River to Sea 12 hour Endurance Race

Most of us made the group picture!

Race:  River to Sea 12 hour Endurance Race
Date: July 29th, 2017
Finish Time: 12 hours
Distance: 41.44 miles
Overall Total Climb: 392 ft
Elevation gain: 0 ft

Start line with RD Dawn

"Whether you’re looking to complete your first 50k or 50 mile distance or looking to set a pr, this is the race for you.  At the River to Sea 6/12 Hour Race you will have a completely flat, shaded, non technical trail to put in your miles. We will offer a fully stocked aid station , manned with experienced volunteers, to keep you moving. River to Sea 6/12 Hour Race is put on by RD,  Dawn Lisenby, who has 9 years experience conducting ultras, and 12 years coaching and running races.  Our race is put on in an old school way where we care about our runners, as we want to make sure you not only have a smooth race but enjoyable time in the process." 

Ready... Set... Go!!

I ran 100 miles in January and took a few weeks (2 months) off to recover... March 11 I attempted a 50k and fractured my ankle about 13 miles in. Took another 8 weeks or so to heal from that, then my husband was out of town, and we went on vacation... next thing I knew it was July 29 and race day. My longest run in the last 6 months has been 13 miles... this was going to be a rough run! I just started my new training plan for my next 100 mile race and needed an 18 mile run this weekend. I decided I would shoot for 18-20 miles at this race, and just support all my friends who were there shooting for distance PR's. I knew I would get some extra miles in throughout the day just "supporting" friends but my real goal was just to hit my 18-20 miles.

Race day temperature was 99 degrees with real feel temps in the 105-110 range. In true Florida fashion we had "blue skies for days". Fortunately this course was 75% shaded which was a beautiful thing. We ran between the ocean and intracoastal which also provided a lot of nice breeze most of the day. We took off and I used my run/walk strategy from the get-go. Taking it easy I ran with people chatting about anything and everything. By 10 am (3 hours in) it was really getting HOT. Everyone was starting to suffer and there was a lot of misery on the course over the next few hours. I stayed positive and encouraged everyone as much as I could. Did great at staying on top of my fuel and hydration (which is ALWAYS a challenge for me). I ate almost as many calories during this race as I did over the course of my entire 100 miles 😆 Geez! I learned so much from that race! 

Beautiful shaded trail

Omg it is SO hot and miserable

Our amazing little tent area
and some of our support crew

Around 2pm dark clouds rolled in, wind started blowing like crazy and the thunder came. Best part was the temp dropped a good 10 degrees during the storm. Instantly there was a heavy downpour of RAIN! So much rain! The whole course was 1-2 inches under water almost immediately. I kid you not when I say this was the most fun we had ALL DAY. Our miserable hot run turned into a mud run and we played in the rain for a good 45 minutes or so. Then it cleared up, and got so hot and even more humid... Just like that we had blue skies and misery again. Surprisingly, being soaking wet all day from sweat, and then absolutely drenched from the rain I didn't get a single blister (thank you to Altra running shoes, Injinji Toe socks and my Wiivv insoles)! I managed to conquer 41.44 miles in 11 hours 13 minutes. Yes, I stopped early and had a beer while cheering in my fellow runners. 41 miles far exceeded any kind of goals I had, I am so surprised by what my body is capable of. Thank God for muscle memory!! If I had any doubts before, I am sold on it now! 

The starting of the flooded trail

So. Much. Rain!

Jason and I in the DOWNPOUR of rain

I am grateful for this race. Over the course of the day, I watched 1 friend become an ultra runner at the 6 hour race, which was amazing. Another friend conquered the 6 hour race running way more miles than expected and taking overall first place, she even beat all the boys! 5 other friends either PR'd on distance, or met their crazy goals for the day... overall it was such an amazing day to be apart of. This race is WELL ORGANIZED, has an amazing RD who truly loves ultra running and the community involved, shaded flat trail, incredible aid stations with everything you could ever want and a crew of volunteers that are eager to help you with anything they can. Running in Florida in July sucks, but if you are going to do it I HIGHLY recommend this race, even if you haven't been training! Just being apart of this event was awesome. 

DONE!
41.44 miles and still SMILING

These two were so much fun on course, so
 grateful I got to run for 12 hours with them!

This girl powered through and
achieved over 50 miles hitting
her goals she had set!

