CASS Housing Charity Bike Ride

Posted on June 12, 2018 by tootallfritz

The 2nd Annual Cass Housing Charity Ride was Sunday, June 3, 2018. They offered supported 60 & 30 mile rides and a 10 mile fun ride on paved trails. Ride start times were staggered so that everyone finished around the same time to enjoy a potluck lunch afterward. The event was free with a request of donations to help support CASS Housing.

This is the start of the 60 miles ride. Lower turnout than last year due to the forecast of storms at the start. Approximately 70 riders in total. Photos courtesy of the Cass Housing Facebook Page.

60 mile route started in Ft Wayne by the Jorgensen YMCA. We broke into groups.

Out to Roanoke, then Ossian for our first stop at an aid station at someone’s parent’s home. Our parents love us. What they do for us & our crazy endurance friends!

Quick photo before the group broke up. This was the last I saw of the fast group! I aspire to finish with them next year!!

Zanesville. Back to Roanoke. Aid Station at a park in Roanoke. Then back to Ft Wayne. Easy ride. Flat. Decent country roads. Low traffic. This was a new route from 2017 and I really liked it. See my Strava map below!

The CASS Housing project is a charity for developmentally disabled adults who need housing. The Indiana laws are not great for disabled persons and currently an individual can not get assistance with housing until their parents turn 80 years old or have passed away. The CASS Housing project is trying to help. This ride helps raise awareness and funds for their program. Great charity and I’m happy to ride & support them in this small way. I hope to see more people out for the 2019 ride. I’ll for sure be there if it fits into my calendar. Great event. Great people. FUN ride!!

And a t shirt too. I didn’t stay for the potluck lunch but it looked like everyone was having fun and they even had Normatec Recovery boots to try!

** See You Next Year ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Fort 4 Fitness Spring Cycle – 2018

Posted on May 24, 2018 by tootallfritz

Last weekend I participated in the 7th annual Fort 4 Fitness Spring Cycle event. This was the 3rd year that they offered the Metric Century (100K = 62 miles). I participated the first year they offered this distance, 2016, and again this year.

The event started at 9am for the 62 & 43 mile events. Then there was a 10am start for 32,16 & 10 mile rides. Ride day packet pick-up was an option. Easy in and out in front of the Ft Wayne Art Museum. The ride then started in front of the art museum with plenty of potties & a row of vendors to scope out before/after the ride. Plenty of room for riders to line up for the start.

The 100K ride left Ft Wayne for Antwerp, OH, then returned. Roads were well marked and busy intersections were covered by police & volunteers.

The ride out of town & to Antwerp provided a nice tailwind that really pushed us along. But of course, the return trip gave us a headwind that wasn’t quite as much fun. Smile Then the black clouds opened up and we had a some rain for a bit. Mostly country roads with a few busier roads mixed in for connections. Roads were in decent condition but we traveled thru Amish country so there were some rough patches and spots with horse manure.

Multiple aid stations provided bathrooms, food & hydration, along with bike support if needed. I believe there were 3 or 4 stops on 100K route. Everyone: riders, volunteers & police support alike were in a good spirits and happy to be out and participate. Riders were spread out pretty well except for the last 15ish miles of the 100K. Once the 100K riders joined the shorter distances, there were more people but since the course covered low traffic areas, it wasn’t an issue, we just had to be more vigilant .

As we rode back into town to finish in front of the Art Museum, we wound thru some neighborhoods and traffic increased. The police handled it well and they got us thru all the busy intersections. I noticed a positive change to the course toward the end. We did not ride down the Greenway to finish, but instead came thru town in a designated bike lane. Great improvement from the inaugural ride where it was congested & dangerous at the end as we finished up on the Greenway and were sharing space with non-event riders who weren’t expecting the extra traffic.

Overall, great experience. This is definitely an event that I love because it has so many options for cyclists of all ability levels. I love that it’s a family event and even the little ones can participate.

