just need to keep moving forward, no matter how slow it was. The darkness was setting in, I could feel my body wanting to stop and sleep. I was fading fast. I dug in my pack and
Loop 4
Neil and I made it back to the start/finish area and he was trying to get me to eat, keep me moving and get back out so we could finish. Casey got me some chicken broth and tried to get me to eat anything. The broth was AMAZING! I took in calories and started back out for the final loop. You think this in itself would have been all the motivation I needed to finish this loop fast. Neil and I were making descent time power hiking. He was leading the way and I just set my eyes on his shoes. I tried not to think about anything. I wanted to mindlessly follow him. My hip flexor was still talking to me and now it was getting louder (not literally...lol). We made it to the first aid station and Neil gave me his first of many doses of reverse psychology for the night. He said, "Well you've gone almost 80 miles so far. We can go down the road a mile and get back to the car or we can turn down this trail and keep going. It's up to you." If looks could kill, he would have fallen right then and there. haha. Of course I was not going to give in to that, so we continued down the trail. He just wanted me to keep moving forward from aid station to aid station. "Just don't stop.", he kept repeating. I hit many more lows between aid stations. When I got to Damnation aid station for the second to last time, I found myself sneaking past Neil and into a chair. Dumb idea. I didn't want to get up. He finally got me to get up and move to get some more broth. SO good. I finally took in a good amount of calories after we made our way down to the Far Side aid station and began a solid power hike. We made it down and back to Damnation in ok time (for walking that is) and met Casey & Nick there. Casey took over for the final 6+ miles. I at least had some energy from taking in a good amount of calories during this loop to make it to the finish. Neil got me to a good place and I was so thankful. As Casey and I headed off down the trail, he was quickly getting me to move with a huge sense of purpose. We were talking and laughing and soon I found myself really power hiking. My watch had died around mile 90 and I had given it to Casey to charge so I had no sense of how quickly or slowly we were moving. The miles seemed to go by faster with each one. Soon we were catching up to people. Casey would motion ahead and I would see someone moving slowly. He'd whisper, "You got this. Let's get ahead of them." And one by one we ended up passing 5-6 people in those last few miles. This felt so good and gave me just enough momentum to get to the finish faster.
At 9:31AM I crossed the finish line hand in hand with my husband and my mama videoing the whole thing. There could not have been a more special moment captured. I taken over by emotion that I had finished. I WAS DONE!
Official time was 27:31:27 hrs. It was far off of my original goal but I was proud to have finished. There were so many DNF's (Did Not Finish) that day due to the conditions out on the course. Even Neil & Nick stated that they would not have continued on with the conditions. As sad as I am that I wasn't able to meet my goal, I walk away from this 100 mile race with so much happiness. I learned so much in those 27+ hours about myself and about what I am capable of. How to deal with things when nothing is going your way and how to recognize when you need to listen (to your body and to your crew).
100 Miles Completed. Take time to recover. Take the lessons learned from this and move toward the next goal relentlessly.
Samantha, The Blissfully Fit Mama
******To my amazing husband, Casey, I am so grateful to you for being out there and taking care of me. His support during this training phase was unwavering. I am one lucky girl to have him. To my amazing mama, for making the trip from Michigan down to Texas and for allowing me to dedicate every mile to her and her amazing fight against cancer. (Cancer sucks) To my amazing pacers, Neil & Nick, I am so grateful for the both of you. You knew what I needed before I knew I needed it and you kept me moving in the darkest of hours. Thank you! Finally to Tejas Trails, thank you for hosting a great race even in the worst of conditions. You made me feel so special at that finish line. My buckle will be forever cherished and I can't wait to partake in more your great races! Thank you.
Sweet Potato Hash
Thursday, February 1, 2018
February 01, 2018
This sweet potato hash is one of our house favorites. My 2 year old daughter ended up eating all of hers and moving on to my plate before I could finish. My downfall was that I didn't make enough for seconds. My poor husband had his gone in about 2.4 seconds and was looking for more (he ended up letting it all settle for a few minutes and was fine...well, after looking in the pantry for a few minutes too...hahaha).
