Melissa Runs

Running in 2012 :: A Fun Q&A

Posted by Melissa on December 24, 2012 13 comments

I came across this 2012 running recap Q&A on Ashley’s blog last night, which was actually started by Amanda, and couldn’t resist joining in! This year certainly had its ups and downs on the running front but I think in the end I came out on the other side with a more positive attitude. Let’s take a look…

1. Best Race Experience: 3M 1/2 Marathon. I was absolutely blown away by my race performance at 3M. I thought I had no business running that pace during the first few miles, but as I hung on right through the finish – it was clear that running is {obviously} just as much mental as it is physical. I told myself I could do it, pushed through the discomfort, and came out on top with a PR that I didn’t think was possible.

2. Best Run: A small, local 5K run with Brad. This was the beginning of Brad’s foray into running and it made me SO happy! Little did I know only a few short months later he’d agree to participate in the Austin Distance Challenge with me. I never thought the day would come where I’d run a half marathon with him, let alone 3 in 3 months!

3. Best new piece of gear: Pro Compression socks. I had a few pairs of socks and sleeves from other various brands, but Pro Compression swooped in and won me over this year! Their products and customer service are seriously TOP NOTCH.

I’m all for supporting smaller companies and I’m pretty sure I’ve done that this year since I now own every single color marathon sock they make!

4. Best piece of running advice you received:

“Don’t make excuses! Don’t call yourself slow. Just work hard, if that’s something you want, at getting faster. Don’t have huge goals – have mini goals, that won’t bring you down. Mentally its too much pressure.”

Sometimes you need advice, HONEST advice, to kick yourself back into gear. I’m very thankful to have Ashley to put me in my place when I need it

5. Most Inspirational Runner(s):

Jocelyn from Enthusiastic Runner. I started reading her blog about a year and a half ago, and it’s amazing how far she’s come in such a short time. She’s slashed over an hour off of her marathon PR and I can’t wait to see her crush Eugene in April 2013. {Read her Philly recap – hilarious!}
Lora from LV Runs NYC. She was plagued with injury during her recent BQ-attempt and is now making her comeback to running. Definitely another one to track at Eugene – girl is FAST! Also hands-down one of the most well-written blogs in my reader.
Lauren from Health on the Run. Another incredibly well-written blog, SPEEDY runner coming back from injury. 2013 has big things in store for her, like Operation #goodbye318. I don’t doubt she’ll smash that goal next year at VCM!

6. If you could sum up your year in a couple of words, what would they be?

Humbling. Amazing. Fast. FUN!

I’m looking forward to cranking out the miles in 2013 and pushing outside of my comfort zone. And as I said in my Philly recap…

I’m ready to put in the work. I’m ready to push hard. I’m ready to dig deep and run strong.

Tackle Your Top 5 #HolidayProblems

Posted by Melissa on December 21, 2012 No comments

1. Your bank account goes on strike. Make room in your budget each month starting in January for holiday spending. You know you’re going to need it, so it’s best to put the money aside to save yourself quite a bit of stress. Create a spreadsheet with a list of ideas for each person on your shopping list. Starting in November, put Google to work! Search “Top 15 Holiday Gifts in 20XX” and “Best Gifts for {Mom/Dad/Spouse/Family/Etc} in 20XX”. Plan ahead, stay organized and your sanity will miraculously stick around!

2. Overindulging on holiday fare. You know the scene. The baked brie is calling your name and there’s a place to sit your wine down right in front of it. Before you know it, you’ve eaten half the wheel of cheese and haven’t spoken a word to any other party-goer. STEP AWAY! The rule everyone tends to follow during the holiday season is to eat a small, healthy meal before you leave the house. This will help you avoid overindulging at the party. My tip? Stick to foods that are one or two-bite items. Once you’ve enjoyed an item, circle the room. Make it a point to socialize with someone new or simply catch up with someone you haven’t seen in a long time. Once you wrap up the conversation, feel free to grab another item and then head back out for round 2. Keep yourself (and the conversation!) moving and it will keep you from becoming best friends with a few too many unwanted calories.