There was an after party in front of the Art Museum. Beer. Food Vendors. Tent with seats. Fun to be had. No “free” food this year but our bibs each had a $3 off ticket that could be used at the food trucks. I heard some complaints on this but a lot of people loved it because they had more variety than usual at a post event party. I personally don’t have an opinion. I rarely eat the free food & I didn’t utilize the food truck vendors either. My schedule was tight. I was in and out pretty quickly.

SWAG = Cotton T-shirt & Finishers medal.

I really like cycling events. Very low key. You can go as fast or as slow as you like. You can stop at every aid station or pass them all. You get to ride new routes that you would never ride solo. I’d recommend checking out a local ride this summer! They aren’t races, so no need to treat it as one, unless of course, that’s just how you roll, then go kill it. You won’t be alone. Smile

The next local ride that I plan to attend is the CASS Housing Ride on June 3rd in Ft Wayne, IN. It’s a charity ride. No official entry fee but they are accepting donations. Register now. GREAT ride, I did it last year. Hope to see you there!

** Go Ride ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Muncie May Triathlon – Muncie, IN

Posted on May 23, 2018 by tootallfritz

It can be a bit challenging to find an early season triathlon that gives you everything you want and more! I registered for the Muncie May Triathlon this year after my beloved Pokagon Triathlon was discontinued. This race is put on by American Multisport & is in Muncie, IN. This group puts on several triathlons throughout the year, of varying distances, with races taking place at the Prairie Creek Reservoir. This is the same location as the IM 70.3 Muncie event that is held each year in July. Great way to check out the venue in a low key setting.

The Muncie May event is in mid May, May 12th for 2018 and May 18th for 2019. One of the first open water events in the Midwest. However, the Prairie Creek Reservoir is on the shallow side so the water heats up quickly with a few nice days. The race this year was wetsuit legal with water temp around 63 degrees. That being said, many events at the reservoir are NOT wetsuit legal, so watch for current info on their website & Facebook page.

So what’s the scoop on this race?!?!

The Muncie May TRI is a great event for athletes of varying abilities. They offer an Olympic distance, Oly relay, Sprint, Sprint Relay, Super Sprint, Duathlon, Du Relay, Sprint Du, Sprint Du relay, & Aquabike. That’s a lot of options and I hope I didn’t miss anything!

Race starts at 9am with a race day packet pickup option. Therefore, you can easily drive in the morning of the event if you are within 3 hours of Muncie. Packet pick-up was easy & quick. Body marking on site. Practice swim area open and available to those who want it. And the water is usually pretty calm.

Small intimate venue at Prairie Creek Reservoir. Indoor bathrooms & showers. On site parking. If you’ve only been to the Reservoir for the IM event, then go back for an American Multisport event. Totally different atmosphere. Small parking area. Small transition area. Very low key race at the same great venue.

Races start at 9am. Super sprint first, then sprint, then Olympic. I did the Olympic and the times estimates were a bit off as to when we got in the water. They waited for everyone in the previous category to get out of the water before the next group got started. Safety first! Then we self seeded and got into the water in pairs. Very easy. No drama. No fighting. Nobody swam over the top of me.

Once we hit the water, it was noticeably rough on this particular day. The wind was really blowing and the current in the water was pushing us off course a bit. Tougher swim that usual at this venue. The swim was counter clockwise too, opposite direction of the IM event. 1.5K swim for the Olympic, which is 1600 yds. I swam 1800 though just for fun, or maybe I had trouble staying on course with the wind & waves. Smile

Once out of the water, there was a short run to transition. Small transition but it wasn’t chaotic. Smooth sailing in and out. Then on to the bike course which had some new pavement! Olympic distance was a 2 loop bike course. The wind which gave us some hassle in the swim was in full force on the bike. Yes! Love a challenge, right? A few tiny hills but only 577 ft of ascent on the two loops and a total of 25.3 miles.

Back to transition for T2. Just as easy as T1. Not crowded. Easy in and out. On to the run which was an out and back course for the 10K. Same route as the IM event in July. Small rolling hills. 213 ft of elevation gain for the 10K. Warm. Its always warm. There is a bit of shade on the back side of the out/back but overall, its usually sunny in this area. Make sure to not forget a hat or visor. This venue is good about having ice due to its notoriously warm runs. So ask for ice, even if you don’t see it out. I did and they did have some in coolers. Took me an extra minute at a couple of the aid stations but it was worth it because I heat up fast.