There are a few different variations that you can do with this dish. For instance, I typically like to use chicken sausage (Whole Foods will grind up chicken thighs and breast (usually 2:1 ratio) for you right there in the store and season it with their maple breakfast seasoning! They are the best!), but I will occasionally just get the ground pork sausage that is seasoned with the maple breakfast seasoning. Both taste great, it usually just depends on what kind of mood I am in...haha
As far as the veggie option, I also change it up. My daughter loves broccoli (wait...what?! Yep, my 2 year old loves it) and so most of the time I will add chopped up broccoli. I also like spinach and asparagus. Again, it usually depends on the mood or time year.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do! ENJOY!!
Sweet Potato Hash
What you need:
2-3 medium to large sweet potatoes, peeled and small diced
1/2 lb preseasoned breakfast pork or chicken sausage (Whole Foods)
1 bag Steam Fresh Broccoli Florets
Eggs
Grass-Fed Butter or Ghee
Avocado
Himilayan Pink Salt
Ground Pepper
Garlic Powder
1. Melt 2 TBSP Butter or Ghee in large, deep skillet on Medium-High Heat. Add diced sweet potatoes and coat evenly. Stirring occasionally, cover to allow for them to steam a little and soften faster. About 8 minutes.
2. While sweet potatoes are cooking, in a large fry pan on medium heat, add sausage and cook through on medium heat. Be sure to break into small pieces. Once done, remove from heat and set aside.
3. Cook Steam Fresh Broccoli per package directions. Remove water from bag and place on cutting board. Chop into small pieces and remove big stem parts if desired.
4. Once sweet potatoes are browned slightly, add in broccoli and sausage and mix well. Season with pink salt, ground pepper and garlic powder to taste. Set aside and cover to keep warm.
5. In large skillet cook eggs how you like them with a little ghee or butter. My daughter and I love ours over medium and my hubs like his over hard. You can also scramble them, too.
6. Plate up your desired portion onto your plate and add the eggs on top. Add avocado slices to the top and ENJOY!
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| Over medium eggs- I like to break the yolks and mix it all in. YUM! |
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| Over hard eggs- I break the yolks so they cook faster. |
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| This plate was not full for long! |
Home Workout Series #3
Thursday, January 4, 2018
January 04, 2018
I realize that I have been totally slacking on getting these out to all of you. This time of year can just really get away from you will all the planning, present buying, wrapping and not to mention the wasted time trying to find the perfect gift on Amazon so that it can be shipped in 2 days for free and last minute. Who's with me on that one? haha So this will be a new workout for the NEW YEAR!
This workout is ALL about the BOOTY & SHOULDERS! Everybody wants a cute tush and nice arms, right? Well get ready for both to be on FIYA! Hope you had great Christmas & New Year and enjoyed time with family!
* You will want to have 8-20lb dumbbells to get the most out of this workout. For the all exercises, go as heavy as possible while keeping good form. Less reps when using heavier weight :)
This workout is ALL about the BOOTY & SHOULDERS! Everybody wants a cute tush and nice arms, right? Well get ready for both to be on FIYA! Hope you had great Christmas & New Year and enjoyed time with family!