3. One too many glasses of pinot. So you’re at a work party and the thought of being cornered by your boss absolutely TERRIFIES you. So you grab a glass of red. And then another. And then another. Next thing you know, you’re telling the CEO the sordid details of your latest breakup and honest thoughts about the new compensation plan that rolled out last week. ABORT! ABORT! Avoid an embarrassing situation by alternating between wine and sparkling water. Better yet, if you don’t want to get attacked for not taking advantage of the open bar – have the bartender pour you a club soda in a rocks glass with lemon wedge. Voila – you’re drinking a vodka tonic! Shh, no one needs to know.

4. Holiday shopping gives you anxiety. If the thought of fighting the masses on Black Friday to score the best price makes you cringe, don’t worry – there are other options! Cyber Monday has awesome deals online and most offer free shipping (HUGE perk!). Make Amazon your best friend. Use their Wish List function as a way to track prices on items for your loved ones. Sign up for the 30-day trial of Prime for free (don’t forget to cancel it though – that’s a potential $79 mistake) and receive 2-day shipping on most of your gifts! It really helps cut down on “will this make it here in time for Christmas?!” panic.

If you absolutely MUST make it to a brick-and-mortar store or the mall, go on your lunch break. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll avoid the stores on weekend afternoons. Be at the doors when they open on the weekend or one hour before closing time during the week. Most will try to get a little shopping done right after work and then head home for dinner. Your best bet is to head home for dinner, wait until 7:30 and then make a trip to the store. Make a list, have a game plan. Bring a friend or your significant other & split the list, meeting up at the check-out. Make that trip as short and painless as possible!

5. Your fitness routine has gone missing. Countless holiday parties, shopping for gifts, happy hours to help deal with the crowds, waking up early on the weekend to get to stores right when they open – the final months of the year can be BUSY! One thing that seems to fall by the wayside is fitness. When faced with the option of grabbing that last gift for your parents or going for a run, most tend to finalize the shopping. Exercise can be a great stress reliever and if there is one thing that goes hand-in-hand with the holidays – it’s stress! Register for a race or two in the first few months of the year to help yourself stay on track during the holiday months. Not a runner? Sign up for a month of unlimited hot yoga. You’ll be more apt to stick to a routine once you’ve put out the money for it.

Have the holidays gotten the best of you? Maybe you need a cure for your #HolidayProblems? Enter to win a trip for two to Travaasa Austin in the New Year!

Muscle Milk Light Half Marathon Challenge :: ZOOMA Texas

Posted by Melissa on December 15, 2012 2 comments

Have you conquered the 5K distance? Dabbled in 10Ks? Looking for a new challenge? Maybe you’ve contemplated clicking “Register” on a 13.1 race but just can’t bring yourself to do it. I think I can help…

Apply for a spot in the Muscle Milk Light Half Marathon Challenge!

ZOOMA Texas is giving five local runners the opportunity to take part in a 12-week program that will get them to the starting line of their first half marathon. This amazing challenge is definitely something I would have loved to have taken part in back in 2010. Big support system? Check. Training plan? Check. Nutrition tips? Check check check! You will be 100% ready to tackle 13.1 miles come race day.

Here are the full details:

Commitment:

Runners must be able to currently run 5k and committed to training for a half marathon

Must be willing to be interviewed and featured on ZOOMA blog and ambassador blogs

Weekly check-ins with ZOOMA staff and ambassadors through email, phone or video logs

Attend 4 events between January-March

Perks for 4 H-E-B Athletes:

Support network of amazing runners, our Texas ambassadors

Training Plan

Training shirt

Education: tour of H-E-B healthy living department with dietician meeting to help you learn how to fuel for your runs

Cross training: yoga session at local studio

Race entry into ZOOMA Texas half marathon

Recovery: Muscle Milk Light

Perks for one Muscle Milk Light Athlete:

All of the above perks +

Gear

Race weekend hotel accommodations at The Hyatt Lost Pines Resort

Spa treatment at Spa Django

Sound like something you’d be interested in? Apply here!

ARC Decker Challenge 1/2 Marathon Race Recap

Posted by Melissa on December 11, 2012 6 comments

December 9, 2012 marked three weeks post-marathon.

It was the morning of half marathon #10.

But most importantly: it was half marathon #1 for Brad. Shortly after running the IBM 10K in October, we discussed the possibility of him joining me for the Austin Distance Challenge. The furthest he had ever run was 10 miles, so the thought of three half marathons looming on the horizon made the decision difficult. After some convincing on my part (and mayyyybe a text that said “it’s definitely a possibility” interpreted as “sign me up”) I was registering him for both the Run for the Water 10-miler and the Austin Distance Challenge.