Overall a GREAT race. I’ll definitely be back. Registration is open for 2019 and I’m considering registering early for that event. I’m also looking at my calendar to see if I can fit in another American Multisport event before the year is out. Lots to choose from between now & September. And bottom line, if we like our “non-branded” events, we need to support them by showing up and racing so they stick around for years to come. Too many great races have been discontinued because of lack of participation! So let’s race American Multisport!!

Other than a great race, they also provide great SWAG. See below for the pullover & finishers medal. I’m wearing the pullover right now. Lightweight & perfect!

My next race is the Grand Rapids TRI. Another “non-branded” event. Sprint, Oly, 70.3 & Aquabike in each distance. Still time to register! Race is on June 10th. Hope to see you there!!

** Give it a TRI ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Tobacco Road Marathon Race Review

Posted on April 27, 2018 by tootallfritz

Its been six weeks since the Tobacco Road Marathon but I still want to review the race for those who might be interested in putting this on their future calendar.

The Tobacco Road Marathon was on March 18, 2018 in Cary, NC. Close to Durham & Chapel Hill. The race venue is the Thomas Brooks Park & USA Baseball Fields. Race is traditionally held on a Sunday and requires travel to the area on Friday or Saturday to pick up race packets. Small expo at a local hotel. Easy & fast, in and out. A few vendors, like my favorite girl, Gypsy Runner.

If your traveling with the family, there isn’t a lot to do in this area (or maybe we just didn’t know where to look?). Beautiful area though. New neighborhoods. Nice homes. Cute boutique like shopping areas. Nice.

Race day started bright and early ~~like always~~. Getting to the race site required some planning. There was a local pick up area in Cary called NetApp, where people could park & get shuttled to/from the race site. There were a few onsite parking spots that required pre-purchased parking passes. Then there was runner drop off at the venue. Fortunately, my daughter now has her license. GASP! She was able to drop me off, then drive back to the hotel with her little brother, then return to pick me up. This race would have been challenging, logistics wise (as a mom with kids & no other adult to supervise), had she not been able to drive. I’ve taken them to a lot of races & I usually pick a hotel on the race course or close to the start/finish so they can sleep in at the hotel, then come to the race when they are ready. This race started at the park, then ran to the American Tobacco Trail, stayed on the American Tobacco Trail, then ran back to the park for the finish. You need access to a car to get to packet pick up and to/from the race. No shuttles for local hotels. No way to spectate without access to a car.

On to the race! The important part, right? Please note that the majority of these photos are courtesy of Amy at Gypsy Runner. I wanted to ring the PR bell, so knew I couldn’t waste time with photos. Thanks, Amy for always helping me out! I love seeing your smiling face at expos and out on the marathon courses!

We got to the race early. The race started at 7am but the parking areas shut down at a certain time. I think they wanted everyone in the parking area by 5:30 so that the shuttle buses could come/go without issue. It was cool. Probably upper 40s at the start and while we were waiting. I rarely take throw away clothes but did this time because I wasn’t planning to check a bag. The plan was to run the race, finds the kids, leave. We were headed to Disney World for Spring Break & this was just a pit stop for momma to grab another state!

The race started promptly at 7am. Start/Finish area was easy to find, just down from the row of port-o-potties. It was still dark when we started the race but the area was well lit around the bathrooms & the start/finish area. Photo courtesy of the Tobacco Road Marathon Facebook page:

We left Thomas Park with an incline to get out of the park and onto the road. Key to remember because that’s a downhill to the finish line! Couple other rolling hills in the 2.5 miles from the park to the American Tobacco Trail. Then the marathoners had 21 miles on the ATT. Very few turns. If you are ever afraid of getting lost, this is the type of race for you. There was never any question as to where to go or where to turn. It was very well ran, volunteers were great. All road crossings were patrolled.