Home workout #3
SL Deadlift to Reverse Lunge, 10-15/side
Tall Kneeling DB Shoulder Press, 10-15
Side Plank Knee to Elbow, 45-60 seconds/side
Lateral Lunge, 10-15/side
Crouching Tiger Push Ups, As Many As Possible(AMAP)
Crab Taps, 20-25/side
Repeat 3-5 times
Tall Kneeling DB Shoulder Press, 10-15
Side Plank Knee to Elbow, 45-60 seconds/side
Lateral Lunge, 10-15/side
Crouching Tiger Push Ups, As Many As Possible(AMAP)
Crab Taps, 20-25/side
Repeat 3-5 times
* You will want to have 8-20lb dumbbells to get the most out of this workout. For the all exercises, go as heavy as possible while keeping good form. Less reps when using heavier weight :)
~Samantha, Blissfully Fit Mama
Brazos Bend 50 Miler Recap
Thursday, January 4, 2018
January 04, 2018
With every race that I have done this year, I have walked away with new insight & focus for the next race. This Brazos Bend 100 was no different. This race is deemed the "fastest course in Texas". It is flat and non-technical, yet it wasn't until I hit the trail that frosty morning that realized I would actually be running a full 50 miles. Like other races I had done, stopping to power hike a little didn't seem to make sense, although I realized after I was about half way into the second loop that I would need to start planning out a few walk breaks. The 50 miler was a 3 loop course and it went as follows:
Loop 1
The air was crisp and there was frost on the ground and steam rising off the water. The atmosphere and energy was awesome. You could feel how ready everyone was to get out there and see how fast they could run this course. I placed myself close to the front of the line and was ready & nervous to get it started. My goal was to run a sub-9 hours race and I knew it was going to be a challenge to get.
We started at exactly 7AM and off we went on the trail. I feel like I settled into an easy pace from the get go. I wasn't pushing too hard but I was moving. The first few miles went fast. I looked down at my Garmin and was keeping an 8:10 to 8:30ish per mile pace. A bit faster that I usually started but felt good. There was a small stretch of water and thick mud but I was able to navigate around it without getting wet. There had been rain leading up to the day of the race so the mud was still pretty thick on the 1st loop. Around mile 5ish I could feel my stomach beginning to bubble. I had gone to the bathroom just before the start just like I always do but today my stomach wasn't too happy. At the Altra aid station I was able to used the bathroom after waiting about 5 minutes but was back on the course and feeling much better. Unfortunately, we ended up running an extra mile on the first loop....17.8 miles completed.
Loop 2
As I came in to where my crew was, I decided to do a quick sock change since I could feel lots of small rocks in my shoes. Learning lesson #1: wear gators. It was a quick change, I grabbed my fueling items and I was back out on the course. I could feel myself beginning to slow a little around mile 22 or so. I had to make one more bathroom stop before my GI tract finally settled. Once it did I was good to go in that department for the remainder of the race.
About half way through the second loop, I realized that I hadn't been replacing electrolytes. I reached into my pack and my salt tabs were nowhere to be found. I remembered measuring them out earlier that morning. Thankfully at the next aid station they had Hammer Nutrition Endurolytes (which I have used before) so a popped a few in my mouth and grabbed a few for later. Good to go.
My pace had slowed drastically from what I started at but I was okay with that. I was still moving forward and making good time. I stopped at my bag to get a few things but was ready to get done so I got back out on the trail as fast as I could. Almost 34 miles completed.
Loop 3
Woot woot! I was so happy to be on the final loop. My body was yelling at me to stop by now and my stride was tightening up. My hips were cramping a little and so I knew that I was going to need to take some extra walk breaks on this loop and listen to what my body was telling me. I decided that for every mile I ran, I would walk for 1-2 minutes. This seemed to work well and I felt like my body was getting the small breaks that it needed but I also felt like I was going to miss my sub 9 hour goal. I decided that I would try to make it two miles before I stopped to walk. Each mile seemed to inch by. I was beginning to focus on my watch and that is never a good idea. Thankfully I was mixed into a small group that was staying together. We were not talking but basically switching places on the course. When I would stop for a walk break one or two would pass me. When I started running again, I would pass them. This went on until we got to about mile 42 and then I decided to nix the next couple of walk breaks and just move forward as fast as I could. This went well until I reached my final stop at the Altra aid station. A girl that I swore would not beat me, showed up just behind me and took off just before me. I felt a little defeated. How could I let this happen? I know I shouldn't have let it get to me but she had beat me earlier in the year and I didn't want it to happen again.