I want ALL THE FOOD

Me and my baby running "melt my heart" 

My husband brought my kids down for a couple hours, and it was really neat to see them there each time I passed by. My son even came out and ran a mile with me which was so awesome. Having my family be there supporting me means so much. My kids seeing their momma pushing through the discomfort of ultra running, and enduring the heat. It was so awesome having them there.

Quick shout outs because it is now the day after the race and my body still feels good, no foot pain or crazy leg fatigue. I honestly cannot say enough good things about these new Wiivv insoles I've been using, I am beyond surprised about my lack of foot pain and leg pain running so many miles with so little training or preparation. I also believe my Injinji socks and Altra shoes helped prevent blisters.

My Wiivvs and Altras<3 nbsp="" td="">

Wiivv insole 6-month update

I have now been wearing my Wiivv insoles for almost 6 months and I am loving them. I am currently wearing Wiivv 3/4 insoles in my work shoes, and full length insoles in my running shoes (with roughly 800 miles on the full length pair). I have noticed a tremendous decrease in overall foot fatigue and reduced arch/ankle pain associated with my tendinitis. Greatest thing is, I have had ZERO pain or discomfort from my Achilles tendon (which I tore last winter) after switching to Wiivv insoles. I still do my PT exercises to keep my hips and tendons strong and healthy, but before I received my Wiivv insoles, I was still experiencing bouts of pain and discomfort surrounding my Achilles injury. No more Pain!

I highly recommend these insoles for runners, but I also believe so many people can benefit from these custom printed insoles. Anyone who is on their feet for any amount of time (doctors, nurses, teachers, servers, bartenders ect). Also if anyone has plantar fasciitis, tendinitis or another ailment such as that.

I am sold that these insoles work, and I am so excited to go into this next training season with my Wiivv insoles. As my miles have started increasing I have noticed how good my feet are feeling. That is exciting! I have some big races coming up this fall including one 50k, three 12 hour endurance races (where I'm hoping to get 40-60 miles at each), and getting ready for my next 100 miler in January 2018... and reaching for that sub-24 hours finish 😍 Excited to have my Wiivvs with me through this next season!

Let's talk money, Insoles are $60-$80 *without using my 20% off discount*. I feel like they hit a sweet spot in the price to value ratio, because you couldn't get custom orthotics for that price anywhere else. I was skeptical at first that these would work, especially just by taking pictures of my feet would work, but I'm very happy with the final product.

DISCOUNT CODE: ToniY20 for 20% off your purchase

Now, just in time for summer, they have released custom printed insole SANDALS. I cannot wait to get my hands on a pair of these!

Wiivv Sandals

First DNF. That's tough.

Race:  Swamp 50k

Date: March 11, 2017

Finish Time: DNF
Distance: 12.9 miles

Elevation gain:  606 ft 

I love running the swamp. I train out there several times a week and so love the difficulty of running several loops of the course. I tackled it last fall at Jacks 50k and was anxious to PR this time. I had a great plan but after my 100 mile race in January I haven't been keeping my miles up. I dropped to the 50k in hopes of an awesome PR for the course. I woke up with a crazy sinus infection and cold 2 days before the race that made it hard to breath or even think. Race morning I woke up and set out to run but knew I should've probably stayed home. Everything just felt a little "off". I went out and watched my pace the first loop (so I didn't go to fast). My goal was 70 (ish) minute loops for the first 3 loops, then closer to 75 minute loops the final 2 (if I couldn't maintain the 70 at that point). Loop 1, mile 1 I rolled my ankle. It was just a twinge I shook it off and kept going. Phew that was close I thought! Loop 1 went well I paced myself with a group that was going about the right pace, came in at 68 1/2 minutes. Perfect! Grabbed some more water and headed out for loop two. 

 Mile 10 I rolled my same ankle again but this time it knocked me to my butt. Ouch, it really hurt. I kept going but had sharp pains to put any weight on my foot. No! I made my way slowly to the finish of the loop at 72 minutes. I stopped, took my shoe off iced and elevated it for 10 minutes. I thought maybe I could shake it off and keep going. After the 10 minutes my foot had swelled so much I couldn't get my shoe back on, it hurt so bad :( I weighed my options to risk really injuring myself, and decided I had to call it. DNF at mile 13 of a 50k. My FAVORITE 50k. I can't believe this happened. I was so bummed, disappointed and angry! I sat there sulking, nursing my foot (with a beer).

