I’ve been running for a year now and I really haven’t gotten much faster than when I started. On a good day, I’ll run a 11 minute mile. On a really good day, I’ll run a 10:30 mile.  Most of the time though, especially if it’s cold or the lungs don’t cooperate, I run a 12-13 minute mile. I’ve done three half marathons, a dozen 10ks, and plenty of 5ks and I’m not fast.  I’ve come to realize I’ll never fit the definition of fast and measuring my race success on pace alone was holding me back more than anything physical has.

At first, realizing I may never be in the front corrals was totally defeating- I had been training to become “better,” and for a long time, my definition of becoming a “better runner” was so narrow I was missing the bigger picture.  Pace isn’t the only measure of success.

For much of the last year, I would enter a race with high expectations of a pacing miracle.  I would quickly get disheartened when I would be slower than  I’d hoped and it seemed like every runner that would pass me by was a personal tally to remind me how much I suck at running. Here’s the thing- you’re always faster and better than all the miles you refused to try before you committed to running.  You can’t compare yourself to any other runner out there, your body is your own unique machine, you are running your own story.

Additionally, many of us worry when we get into running that we somehow are going to be slow and get left behind.  Sometimes it feels like by getting out and running a race, we risked being exposed as frauds, or that we will have to face down how bad we suck in a public setting.  If we feel we’re going slow, we see the people passing us and one, by one, person by person,and  it feels as if we get further and further away from the “real runners,” and will soon be picked up, shamefully, by the race organizers and hauled off for being too slow.  We see the people in front of us, instead of the people by our side and behind us- and put more weight on the fast runners rather than seeing that we are in no way in the minority. Many runners are running at our pace and a bulk of every race is filled with normal or “slow” runners, so if you’re telling yourself you’re a loser for being slow, you’re in good company. We losers rule!

Here’s the thing- no matter how slow you are, you’re better and faster than all the miles you refused to take in your non-running life. You’re stronger for all the times you got off the couch and got out there on the days you didn’t want to run. You’re better for it since you got up early for race day, got dressed and went outside to face yourself down.

I’ve been running for a year. I’ve done half marathons. I still run at a 11-12 minute mile pace.  It’s okay to be slow. Come as you are. Just get out there and run against yourself, not that impossible standard you’re chasing.  

Someday, you may get faster- if so, great. But for today, if you’re struggling with your slowness, focus on how much stronger you’ve become. Stronger to fight the urge to quit. Stronger from early hours or late night- time spent sacrificing your old ways for something greater. Stronger for the hours spent to get through the miles in discomfort, in humidity, cold, rain, to power up hills and pace yourself for from start to finish line.  Stronger for listening to your body and claiming what you’ve got- every ounce, fiber, flaw and flab and bone.

Faster? Not always. But stronger? Better? Greater. Hell yes.  Run at your own pace, and don’t stop chasing the person you want to be no matter how long it takes you.  

I’m Shannyn. I still run a 12 minute average mile. I run slow and I kick ass.  You do too.

Attention Runners Of All Paces!  

I’ll be running the Women’s Running Series, Nashville on September 28th, 2013, who is with me?

Get $10 off your Women’s Running Series Nashville registration with FITNSHAN (expires 9/28/2013)

Disclaimer: The Women’s Running Series is compensating me for this trip as a member of Fitfluential, but all opinions (especially the part about being an awesome slow runner) is entirely my own.  

Greeting from Washington, D.C.!

Race recaps aren’t the funnest posts for my non-running readers, but I will say- though, if you want to learn of my Tiffany crazed excursions, this is a good way to dive right into the crazy that is my obsession with that perfect shade of Robin’s Egg blue, little blue boxes, new shoes and running ensembles.

The Nike Women’s Half (and full) marathon has been happening in San Francisco for years now, though this is the first year they’ve had a Nike Women’s Half in D.C. for 2013.  This race is so popular that you have to get in through lottery (unless you’re a student with a valid student ID and email address) and even the lottery fills up fast- people are glued to their computer screens waiting for the openings.

Luckily I got in this year, and a long time (amazing) friend saw my post on Facebook and signed up for the lottery as well- seeing how I raved about the possibility of Tiffany, stupendous race swag and running in our nation’s capital… quickly the craziness spread.