The race was advertised as fast & flat. As a Midwest gal, I know flat. Any race that claims to be flat, will probably have more hills than I can get when I make an effort to FIND hills to run. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this race. I will say that it was pretty flat. There were a few rollers to/from the ATT. Once on the ATT (where we ran 21 of the 26.2 miles), it was pretty flat. This was an old rail trail. So the inclines/declines were not visible, you’d just feel it in your legs. On a slight decline, you could feel the load lighten and the pace got easier. On the incline, you couldn’t really “see” it but you could tell you were going up because it took more effort to hold the pace. But honestly, I heard some people complain post race about the elevation, Garmin showed 735 ft of gain, Strava showed 819 ft for the entire race. Small gains & losses over time.

The ATT was a mix of crushed limestone and asphalt. Mostly tree lined with giant pines which provided a break from the wind and the sun. Temps started in the upper 40s but climbed to the 60s while we ran. Humidity was low to non-existent. I don’t do well in heat & humidity so while I did notice that it was getting warmer toward the end, it didn’t effect my performance.

There were 9 aid stations on course, most of which we hit 2x since the trail was an out and back. All stations were well stocked with fluids, food items & there were port-o-potties!

On the ATT, we headed out to the north initially, then flipped between mile 8 & 9. Then headed back south, past our point of entry until another turn around between mile 18 & 19. As always, that last turn around always feels great. I also am a huge fan of out and backs, particularly when I know people running. Watching the other runners makes me happy. I like to encourage them, cheer for the fast people at the front & it distracts me from the task at hand.

Not a ton of spectators. Logistics put most spectators at a trail head that intersected with a road we were crossing. Some dogs. A few signs. But everyone was enthusiastic & encouraging.

I really liked this race. I picked it for a few reason. Fast, flattish, few turns, smaller number of runners & the fact that most of it was on a rail trail which would feel a lot like my old training runs. Some people run better on Saturday mornings with their friends than at big venues with long waits & a bazillion spectators. I’m probably more of the Saturday morning girl than the “wait & shiver for 2 hours before the major marathon” girl.

I knew I wanted to try to run faster since I’m not allowed many races this year. I’m in the midst of training for Ironman Lake Placid. When I run less races, I’m faster. No brainer there. And my back is feeling the best it has in several years. I’m not 100% but to be honest, this is probably as good as its going to get. Also, it was important to plan and execute a race strategy, just to know that I can do it. After Lake Placid, I’m going to take a break and then see if I can qualify for Boston. This race time was not anywhere what I need to run a BQ but it was all about planning & executing.

I did have a snafu leading up to the race (pulled something in my foot) so went with Plan B vs Plan A, in the name of being smart & facing down a lot more training for Lake Placid in the next few months. I started with the 4:10 pacers with the plan of running away from them before the finish. I figured I could easily gain a couple minutes and drop into a 4:08 before I hit the line, if I was smart. That’s really the hardest part, being smart. And patient. The first half of the race feels so easy, its hard not to just go with it and run faster. Well, take my advice, going faster than the plan is a good way to blow up. I used to run less races & try to go faster but I always blew up. I would go out too fast! Every time. That’s really how I started running more races. I decided that I worked too hard for ONE race, for it not to end in the result I wanted. I decided I could run A LOT of races and have a A LOT of fun, and really my times weren’t any slower than going out too fast & blowing up.

Anyhow, shout out to the 4:10 pacers. They did a great job. I even dropped back 2 different times to get something out of my FlipBelt. The one pacer checked on me both times & basically “yelled at me” to close the gap & regain contact. I will say that the added pressure that someone was waiting on me did help to make sure I didn’t fall off pace. They even told the runners to start floating away from them as we got close to the finish, that a pacers job was to finish alone, on time, with all their runners ahead of them. Smile I had already started moving ahead after we got off the ATT in the last 2.5 miles. That was the last thing I heard them say as I was pulling away. And I was able to ring the PR Bell at the finish! 4:08:09 was my chip time. Good day!

Overall a great race. There were 1088 full marathoners that started the day, 884 finishers. The half started 2277 runners & 2202 finished. Great race, if you are looking for a fast run. Since most of the race is on the trail, the camber of the road is not as much of an issue as in other races. Not too crowded. Just enough aid & support. Low entry fee! Definitely a good one.