I wasn't even sure how to blog about this race, or if I wanted to. I am embarrassed that such a stupid little thing caused me to DNF when I had the "home court" advantage. Thinking about a DNF and wondering if a DNS would have been better... Every race I try to learn something from, I realized I could still learn something from this. I learned through this race that there is a difference between quitting, and deciding not to finish. I decided not to finish but I did NOT quit. I feel like my decision was a smart one, and one that I made not from fear of pride or failure, but one based off weighing my long term options and making an educated decision. Turns out, I fractured my ankle and the force and impact running has could have caused a full break. I'm at 3 weeks recovery now, hoping to be back to running within the next week or two. A full break would have set me WAY back. I am grateful I decided not to finish and to end my run early. 

Once the race was over, I got to celebrate a great friend finishing his FIRST 50k and becoming and ULTRA RUNNER! I sucked up my sulking and celebrated his great success finishing a challenging course!!! Great job to all the finishers that day.

Swamp = 1 - Toni = 1... it's a tie game ladies and gentlemen!

Wiivv insoles

Riding in the New Year with Wiivv Insoles...

"Riding in the new year..."

After running Long Haul 100 a few weeks ago, I learned I was selected as one of the first ambassadors for Wiivv. Wiivv is a company that makes 3D-printed insoles designed to prevent foot injuries and fatigue for runners, athletes, and anyone on their feet a lot. Being a runner who tore their Achilles once already, and someone who is on my feet all day every day I cannot express my excitement to support this company, and have the support OF this company. It is also super cool being able to order custom made, 3D printed insoles just for me, from the comfort of my own home is pretty neat.

The great outdoors never stop being great #KeepGoing

I tore my Achilles last January and after months of physical therapy (which I continue my exercises at home daily to keep strengthening my Achilles and hips). I am anxious and excited to try out these insoles which they claim helps with Shin Splints, Achilles Tendonitis, Plantar Fascitiis, and Runners Knee. 8 out of 10 people experiencing some sort of foot fatigue found relief after using Wiivv Base insoles. Base insoles were also seen to significantly reduce joint load on knees and hips at 30% gait cycle when the foot is fully loaded. Wiivv's initial Beta Tests have also seen the reduction of symptoms in plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis and flat feet... Wow! All of this may translate to reduced injuries and increased performance in endurance activities... I guess we will have to wait and see. I cannot express my excitement to be involved with the launch of this company, even on such a small level as an Ambassador.

Strength comes from within #keepgoing

In addition to all the other great things listed above the Wiivv insoles are supposed to help with, they are also engineered to maximize comfort, promote alignment and lesson fatigue. Your pair of Base insoles will closely follow your unique foot curves to give you support and stability that you need to keep on going. #keepgoing If that wasn't amazing enough, the top layer is made from 92% plastic bottles and moisture wicking material. They have been designed for increased comfort while out on those long runs #ultrarunner

I'll be putting these insoles to the test this year with a lot of big races on my plate. Looking forward to see how things pan out! These insoles are said to last 9-12 months on average, my current insoles are replaced every 3 months or so. Use my discount and receive 20% off your purchase of Wiivv Insoles!
(use toniy20 for your discount code)

 I'll keep everyone updated on how much I love them, and my experiences with them!

Long Haul 100 Mile Race Report

Race:  Long Haul 100
Date: January 14-15, 2017

Finish Time: 26 hours, 51 minutes
Distance: 101 miles
Elevation Gain: 144 ft

OH MY GAWD... I cannot believe it is OVER! A year of my life spent planning, training, preparing for 1 race event, 1 weekend of my life and it is finally over. So many sleepless nights of anxiety, race planning sessions, research, strategizing with other ultra runners... all of it is finally over.

The race was a loop course, five 20-mile loops. From the start/finish area you ran approximately 2 miles to the spectator area/aid station. Then you went straight out on a 6 mile out and back (where there was another aid station half way through) finishing that portion back at the spectator area. From there you headed out to the left on a 4 mile out and back (which the entire race I thought was 6 miles... it felt so long!) arriving back at the spectator area we would then head back out on the 6 mile out and back, then would complete the 20 mile loop by finishing on the 2 mile trail back to the start/finish line. 
 