I then came to the realization that half marathon #10 was no longer going to be 3M as planned – it was going to be the next race in the ADC: the Decker Challenge.

From the race’s website:

The Decker Challenge course covers 13.1 miles of rural roadway on and surrounding the Travis County Expo Center grounds. The course is USATF certified. Be prepared for rolling hills for the first half of the race, followed by several steady downhill miles at miles 7 and 8. Large hills at the end of Mile 8 and Mile 10 are the highlights (or lowlights, depending on your perspective) of the tough final 5 miles.

I’ve been avoiding this race pretty much since I started running. The hills that surround Decker Lake are no joke. Mile 10 is dubbed “Quadzilla”. Due to the location, course support is pretty much nonexistent. But since it’s race #3 of the distance challenge, there’s no avoiding it.

It was a December morning that felt like June. What should have been a frigid 40 degrees with a biting wind was actually 71 degrees with 84% humidity and a warm breeze. Not exactly “winter” here in Austin.

The car was exceptionally quiet on the 30 minute drive to the race Sunday morning. I think Brad was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he was about to run 13.1 miles. I was tweeting and constantly refreshing the Weather Channel app in hopes that the forecast was some sort of joke. (It wasn’t)

We arrived around 7:35, which was just enough time for a bathroom stop before we jumped in line at the start. An elite runner who was announcing the start of the race commented how happy she was to only be running the 5K. Um, NOT something you want to broadcast to a sea of half-marathoners. She might as well have said “Look at you morons running 13.1 miles. I’ll be done with my race before you even hit mile 2!”

I pumped positive thoughts as best I could into Brad’s head. You’ll be fine. You’ve run 10, it’s only 3 more. I’ll be right next to you the whole time. You’ve got this! I had two goals for this race: (1) no time goal – just finish and (2) make sure Brad doesn’t hate me (or running) when he’s finished. It wasn’t a PR day; it was a day to get Brad across the finish line of his first half marathon.

$DCIM\101GOPRO$ The horn blew and we were off! A quarter-mile into the race we were already sweating. ALREADY. The humidity just would not break. We were super thankful for the Nuun (Tropical for him + Orange for me) in our handhelds. Right before the Mile 1 marker, we took our first walk break. I had thought about running 3:1 intervals but decided we should just walk the mountains, and run the downhill/straightaways. Unfortunately, there were more mountains than anything else so I knew early on that our finish time wouldn’t be the speediest. (see goal #1)

We made a few friends along the way, chatting it up with fellow runners. I received countless compliments on my Pro Compression Holiday Marathon socks! One runner even commented: “I’ve been chasing you and your candy cane socks the entire race – you kept me moving!”

Here’s what we were up against:

It’s safe to say we did NOT like this race. 99% sure that our first time running the Decker Challenge will also be the last. Brad let out a “F*CK THIS RACE” at mile 12. I assured him not all races are like this and that 3M will be a dream in comparison!

Once we came around the bend to head towards the finish, we began to pick up the pace. The announcer boomed over the loudspeaker “This guy coming into the chute now, I saw him before the race. Wearing a BOSTON RED SOX hat. I thought to myself, I have a friend here.” Brad and I started laughing.

As we got closer to the finish line, Brad grabbed my hand and we threw our arms in the air as the announcer called out our names “Coming across now is Brad Sawyer and Melissa Carlson, way to finish it together! Congratulations!”

The Decker Challenge was a PW (personal worst) for me but the finish time stamped on this race means absolutely nothing to me. Brad and I conquered 13.1 miles of hills in less than ideal weather, side by side. We crossed the finish line TOGETHER. And that’s all that matters to me.

Philadelphia Marathon Race Recap

Posted by Melissa on November 26, 2012 34 comments

It’s hard to believe last weekend I completed my second marathon. It wasn’t the picture-perfect race I envisioned, where I’d cross the finish line with a huge PR feeling like a million bucks. In fact, if you can believe it, I actually finished slower than my first marathon. My training runs weren’t as fast as I’d hoped. Work was kicking my ass in the weeks leading up to the race, leaving me drained and wanting nothing but to be in bed as early as possible. I abandoned all pace goals for Philly and decided to simply focus on finishing. Also, on the Tuesday before the race I came down with a sore throat, cough, and a cold. Of course I did. I armed myself with Vitamin C, cough drops, and enough meds for an army in an attempt to stop the illness in its tracks. Unfortunately, the illness carried right through race day.