If you ever get a chance to race the Nike Women’s Half in D.C.- take it.  The course is relatively flat, the weather was gorgeous and the sights of our nation’s monuments were inspiring to say the least.  You run past blossoming trees, our nation’s Capital, the Washington Monument and gorgeous views…oh ya, and you get a special finisher’s Tiffany Necklace handed to you on a silver platter. Yup.

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes…

But before we get to those photos, you’ll have to see the shoe frenzy I indulged in.  These were two of three special edition Nike Women’s Half Marathon Nike Frees & Studio shoes in Tiffany blue.  The Tiffany Blue Nike Frees have the date of the half marathon on the tounge, special insoles, glittery soles and ribbon laces (with regular laces included.)

They retailed at $120 for the Frees and $130 for the Studios-  yes, I lost my damn mind, but I don’t regret it.  These are dainty shoes, not for runs..but for the gym, yoga, cross training and taking victory laps at work. Yes.

Yes, I went a bit nuts on the shoes…I also picked up a jacket- so forgive me for spending a paycheck in the Nike Store!  I promise I will be extra good from here on out, but I have a lot to celebrate and need some new kicks! …or so I tell myself.   Limited edition + Selling out + Favorite color + Special achievement = spending craze and shoe hoarding.

Anyhoo… onto the race….

The Nike Women’s Half D.C. 2013 wasn’t a PR but it was amazing.  The expo was easy to navigate, though don’t expect to find a lot of vendors- it’s mainly Nike’s major brand sponsors like Nuun, Bare Minerals & Paul Mitchell…no small vendors selling competitor’s brands (like if you forgot your compression socks!) but the expo was smooth.

Come race day, the location was easy to get to by Metro and the venue was perfect- lining up at the start you could see our nation’s capital.  This race was a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society- so there was a LOT of purple here..I didn’t run for charity this time around, but there were plenty of TNT supporters and coaches to cheer us on, the crowd was amazing!

There weren’t nearly enough pottys (tmi!) and lines were long (like the longest I’ve ever seen) on the course for runners, some popped a squat behind bushes (I kid you not) and I was a bit frustrated that the corral you register with is what you’re stuck with- there are NO upgrades on corral times.  For those of us (ahem, most of us) who sign up and then train to work towards a faster pace corral, it’s a bit disheartening to be stuck in a corral you signed up with 5-6 months prior.

Imagine finishing a 13.1 mile race to this sight for sore eyes… yes ladies….

Oh..and inside that beautiful blue box?  The Nike Women’s Half D.C. Tiffany Finisher Necklace….

Tiffany is amazing, but finishing a half marathon with a friend you’ve known for nearly a decade and watch her cross the finish line of her first half marathon? That’s priceless.

Thanks again for tuning in!

I hope you had a fabulous weekend…want to run this with me next year?

I’ve been a runner for nearly a year now and I’ve tried an array of shoes- especially since after being fitted last year, my fickle limbs couldn’t decide what kind of shoe would do them justice- I ended up trying a lot of shoes (God bless you Fleet Feet!)

I got to test out the fabulous Saucony Virratas last month (plus a review of Men’s Saucony Virratas) and it’s going to be tough to top one of my favorite new shoes.  The Virratta is lightweight and different from any shoe I’ve tried- it’s a minimalist, lightweight shoe and worked really well with my normal pronation/sometimes toe/sometimes mid-striking foot.

I got these highlighter yellow Saucony Kinvara 4s to run in and after doing two runs in them, I have some feedback.

Saucony Kinvara 4 Shoe Specs:

– Weight: 7.7 oz (AKA super lightweight)
– Colors: multiple, 5 unique colorways for both the men’s and women’s models
– Drop: 4mm
– Uses: Road Racing, Triathlon, Lightweight Road Trainer
– MSRP: ~$100
– Release Date: May 1, 2013

The Saucony Kinvara 4s are designed to aid in speedwork.  The tops of the shoes now have a vertical flexifit reinforcement that will ensure breathability while maintaining stability on the top of the shoe.  Additionally, around the shoe, adjustments have been made from the previous model to create a better fit around the shoe, and the tread itself has been adjusted with those cute little triangles to not only aid in cushioning but create a “piston effect” for speed. Personally, I just like how much traction the shoes had on the rainy day I tested them out- but being “piston fast” is great too.