This was my 27th state, 49th marathon. My 50th marathon will be at the end of Ironman Lake Placid. Now that’s going to hurt. LOL!

** Hope you are all healthy & running happy ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

The Skinny on Healthy Fats …. What You Need to Know

Posted on February 9, 2018 by tootallfritz

Let’s follow up the Healthy Living 101 post with something equally as important, Healthy Fats. What’s the “skinny” on healthy fats? Isn’t that a loaded question. If you are in your 40s, you probably spent a bit of time eliminating fats from your diet during the “Fat Free” craze of the 90s. How many Snackwells did you eat? I ate a lot. I was skinny. I was not strong. Well, “Strong is the New Skinny”, right? The neat thing about being in my 40s is that I no longer care what is “in” or what is “cool”. Not that I was ever
“in” or “cool”, let’s be clear on that. But my focus now is laser sharp on me. What makes me feel good. What doesn’t. I’ve discovered that healthy fats are essential to our diets. All of us. Not just athletes. Not just people who want to lose weight or get strong. This is what I’ve learned, feel free to use whatever possible to help you and your family. And the disclaimer still stands. I’m not a nutritionist, registered dietician, or health coach. I’m just an enthusiast who wants to feel good each and every day and I want the same for you.

1. What are Healthy Fats? Healthy fats are fats that are found naturally in food. Real, whole foods. Once a food is processed, then natural fats are generally stripped out to modify the food in some way. Dairy is a perfect example. Cows produce one type of milk. One kind. Yet, there are how many different options of milk at the supermarket? Whole (real milk), 2%, Skim, 1%, Chocolate, Strawberry, etc. Take this a bit further to the yogurt aisle and depending on where you shop, you may not even be able to find real, whole milk (grassfed) yogurt. The food industry processes dairy products to strip out fat & insert sugar, fake sugars & flavors to make it taste better. The sugar & chemicals inserted by the food industry activate the same part of our brains as the drug heroine. Its addictive. If we are addicted to sugar & chemical laden foods, we eat and BUY more of it.

So if you want to eat healthy fats, you need to stick with whole foods. And as always, buy organic and from reputable brands to ensure that you are getting the best possible nutrients that are not contaminated. See the list of foods below that will offer the best healthy fats available:

Avocados
Nuts & Seeds – Raw, unsalted nuts. Almonds, Macadamia Nuts, Walnuts, Chia Seeds, Flaxseed, etc.
Nut & Seed Butters – Be careful with these! Look for Natural, Organic products. Always read the ingredient list. It should be short and just include the particular nut/seed + maybe salt. See the ingredient list from the one I just pulled from my cabinet for reference: Organic Roasted Peanuts, Contains 1% or Less of Salt.

Full Fat Dairy – Organic, Grassfed, if possible.
Eggs – Farm Raised, Locally Sourced, if possible. You want chickens that are walking around eating bugs and different plant materials. They will make the best nutrient dense eggs.
Salmon and Tuna – Wild Ocean Caught, not farm raised. Sustainability is an issue with anything from the ocean; however, farm raised fish has issue with diseases due to dense populations. Secondly, farm raised fish are usually fed a kibble type product that is a combination of soy & corn, among other things. The majority of soy & corn in the US is contaminated with GMOs. Lastly, farmed fish, salmon in particular have up to 50% less Omega 3s, the healthy fat that you’re looking for in the first place. PLEASE NOTE – If you shop at Costco or places that sell “fresh” fish, look at the ingredients label. I noticed awhile back that most of the “fresh” salmon at a major retailer, has dye injected into the fish, along with preservatives, to keep the salmon looking pretty as it sits on the shelf. I buy frozen Wild Caught Sockeye Salmon now.
Olives – Check ingredient labels. A lot of olives have extra “stuff” in the ingredient list that we don’t need.
Oils – Avocado, Coconut, Nut/Seed Oils (Walnut, Pine, Cashew, etc), Extra Virgin Organic Olive Oil. Be careful with Olive Oil, many of those sold in the US are not a good quality or contaminated with GMOs. I tend to use Avocado Oil as my default. Good reputation. Nice Consistency and great flavor.