Goals:
Pace: Stay between 11-14 minute miles for the first 50-60 miles then try to keep it under 18 after that. I knew the night hours would be slower but I banked enough time during the day that I could power walk as needed and it would be ok. I had some miles that were slower when I had to address blisters, or change clothes but my goal was for an overall average of 16:42 to finish in 28 hours. Major goal was "DO NOT STOP MOVING" Do not sit down, PASS go, and collect $200. Just keep moving forward. 
Calories: Eat 150 calories per hour from the start of the race, more when I could stomach it early on. I planned to eat my avocado roll ups and PBJ sandwiches during the day (in addition to fruit, gels, chips ect) and my soup during the cold night hours. I planned to have caffeine between 12-4 when I needed a boost, and eggs/potatoes around 7am for breakfast with the sunrise to give me a little "pep in my step" before finishing at goal time: 11am.
Hydration/Electrolytes: Drink about 16-20 oz of water per hour (a little more when it was warmer mid day), and salt off and on throughout the day. 


My mom drove out early Saturday morning and started the race with me. She was able to bust out 26 miles with me with no training or fuel! She is amazing! She kept me on track for my pace, and slowed me down when I would speed up. I believe she was part of what saved my overall race by keeping me on pace and not letting me go out too fast. She reminded me to eat frequently and stay hydrated. We had a lot of fun on this trail course and chatted about everything. At one point we saw a beaver.... err, maybe an otter? It was eating a stick so it had to be a beaver, but it sure looked like an otter. We decided it was a Bevotter and we named him Pink Floyd (2 beaver-otters, so Pink & Floyd) reminding me every time I passed to stay "comfortably numb". I loved seeing that little guy. My mom headed home and I was alone for a few hours. During this time (miles 27-42 or so) I was on my own for support.

The Bevotter eating his stick.

 

This is where I failed. Several times I came through my tent and did not eat my planned food because it was not "ready". I SHOULD have taken the time to prepare it but I didn't, I figured when Justin arrived he could prepare it and I would get it next round. This was Critical Mistake #1. I had no idea how long Justin was going to be gone so I just kept going. I ate bits here and there but certainly nothing close to what I had hoped for at this point. I felt great physically but was starting to struggle a bit with some indigestion. 

Enjoying ourselves!

Spectator Area a.k.a. Tent City

Please don't rain!

 Around 3 pm Justin, Jason and Jessica all showed up and I was so excited! I was 8 hours in at this point and feeling really good minus just a smidge of acid reflex. Justin brought me pizza so I ate a slice of cheese pizza-which as I was doing it I knew was a mistake. I should have only eaten a few bites or even half slice. Critical mistake #2 (too much at once). Jessica and I headed out, we walked for a bit to make sure I didn't rush my GI with digesting all that pizza. We got about 1/3 mile when I realized we went out on the wrong trail... We had to turn around and go back to get on the right trail. Ahh! Thank God we caught this error before I got too far out of the way! We maintained my goal pace almost the whole time, and hit one of my fastest miles of the day with her. She has been by my side as my main running buddy for almost 2 years, I was so grateful to have her here with me. I don't think she will ever realize how special those 10 miles were with her! Even if I did make a wrong turn and do extra!

beautiful trails

Some fog rolling in-raptors were definitely out there

 When she stopped Justin continued with me. He ran 9 miles or so with me before stopping. Everything at this point was good, although I had decided not to eat anything else until I could shake the indigestion. I thought eating might make it worse. It was probably around 10 pm by now, and I was around 63 miles. 
Jason was SO ANXIOUS to get out and running after spending the day in the car, then sitting while others ran. He joined me for 20 miles. We walked a LOT of this 20 miles. I mean, a lot. I couldn't shake the indigestion and every time I started running I felt nauseous like I was going to throw up. Over and over I reminded myself "this will pass, stay positive". UGH! It didn't pass. I didn't eat. Jason was a trooper. We talked a lot about velociraptors, which was our explanation to all the creepy sounds when you are on a trail in the dark after almost 24 hours with no sleep. Raptors. It was a funny joke, and kept us entertained for awhile. He tried to trip me with a vine he tripped on (which then pulled up almost tripping me, ya Jason I know you were trying to make me fall so the scary trail raptors would get me and not you). Somehow I managed not to fall - thank you Jesus! He also used my amazing headlamp to make shadow puppets while we power walked. Turns out, he's pretty good at shadow puppets! Haha. I started falling into a dark place toward the end of his 20 mile stretch with me. Jason quickly, silently prayed for me, which was probably one of my favorite moments of the whole race. I didn't miraculously get better, but this did remind me of the bigger picture, and my life wasn't just this race. No matter what happened there are bigger things going on than how I feel RIGHT NOW, in this moment. Although I entered into a very dark place after this, I believe his prayer was also a turning point for me in the race, and without it I may not have had the push to continue.

100k! Had indigestion about 8 miles at this point,
otherwise was feeling fantastic!