Here’s what I loved about these shoes-  the grip, the color and the visibility.  Not only are the shoes comfortable, but they keep you safe if you’re running in the wee morning hours or into the evening.  Great thing is, even if you buy the shoes in a non-highlighter color (they come in other great shades that are totally drool worthy) the shoes are highly reflective and really help you stay safe with reflective heels for all our roadrunners out there!

Here’s where I wasn’t so happy about these shoes-  My joints are fickle. I fell in love with a previous fit, a pair of Gel Asics a few months back- problem was, they didn’t fall in love with me.  After running in these shoes twice, I wasn’t sure if the decoupled and beveled heel was causing odd pronation or simply using new muscles I didn’t get on the last pair, but my ankles were a bit sore each time after running just a mile.  I’m still at the stage where I’m learning the difference between “getting stronger” pain and “back it off” pain.   These shoes, like most lightweight shoes, are intended to help you work new muscles and increase speed- I’m not sure if they’ll work well for my body.   The jury is still out on these shoes, but aesthetically, I love the darn things.

 So, how do you know you love a shoe?

Would you ever wear highlighter yellow (or do you already?)

Disclaimer: Saucony sent me the Kinvara 4 shoes as part of the Fitfluential Ambassador Program, but this review/opinions herein is all me baby!

So, last week- I put a very urgent question out to my readers about my running pain.  I had been suffering from runner’s knee seemingly out of nowhere since January.  The pain would come and go and I had no idea why all of a sudden it’d cropped up when my mileage hadn’t changed, (in fact, went down in winter) and I’d been using the same shoes…

Turns out, after heading over to Fleet Feet (local running shop), I got refitted for shoes and the Mizuno 15′s/16′s are still my ideal shoes- my stride hasn’t changed and I didn’t need bigger shoes.  The staffer asked me if I would consider inserts since the shoes were new and fit really well- and a lightbulb went off…

When I got fitted for my first pair of running shoes last year, the Mizuno 15′s, I also had purchased Fleet Feet’s special inserts and  had been running in them-  but I didn’t get the inserts for the new pair.  I couldn’t believe that the inserts would have made such a difference, but even doing a test lap in the shoes, they seemed to cushion my achy knees and I was willing to try anything.

I rested for a day and still opted to run the 5k & 8k I had scheduled over the weekend- so I iced, KT-Taped and took some Aleve- hoping the new inserts would at least dull the pain.   The 5k on Saturday was so cold and windy that my asthma ruined the run… but great news… the Shamrock Shuffle was AMAZING….

I ran the Shamrock Shuffle 8k  like a supercharged gazelle (well at least for me) and it was PAIN FREE.  I ran the first 5k without stopping, and only had a slight knee tweak and some pain when I did a crazy sprint to the finish line- but I could walk fine afterwards… HOORAY!  

Who knew a pair of inserts could make such a difference?  I’m sold!

I also had the opportunity to review some stellar products from iFitness. Let me first apologize to the kind folks at iFitness who have been patiently waiting for me to review. They sent this product out when I lived in California and was going to run two St. Patrick’s Day races there (which I did), but with a death in the family and a cross country move- I got a wee-bit-behind.

I decided that third time’s a charm and wore the iFitness gear to the Shamrock Shuffle last weekend to make sure I got plenty of experience before reviewing. Here are my thoughts on my running gear from iFitness…

The Ultimate Running Belt by iFitness:

The Ultimate Running Belt by iFitness is by far my favorite accessory- ever. Hands down.  While the Armband (below) was lukewarm, the belt is RED HOT.  This is by far one of the comfiest, most unobtrusive gear belts I’ve ever tried- it fastens around your waist securely and doesn’t get in the way. You can buy “fancy” gear all you want, but if it’s not comfy, it’s not worth it- luckily this product lives up to the hype!

I love this belt for several reasons:  First and foremost, it’s so comfortable you forget you have it on.  Secondly, it helps you attach bibs without annoyingly adjusting crooked safety pins and ruining your favorite running shirts.  Thirdly- you will never ever have bulging pockets again.

Gear check can be a total drag on race day (the Shamrock Shuffle had 40,000 runners or so, yikes!) and if you just need your basics- inhaler, car keys, headphones, ID and a Gu you will never have to rub your butt (yes, that’s a thing we do when you only have race short pockets on, ugh!) to make sure your keys or chapstick haven’t fallen out mid-race.