I continued on and kept making forward progress while keeping her in sight. She was moving at a steady pace. It took me a mile or two to refocus, look at my watch and realize how close I was going to be to my goal and decided to focus on that. I almost started crying but decided I needed to channel my husband for a final pep talk. "Get it done. You got this." And off I went. No more walks breaks. I had two-ish miles left and I dug deep for everything I had left to get to the finish line and make my goal a reality. I felt my legs loosen a little and my speed picked up. I passed her with a mile to go and focused on the finish line. With about a quarter mile left I was running past spectators who were cheering me on, adding fuel to the fire. I finished strong and came into the finish line at 8:55:26 and a 5th place female finish. Rob, the race director, congratulated me by name with a high-five. Goal met!
All in all this was a great race to finish the year with. It challenged me in ways that I hadn't anticipated, yet allowed me to go after bigger goals. This didn't mark the end of a season, it just opened the door for bigger races. Up next is the Rocky Raccoon 100 miler in Huntsville, TX. So the training continues!! Be sure to check out my social media for updates on my training and what I am doing.
Train Hard. Recover Often. Nourish Your Body.
Samantha, Blissfully Fit Mama
Photo credit: Trail Racing Over Texas, Let's Wander Photography
Home Workout Series #2
Thursday, November 30, 2017
November 30, 2017
For this workout let's up the intensity! This workout is sure to get you sweaty fast and burning lots of calories. The key to this workout is to get through the entire set before resting. You will be out of breathe but each rest period will feel so good after completing the entire set. For this workout, I recommend getting through 3-5 sets. Time to get SWEATY!
Home Workout 2
Push Up & Reach x 4-8/side
Jump Lunges x 15-20/side
Plank Triceps Touches x 30-40/side
Full Burpee x 8-10
Jump Squats x 15-20
To make this workout out more of a challenge, you can add small dumbbells to the jump lunges & jump squats. Your quads will be burning...insert semi-evil laugh here. **Remember, if you need to break this up into pieces, you will still get a great workout for the day!
Samantha, Blissfully Fit Mama
Rockledge Rumble Race Recap
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
November 22, 2017
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| Yes, I was having this much fun the whole time! |
This is the second year that I have participated in the Rockledge Rumble. I absolutely love the race directors and all the volunteers that come out to help racers get to the finish line. It is a huge party from start to finish.
Last year I ran the 50k and was signed up for it again this year but decided after Palo Duro to drop to a short distance and work on my speed for once. I knew it was not going to be easier since I was specifically going out with a win in my mind. That was my goal and I knew it was going to be tough.
Leading up to this year's race, I knew I needed to get a good feel for what my pace could be on this particular trail. So at least once per week I would go out and just see how fast I could run the course. It was actually a lot of fun. With all the miles I had been running recently and the long races, this was a big change.
To be honest I was not 100% confident gong into race day. There are so many great runners in this city and I knew that I would have my work cut out for me. The first, almost, half mile of the course is on pavement and I knew if I could get out in front before going into the woods, I would be in a good spot. Well, the race started and I didn't realize that there were about five women in front of me. I worked my way up but wasn't able to get into the first spot before going into the woods. The trail narrows down to single track pretty fast and so passing has to be in the right spot. I had moved up to the second place spot and was right on the tail of the woman in front of me. She seemed to be running easy but I soon realized that she was not going to let me pass her without a little bit of a fight. She was going at a great pace, I was feeling good, so I decided to settle in with her for a mile or so. As soon as she slowed a little, I was able to get around her and just go. All I could think of for the rest of the run was that she was right behind me.
Thankfully, there was a man that stayed with me and seemed to help me push the pace a little as well. Every runner that we passed, (all from the longer distances that started before us) he would greet them and ask how they were doing. I was sure he was going to leave me in the dust but he never did. Actually there was a point, I think on the last hill climb, that he slowed down. I yelled back to him to stay with me. And there he was. It was the perfect person to be with on the course. We kept each other going and sort of fed off each other.
I came back out of the woods with less than a half mile to go. It was time to get to that finish line. Out along the rockledges and back onto the pavement, then along the lake shore and finally up a (steep) flight of stairs lined with American flags.
I had made it happen. I finished just on the time I knew I needed to get and in first place. I was so excited and so tired. Goal accomplished!