I was growing very frustrated with feeling so sick and not being able to shake it. My body felt good to run but every time I started I felt like I would throw up. SO FRUSTRATING. #GIproblems

This was going to be my FINAL loop. My 5th and final 20 mile loop. Oh. My. Goodness. Mile 80 I text Justin and asked if he were coming back. I told him I was struggling with feeling so sick and I just wanted to cry. He arrived around mile 83 (2:30 am) and continued walking with me. By the time we hit mile 88 I was weak, I was shivering cold unable to produce enough heat to warm my body. I could not walk straight, I was dry heaving, my eyes were blurry and I had no energy left. I started hallucinating, and that freaked both of us out. I won't go much into details, but I was certain there were disco balls buried along the trail. I was so certain that I kept reaching down to touch them and pull them up, but when I would they would disintegrate in my hands (sand). I didn't understand what was happening. I was very confused and disoriented. He reassured me I just needed to get food at the next aid station, and my warm change of clothes. We had about 1/2 mile to go, when I tried to lay down on the trail. I decided it was my time to die. I was ready to curl up on the trail and be left to die. He somehow convinced me to power through on what was the hardest and longest 1/2 mile (actually found out later it was only 1/5 mile...) of my life. It felt like hours. Every step was hard.

My darkest hour. Mile 88, 5:00 am.
Sipping hot vegetable soup broth and sobbing.

Eventually we FINALLY made it back to the spectator area/aid station. I got some hot soup and a piece of bread with jelly (quick carb and sugar). I dried off and changed into warm clothes, then we headed out walking some more. We made it back from the 4 mile out and back where I ate some more bread with jelly and soup. The sun was rising. Praise God the darkness was over and I made it through alive.

God said "Let there be LIGHT!" Talk about a renewed
energy when the sun came up.

Mile 92 I felt so much better I was really power walking at this point. Unfortunately I had been walking so horribly the past 20 miles I had some blisters that never got addressed and that made both walking and running very painful. I was walking/running really awkward trying to step on the blistered area as little as possible which was causing a lot of knee pain on one side. Ugghh... only 8 miles to go! Justin did some quick math and told me if I maintained 20 minute miles or faster, I could come in sub 27 hours. How as this even possible when I just walked the last 40 miles?? I am still going to beat my goal by over an hour?!? So I picked up the pace the best I could trying to keep the nausea to a minimum. I cried a lot this last 13 miles. Really, I sobbed. Off and on I cried for all different reasons. I couldn't believe I was almost done.

 I have never in my life been more humbled. Poor Justin I don't think he knew what to do or say. I just kept crying. I couldn't even hold a conversation because everything ended with me sobbing. I was so happy to be almost done. I texted an update to let everyone know I had 3.1 miles to finish. This was by far the longest, hardest 5k of my life. Most amazing thing? Jason and Jessica had gotten back to the spectator area, and all 3 of my amazing crew members power walked that last 2 miles to the finish line with me. They ran ahead about 1/3 mile to go and waited for me at the finish line. I cried the entire way. As I got closer I could hear all the spectators, and my friends yelling for me to run in and finish strong. I gave it everything I had running the last little tiny bit to run through the finish crossing at 26:52 (101 miles). Holy cow I did it.

They had a chair at the finish line and the race director promptly propped me into it, then awarded me my medal. I received my silver 100 mile finisher Belt Buckle. Again, this prompted more crying. Geez! I am not a crier! 

I loved this woman. What a great race.

I learned SO much from this race about myself and about the 100 mile ULTRA distance. IF there is ever a next time, I will nail my fueling. I am certain I would have come in around the 22-23 hour range if I had. My body felt really good the whole time, even after I finished my muscles are in pretty good shape overall. My hydration was on point, my pace was excellent (until I got sick), I was good about staying positive and walking it out for hours upon hours. Darn that food! I wonder if I would have hit such a dark, low, humbling place had I fueled properly throughout the entire race. I guess for now, I won't know. 


Great memories made, especially those regarding Pink & Floyd the Bevotters (which later turned out to just be otters), Raptors, shadow puppets and disco balls.

Jason, Jessica me and my husband. Greatest friends a girl could ask for #mycrew

One of my favorite quotes while I ran was from Jason saying something along the lines of "You have been such an inspiration to me... to NEVER run a 100 mile race!" You'd really need to hear the humor in this, but the struggle was real for me when he said it and it was hilarious. Glad I could be so inspiring! hahaha.