Now that I know I have asthma, running with an expensive inhaler that’s creating an annoying bulge on a lower back pocket or dangerously looming out of a tush side pocket, just waiting to fall out and leave me literally breathless… well, it’s not fun to have to replace a $50 inhaler or have it annoying you over 5 miles- the running belt is secure and comfortable.

Plus, perhaps most of all- it holds your junk and doesn’t look like a fanny pack. Everyone’s a winner!

The Ultimate Running Belt by iFitness comes in several awesome colors and retails for $27.95.  I give it two thumbs way up.

iPhone Window Armband by iFitness:

The iPhone Armband by iFitness has a few features I absolutely love-  it comes in two sizes, so ladies, no more annoying velcro strap dangling off your arm when your armband is designed for a man!  I’ve ruined many shirts by that little excess velcro- this one fit snug as a bug, even a bit tight when I had to layer in the cold weather!

I’m a notorious photo taker when I’m out on runs, so at first I was a bit annoyed that my iPhone couldn’t just slide out the top for quick photos, but with some adjusting- it’s easy to pop the iPhone in and out if you get photo happy like me.  The armband is designed to fit a variety of phones, so if you have an iPhone 4s or slip in an iPod, you may find there’s room to spare and the screen protector isn’t taught over the screen- making it hard to use while you’re moving.

The design is fancy and I like the reflective strips and color options on this armband- plus, there’s a safe pouch hidden behind the phone to store a credit card, ID or cash- perfect for a post run beer (or cupcake, find what motivates you!)  There are cheaper options out there for an armband- but if you want a more secure piece for your phone that comes in two sizes, this can be a great choice.

The iPhone Armband comes in several delicious zipper colors and retails for $21.95. I love it less than the fitness belt and wish the screen was a bit more tight for less frustrating usage on the touch screen, but it’s a solid, well made product.

So, are what gear/accessories do you love?

Any surprising running tweaks or gear that’s made a world of difference in your runs?

I was provided product to facilitate this review, but as always this sassy opinion is 100% mine.

Seriously, as much as I love reviewing new shoes- especially running shoes, I get even more of a kick working with the beau to review a pair of running shoes on my blog.  He was the one who got me into running last year in the first place- so when it comes to shoes, he’s my go-to-guy who knows just about everything there is to know about running shoes… when it comes to blogging about it though, he’s a newbie.  

I hope you’ll enjoy this guest review post from the man in my life, and you can always read “her version,” aka, my Saucony Virrattas Review too!  

I’m pretty bad and writing up reviews, but I hope you ave the skills to improve upon what I’ve provided you with. I enjoyed the shoes and really like the padding that forces you to run on your toes. I plan on using this in speed training and as a way to improve my running style. Running on your toes will allow one to go faster and that is one of my training goals for the year. Not sure about using them for long runs, but short runs like a 5k or less I will definitely utilize these shoes.

I personally would like to see how my legs feel after an outside run in these. I say that because minimalist shoes make you work your muscles harder resulting in extra soreness. I’ve got another pair of brooks minimalists I’ve only ran in twice that I want to put more miles on this year with my speed training. I hope to utilize the Saucony and the Brooks shoes to improve upon my speed. Ok, enough hoopla, here is the review…

The shoes are very comfortable and light weight. They were a perfect fit for my feet without being too tight or leaving any room for my feet to slide around in while I ran. My feet have wide arches and I have found some running shoes to be too tight around the arch and this shoe didn’t have that issue so it fit more naturally. With the first step, I noticed the padding at the ball of the foot which is designed to make you stay on your toes while you run which is little awkward at first since I’m a heel striker.

Speed is something I need to work on and I can’t wait to utilize these shoes to improve upon my speed work and help to better my overall running ability. I’ve only been able to run with them on a treadmill and had a great experience with them so far. I can’t wait to try them outdoors and at a race in the future (Shannyn has run with them outside a few times and loved them).

Overall, as an experienced runner I would recommend them to both new and seasoned runners as they can be beneficial for either- though it may take some adjusting for veteran runners like myself to adjust to such a light shoe and a different approach to striking (if you’re a creature of habit)…though it could be just the adjustment you need to your step!

I was sent these shoes for review purposes by Saucony through my affiliation with Fitfluential. All opinions, as always, are my own.