See the graphic below for additional healthy fat options:

Image Source

2. Why Healthy Fats? This was certainly a BIG question for me personally after avoiding fats for so many years. The idea of buying full fat milk and real butter was just almost more than I could wrap my brain around. However, the science is there. Real science that’s waiting to be read, shared & acknowledged.

Supports brain function. Our brains are made up of fat themselves, almost 60% actually. Healthy fats stimulate new brain cell growth and improves memory. Helps the absorption of key nutrients that are required for cognitive health. Protects the brain from toxins. And improves mood & alleviates depression.
Supports Metabolism. Increase fat burning and energy production.
Keeps us full between meals. Fats are burned at a slower rate. They also trigger the release of hormones to tell our body we are full. Keeping us satisfied longer.
Helps the body absorb key nutrients.
Improves body composition thanks to increased fat burning capabilities.
Builds muscle faster.

Image Source from The ChalkboardMag.com

3. How Much Healthy Fat Do We Need? THIS is the million dollar question. I think we have a bit of a “fat” craze going on right now. Many of my friends are super skinny after adopting a ketosis type diet. Terms like Metabolic Efficiency and Fat Burner are becoming common. Carb Cycling is happening at every gym in the area. So what’s normal, for someone who just wants to be healthy? It looks like the the average dose of healthy fats for a normal person is 2-3 servings per day. What’s a serving? 1 TBS of a clean oil or a thumb size chunk of an avocado. Or a few nuts in the palm of your hand. If you have salmon for dinner, plus a veggie & half of a sweet potato with butter, then count that as 2 servings of fat. The salmon & the butter on the sweet potato. When its broken down like that, its not so hard.

4. Warning About Healthy Fats. Super easy to overeat. Fats taste GOOD! Yum!! I’ve been eating healthy for years but just consciously added healthy fats into my diet over the last year & a half. Initially I did too much! I even used a Metabolic Efficiency program once but the guidelines were very loose. The participants kept asking “how much fat do we need?”. The program designers would just say, “eat some with every meal”. Some? How much is that? So I’d eat 3 eggs with a side of avocado & bacon. Or Avocado Mayo Egg Salad with a side of Avocado. Salmon, 1/2 sweet potato w/ butter & a salad with avocado oil dressing.

Everything tasted AMAZING but I suffered from free styling the program. There weren’t set guidelines. No macro counting. Not enough information for me & I was doing it wrong. I didn’t feel awesome. I gained weight. Yep. Too much healthy fat!

I’m currently doing a carb cycling program with HiggsLifestyle. Lots of info. We were told exactly what to eat, in what portions & exactly how much fat. Our current fat percentage is about 50% of our daily diet. THIS is working for me. I’ve dropped all my weight that I’ve been holding onto for the last several years. However, this may not be the right combo for everyone. My sister is currently doing a carb cycling program with her gym & they are using 70% fat for the day. I know from past experience that this would probably be too much for me but its working for her and the participants in that program. Bottom line, there are lots of different programs currently focusing on healthy fats & how to kick start the metabolism as a result. Be careful & don’t get stuck in one that doesn’t work for you. Be dedicated to yourself, your health and finding what works for your body. And know that if weight loss (better body composition) isn’t something you need, then 2-3 servings of healthy fats each day will lead to optimal health. Adjust as needed based on how you feel, that’s just the guideline.

As always, the healthiest eating plan is one that is focused on natural, organic, whole foods. Eat a rainbow of colors. Each color of fruit/vegetable has different nutrients. Make food a priority in your life, not just an afterthought on the way home from practice or a sporting event. Incorporate all aspects of foods: Lean proteins, lots of veggies (some fruit), healthy carbs (legumes, brown rice, quinoa & sweet potatoes) & healthy fats. Drink water. Keep your daily added sugars under 24g per day (36g for men). Limit or avoid alcohol & sugary beverages/treats. Good luck, all. We have one life. One body. Let’s do the best for it that we are able.