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| Race Director, Chris Barnwell, & I after the race. |
Samantha, Blissfully Fit Mama
If you want more information about the Rockledge Rumble, check out their site here !
Home Workout Series
Friday, November 17, 2017
November 17, 2017
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| "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't." -Elle Woods, Legally Blonde |
This is the first of my Home Workout Series! Whether you are a stay at home mama or a working mama, it is key for you to have quality workouts that can be done all at once or spread out throughout the day. Remember that a few small ten minute workouts add up to a big one. I can't stress enough how important it is to take care of yourself so that you can be the best mama, wife and woman possible. Endorphins do a body good!
Over the next few weeks you will be seeing workouts that can be done at home and even broken up into segments if you are strapped for time.
For this workout you will need a few basics pieces of equipment, some of which can be improvised with other things around the house. If you are just starting out, you can start with lighter weights like I have shown in the video and as you get stronger, increase the load. For each of the exercises, you will see the number of repetitions that should be completed. I recommend completing the entire circuit 3-5 times. Lets get our SWEAT ON!
For me, I love to put a little extra focus on my booty, 'cause let's be honest, who doesn't love a good butt. So in my series of workouts you will see a good amount of booty focus to keep that booty lookin' its best 💕
Home Workout 1
I hope you enjoy this workout and I am excited to show share more with you in the next few weeks! I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback!
💜Samantha, Blissfully Fit Mama 💜
My Race Day Must Haves
Monday, November 6, 2017
November 06, 2017
Every runner has their own list of "Must Haves" for races. There is a specific list of what we must use leading up to our race and what we must have come race day. Since joining the ultra marathon community, I have gotten my list down. I started off using a few of my own things and then winging it with aid station goodies. That never went well for me; I would end up feeling like crap or bonking. Once I started figuring out what "really" worked for me and my body come race day, I was set. Now I am able to glide through aid stations without spending extra time there. I drop my trash and grab what I need out of my drop bag and go. Here are the things that are always in my drop bag and on me out on the trails. Some are very common and my number eight item in particular is not. In fact I get lots of laughs every time I tell someone it is a must have in my pack.
My Race Day Must Haves
These waffles are so yummy! My friend Neil introduced me to them last year at my first ultra. He had extras in his drop bag and I was starting to hit a wall. They are about the only thing that I can actually chew without it bothering my stomach. This is my favorite flavor but I have also tried the lemon and vanilla & chocolate flavored waffles as well. I'm just OBSESSED with anything salted caramel...haha
2. Salt Stick Caps
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3. Hammer Nutrition Gels
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4. Skin Glide for Her
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5. Hydration Pack- I'm not sold on a certain brand as of yet. I'm still testing out a few options but know that I would not get through a race without my hydration pack. I have so many friends who are able to use hand-helds but I like having my hands free and being able to carry the nutrition that works for me is a must, too. Right now I'm torn between Orange Mud Hydration Packs and Nathan Sports Hydration Packs. Do you have a brand that you recommend over the other? I'd love to hear from you!
UPDATE: Orange Mud 1L Gear Vest for the win!! I am absolutely in love with this vest. You can't even tell you have it on. It has so much storage and has proven to be perfect for my races. Thank you Orange Mud for making this amazing vest!!
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| www.orangemud.com |
6. Altra Running Shoes
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| https://www.altrarunning.com/women/altra-olympus-25 |
7. Injinji Socks
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8. Baby Food Packets
I know this may seem odd but I love baby food packets for part of my race nutrition. They are clean and have just the right stuff that I need, are easy to carry and there is no need to chew it ....WIN all around! The two pictures above are my two favorite flavors and can be purchased at at most grocery stores.
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-Samantha, Blissfully Fit Mama
P.S. You can click on a few of the products to buy them directly from rei.com. I am an affiliate with them and do receive a commission from purchases made from my site. Thank you for your support!
P.S. You can click on a few of the products to buy them directly from rei.com. I am an affiliate with them and do receive a commission from purchases made from my site. Thank you for your support!