Sunday morning Brad and I met up with Shannon, Ashley, Ritsa, and Kara in the lobby of my hotel. I was oddly calm despite the fact I was about to, you know, run a marathon.

We made the mile trek to the start line, talking about the race and trying to keep warm. Once we arrived at Eakins Oval in front of the Art Museum it started to feel a little bit more real. Ritsa and Kara were running the half, Shannon and I were running the full, Ashley had plans to be the World’s Best Spectator (and she was!)

Ashley, Shannon and I

And my race shirt:

The race officially started at 7am but since our corral was a little further back, we didn’t cross the starting line until nearly 7:30. The first few miles were fairly congested but once everyone settled into their pace it seemed to space out a bit. I was fueling with Honey Stinger chews, which I had used religiously throughout training. Unfortunately that morning my stomach decided it didn’t like them. I knew there would be Clif Shots in the later miles but it wouldn’t have been smart to go without until that point. So every 30 minutes I ate 2-3 chews.

Around mile 7 (after several miles of trying to talk myself out of it) (and pleading with Shannon not to kill me for having to stop) I decided to make a pitstop. The portopotty lines were ridiculously long so I took my chances on a Starbucks bathroom. Thankfully the women already in line ushered me to the front since they knew I had a race to get back to – so nice of them! Shannon and I were on our way very quickly afterwards.

My stomach felt a bit better but my legs were already feeling heavy. Great feeling to have when you aren’t even halfway into your race. My walk breaks became more frequent and I continued fueling as planned, hoping the sugar & carbs would keep me moving. Shannon was trucking along in front of me, killing it – feeling GREAT! I was so proud of her. I felt like I was holding her back but she insisted she wasn’t going to leave me. So thankful for her – she definitely saved me.

As we neared the halfway point, I heard the crowds cheering. Half-marathoners filtered out as they made their way to the finish. I really hated how close we had to run to the finish line. But not as much as I hated the miles I was about to run…

Miles 13-17 were hard, but I was going to see my family at mile 17 so that kept me moving. Shannon was still a bit in front of me, basically my carrot, pulling me through the miles. On a walk break, I texted Brad to let him know I wanted him to jump in at mile 17. Shannon and I discussed that she was going to push ahead and meet a friend at mile 20, and then we’d meet back up again at mile 23. I was so happy that she was going to run ahead because she was doing SO well – she needed to keep going and not worry about me.

The graceful water bottle swap for fresh Nuun at mile 17:

Why yes, I DID wear sparkly leg warmers.

Brad handed his jacket to my parents and jumped in with me to tackle a few miles.

Brad was smiling. I’m pretty sure I was not.

Had I done a bit more thorough research on the course for Philly, I would have noticed miles 13-26 were an out-and-back. I absolutely DESPISE out-and-backs.

When you’re heading out at mile 13, watching runners hauling ass to the finish near mile 26 is brutal. And then you continue to watch those faster runners all the way to the turnaround in Manayunk. So tough. Mentally it tore me apart. Thankfully I had Brad with me, who listened as I rehashed the first half of the race. Around mile 21 I realized my phone was vibrating. I had a text from Shannon, saying she couldn’t stop at 23 or she might not be able to finish the race. I completely understood (I even mentioned to Brad a few miles back that I wasn’t sure how she was going to stop and wait for me, because it would be tough to start running again) and wished her luck. Go check out her race recap – she did amazing!!

I was going to drop Brad back off at mile 22 with my parents but he offered to stick with me until 23 and then I’d fly solo to the finish.

Could have been a good shot, if Brad wasn’t blocking my face.

I was trying to fuel but my stomach didn’t want the Honey Stinger chews and it wasn’t a fan of the Clif Shots either. I tried sipping Gatorade instead of Nuun at water stops for the extra calories but (unsurprisingly) my stomach couldn’t handle the way-too-sweet Gatorade. I’m pretty sure miles 20-26 were 90% walking and 10% running shuffling. Every time I tried to run, I could hardly lift my legs off the ground. I had hit the wall at mile 18 (WAY too early) and every step after that was a struggle.