** That’s the Skinny On Healthy Fats ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Healthy Living 101 … Comprehensive How To Guide For Busy Families

Posted on February 8, 2018 by tootallfritz

At a point in time when families are becoming busier every day, there are a lot of excuses floating around as to why we don’t have time to be healthy. Why we don’t have time to make real food for ourselves and our families. Why we can’t exercise. Why our bodies are tired and broken. The majority of people are becoming more tired, sicker and heavier. The food, medical & pharmaceutical industries are booming businesses, becoming wealthier every day. Lets think about this for a minute. How do you feel? How do your kids feel? Is it possible to make some small adjustments that will pay huge dividends in regards to the health of you and your family?

Image Source

Let me help you by sharing some of the things I have learned over the years. Disclosure: I’m not a nutritionist, registered dietician, health coach or have any certifications to my name. I’m a health & wellness enthusiast who has spent countless hours ~~and dollar~~s researching food and nutrition. Feel free to use any information provided to make the best life possible for you and your family. Know that nobody is perfect. That’s not the goal. Overall health, making the best choices possible and FEELING GOOD is what’s really important. Side effects may include: weight loss, happiness, enhanced performance, more $$ in the bank for vacations, less $$ going out to healthcare.

1. Clean Proteins & Veggies. Most of my audience resides in the United States. Therefore, the majority of our food is contaminated with chemicals. Pesticides. Growth Hormones. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). Antibiotics. Etc, etc. Although we’ve been told our entire lives that these “additives” are not harmful to our health, there are studies that prove otherwise. Whether you agree or disagree about the necessity of “clean” foods, you may want to do some research on the topic. There is a reason why organics, “non GMO”, antibiotic/hormone free is now showing up on signs and packaging at the supermarket. What can you change?

Buy Organic
Read labels if you are buying processed foods. Look for ingredients that you recognize. Short, simple ingredient lists.
Find your local Co-Op (click for a list of some co-ops per state, mine isn’t on there so list is not complete, just a reference) for clean foods and info on local farmers.
Buy in bulk directly from the farmer. This may require investing in a chest type freezer for the garage but clean grass-fed beef, poultry, pork and wild caught seafood will go a long way to keep the family healthy.
Local Farmers Market. While many of you may not frequent the local co-op for fresh veggies year round, most do have local Farmers Markets with seasonal fruits & veggies! Make it a weekly stop for the family. Let the kids pick out new fruits & veggies they have never tried!

2. Be prepared. Yes, FOOD PREP is a must! As life gets busier, the pizza delivery man knows most of us by first name. What kind of night is it? Pizza, Chinese, Fast Food? Let’s be honest. How many times a week do you eat or carry out food? Is it really necessary? Sometimes, yes. Most of the time, no. A little thought goes a long way. As I started this post, I went to my fridge to see exactly what I had prepped and ready to eat, now. Yes, like right now. Or within a minute or two of plating.

This is what I pulled, ready to go from my fridge. I’m not even counting the leftover ham & mashed potatoes from last night, the chili from Super Bowl Sunday OR the pizza that hubby ordered on Monday while I was in Chicago for work. This is food I personally eat. Starting from left top: quinoa, ground turkey, roasted broccoli & asparagus. Left bottom: roasted sweet potatoes, shredded chicken, and two individual portions of sautéed veggies & turkey with 1 TBS avocado oil (full meal, ready for me to consume without any additional time unless I’d like to warm it up). My lunch from today is below. Chicken, broccoli & asparagus, all from above.

Is that overwhelming? Probably as a whole, yes. But I’m a normal person too! I didn’t do this all at once. I don’t believe in “meal prep Sunday” where people spend an entire day prepping food for the week. It does not have to be that time consuming. I toss in an XL baking tray of veggies when I notice I’m getting low on veggies. I’ll use whatever I have on hand. I like the colorful shortcut carrots, precut broccoli & cauliflower, brussels sprouts, zucchini, green beans. Really anything I can get easily. I buy in bulk at Costco. One giant bag of precut broccoli, yes please! I rinse, then toss on an XL baking sheet. Drizzle with Avocado Oil, Himalayan Pink Sea Salt & garlic powder. Mix by hand to coat veggies with a little oil/seasoning. In the oven at 410 for 30 minutes and walk away. Cut veggies pictured below. I cute up 3-4 zucchini (big chunks) & threw a bag of multi colored shortcut carrots on the baking tray. Probably took me 2 minutes once I had the zucchini cut & everything tossed with a little oil/salt/pepper/garlic.