The last three miles were quiet, lonely, cold, and LONG (18:21, 19:51, 20:23 – NOT an exaggeration). I wanted so badly to be done, to see the finish line, to sit down. Once I came up on mile 26, I saw Shannon + her boyfriend, Ashley, and Kara screaming their heads off for me. They gave me the push I needed to start running again. Ashley jumped in with me for a minute, telling me to keep running and haul ass to the finish. So I did. Heel strike and all.

yup, didn’t buy that photo. stolen.

I got my medal, a heat sheet, and quickly made my way out of the finisher’s chute.

I’ve never been so happy to finish a race.

It wasn’t the race I hoped for – not even close. I’ve decided I’m going to hang up my 26.2 shoes for awhile. Ideally until 2014, but knowing myself I probably won’t be able to hold off for that long. I want to not dread 3+ hour training runs. I want to focus on running faster in shorter distances. I want to PR in the 10K and half marathon. I’ll certainly have plenty of chances in the spring: 3M, Austin, and ZOOMA.

I don’t want to run races to finish. I want to give them my all – leave everything I’ve got out on the course.

My calendar is full of races and I’m ready to put in the work. I’m ready to push hard. I’m ready to dig deep and run strong.

I’m ready to RUN.

Run to ZOOMA Texas

Posted by Melissa on October 4, 2012 4 comments

Sometimes running is an individual sport. Headphones go in once you step foot on the track and you race against the clock to nail your mile repeats. Your game face is on when you set out on a tempo run, shooting to achieve those paces that will help you come race day. But when running long? Those just might be the hardest miles you run. While they’re probably done at the slowest pace of the week, you spend the most time on your feet during a long run.

The best way to power through these miles is to run with a friend. Friendly conversation and catching up with one another can make those miles fly by. And generally those are usually the best runs you’ll ever have, the ones which feel effortless, and – dare I say it? – enjoyable!

And what’s even more fun than running long with friends? Racing with friends!

Registration for ZOOMA Texas is officially open! To kick-off registration, ZOOMA has a Run to Texas Giveaway where you have the chance to win two race registrations and two amazing massages from Spa Django at the host hotel, Hyatt Regency Lost Pines!

Grab your best running friend and enter the giveaway for a chance to win an entry to run ZOOMA Texas in March. It’s the perfect destination for a girl’s weekend. Come run with us, you won’t be disappointed!

Wordless Wednesday: Seaport Village

Posted by Melissa on October 3, 2012 1 comment

Are you listening, MasterCard?

Posted by Melissa on October 1, 2012 16 comments

As I clicked submit on several online orders lately (Oiselle, Sparkly Soul, Road Runner Sports – just to name a few), I got to thinking. Running is EXPENSIVE. A far cry from the “just lace up your shoes and go” line I heard all too often when I first took up the sport.

Sparkly headbands to keep your hair out of your face

Anti-chafe sticks to keep you comfortable on the run

Sweat-wicking socks to make your feet happy

Headphones that stay in your ears for 10+ miles

Shoes with the perfect balance of support and cushion

A GPS watch to track your pace and mileage

And let’s not even get started on the race registration fees.

Something I don’t recommend doing? Using Mint as your budgeting tool and tagging every single running expense. I did that for 2011 and nearly had a heart attack when I reviewed my annual expenses at the beginning of this year.

You know what would be nice? If we were rewarded for spending our hard-earned dollars on running-related purchases. Sure, some races hand out medals and shirts. You might win a pint glass for an AG win. Or receive a complimentary beer at the finish.

But that’s not what I had in mind.

What if there was a credit card that could only be used for running-related purchases? What if every dollar you spent on Mizunos, Nuun, Gu or Lululemon earned you points? And then after hitting a certain threshold, you could redeem those points for running clothes? Or race registrations. Or running shoes!

Gone are the days of feeling guilty for buying that pair of shorts you didn’t really need. Those shorts edged you one step closer to a free half marathon registration. Or a new pair of racing flats.

Are you listening, MasterCard? Runners need a credit card!

What do you think? Would you take advantage of a running credit card?

What do you spend the most money on when it comes to running?

Kona Kase – Endurance Nutrition Samples for Runners & Triathletes

Posted by Melissa on September 26, 2012 7 comments

A few weeks ago Kona Kase offered to send me a Kase to test out and review. If you haven’t heard of the company, it’s similar to Birchbox or KLUTCHclub, but the contents are geared towards runners and triathletes.

You’re billed $15 on the 10th of each month, and the Kases are shipped out (for free!) on the 15th. You can cancel your subscription at any time if you decide the products just aren’t worth the value or you’re in a financial pinch.

When I returned home from my trip to San Diego, I had a bright red-orange Kona Kase waiting for me!

With a handwritten note inside – such a great personal touch!

And now for the goods:

Hits:

PR Bar (love these! Ashley introduced me to them. The chocolate PB flavor tastes like a Reese’s)
Clif Bar (probably my least favorite flavor, but we have boxes of all the others in our house at all times)
Honey Stinger Waffle
PICKY BARS!! (really excited about this because I’ve been dying to try them)
Shot Bloks (I’ve been using Honey Stinger Chews lately but these are always great to have on hand)

Misses:

Cytomax (not a huge fan of powdered drink mixes)
Hammer Heed (see above)
Headache Relief (not interested)
Gu (I’m still burnt out on Gu from my marathon last fall)

Overall Thoughts

Would I spend my own money monthly on a Kona Kase? I would have to say yes. I gave the thumbs up to 50% of the products in the box and the value for those {full-size} items is comparable, especially with shipping included. This service allows you the opportunity to try things you may not have otherwise purchased. Who knows? You may find your dream pre-race bar or an amazing recovery drink!

Would you be interested in Kona Kase? What are your thoughts on these monthly boxed deliveries? Have you tried any before?

The Art of {not} Racing

Posted by Melissa on September 24, 2012 4 comments

Hi my name is Ashley and I blog over at Running Bun. I consider my tiny little space of the internet to be a place where I can write about my fitness activities and how I am feeling (good and bad). When Melissa asked me to guest post, I wanted to simply share the feelings I have had lately.

I was injured during the past 5 weeks, and I spoke about it relatively frequently on my blog. My feelings about the situation changed every 10 minutes! It was a disaster. One moment I was extremely angry over a simple thing like missing my train because I couldn’t even run for it and the next moment I was completely at peace with my situation. Before my foot injury, I was diving right into some tough training for the New York City Marathon. I was on top of my game and nailing paces I never thought I would see on my Garmin! I experienced a runner’s high after every single training run, I felt unstoppable! When I found out I would have to stop running for about 4-5 weeks, I went from unstoppable to dead in my tracks in a single second.

When I was given the green light to start running (and fully exercising without modification), I fully accepted the fact that I may not be able to run the NYC Marathon in just under 7 weeks. However, this past Monday, I ran. I ran with an empty mind and a heart full of genuine love for the sport. I am no longer angry, feeling sorry for myself and most importantly, I am longer experiencing feelings of self-doubt. I believe I can cross the finish line of this race.

In the past two years I have fallen in love with racing and have become very competitive (especially with myself). I want to give it my all and produce a personal best during each race. Relatively fast feet and a cluttered mind used to get me to the finish line. What’s allowing me to currently reassess my goal (from a speedy-for-me 3:40 to crossing the finish line with a smile on my face) is the fact that running means more to me than competing.

Running makes me respect my body. I constantly repeat to myself, “Do I want to run today, or do I want to run forever?” The ability to run for my entire life is what drives me to make healthy choices regarding my diet and rest when my body calls for it. My body is the only thing I will own for my entire life, and injury recovery has helped me learn to pay attention to my its needs.

Running humbles me. I can’t even come close to holding paces I was running 5 weeks ago. I respect that it will take time to build back up.

Running makes me feel powerful. My heart and mind are filled with endless amounts of confidence and possibility of my body’s abilities! Training showed me what I was capable of accomplishing. I can (and will) be there again!

I believe everyone could use some “running” in their lives. It is important to have something that helps build confidence and to love whatever that is enough to return to it after time away, whether from an injury or life in general!

At some point in the future, when fully healthy and prepared, I will run the NYC Marathon again. I will let my competitive side race! Until then, I fully plan on running on November 4, 2012 and I no longer feel the need to get back to my pre-injury training paces. I plan on enjoying the race and its atmosphere. It will be unforgettable first NYC Marathon experience!