Yesterday, I threw a bag of frozen chicken in the crockpot on high. I added spices. Sometimes I add a jar of salsa. Sometimes, I use taco seasoning (non gmo, gluten free). Sometimes, I go with Italian spices. Cook on high a couple hours. Shut off. Let cool. Shred. If you aren’t home during the day, use a crock pot with a timer. Your crockpot can be your BEST friend when it comes to preplanning meals and food prepping.

Over the weekend, I browned 2#s of turkey with a box of mushrooms & various spices. Last week, I dumped an entire bag of frozen shrimp (tails off!) into a pan, added butter, lemon, Cajun seasons & a bag of frozen green beans. Let cook down, pour off liquid, put in a container for future meals.

I cook in bulk. If I make stir-fry, I do 3x the veggies & protein that I want for one meal, then immediately divide upon cooking into containers for other days. I frequently do these things when I’m already in the kitchen cooking something for the family. Or when I’m making lunches. Time management. Use your time to the best of your ability. Stir-fry below: Various veggies & ground turkey (any protein will work, use whatever you have prepped in the fridge).

Enough about food prep. I’m sure you get the picture. If you don’t already hate me because I’m firing the pizza delivery guy, then just wait!

3. Protein Powder, Shakes & Smoothies! Say hello to a very controversial topic. We all have to decide for OURSELVES what we want to put in our bodies. Maybe you have clear cut guidelines for yourself, maybe you don’t. Regardless, beware of what Jane Doe & her friends are selling you. A few suggested guidelines are listed below:

Ingredients matter. Look at the ingredient list. Can you recognize what’s listed? Can you recognize sugars & fake sugars alike? Did you know that women are only allowed 24g of added sugar per day (36g for men)? How many grams of sugar per serving? Did you know that ingredients are listed in descending order. Meaning the ingredient with the LARGEST quantity, is listed first. So if the first ingredient is xxxxbitol or xxxxulose, that means the biggest ingredient is a fake sugar. Be informed.
Artificial anything in a shake or protein powder is not desired. Jane Doe may tell you that some of the deadliest things on Earth are found in nature. That is true! But at least I know what I’m up against (and not to eat it!). I don’t know or understand what that artificial ingredient, made in the lab, is going to do to my body.
If it tastes like a milk shake, then it’s a milkshake. I’m tired of hearing complaints on the taste of a decent protein powder. Grow up. Clean up your diet. Cut the sugar. Then you’ll get your taste buds back and realize that real food actually tastes good. You shouldn’t need sugar, fake sugar and/or artificial flavors to be able to swallow food. This is about nutrition, what your body needs, YOUR health.

Some great protein powders that I’ve tried are below, these 3 are vegetable based (Vega One, SunWarrior, & Aloha – I have no affiliation with any of these products). Also a peak at how my smoothies look. I change up the ingredients but they always taste great. My two favorites: 1 Scoop Chocolate Protein, 1 TB Natural PB, 2 Handfuls of spinach, Ice, Water. Or 1 scoop Vanilla Protein, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1 TB Coconut Oil, 1-2 Handfuls of Spinach, Dash of Cinnamon, Ice, Water. Both produce green smoothies but I can’t taste the spinach. I swear. If the green color grosses you out, try it with your eyes closed. Good, I promise!

Fruit in your smoothie! Fruit is better than sugar, right? Yes. But fruit converts to sugar and some fruits are inflammatory. I’m not going to tell you to never eat a banana but if you are looking for weight loss as a side effect of your healthy eating, then you need to drop the banana & grab the blueberries. See the list of anti-inflammatory foods below from LiveLoveFruit. Inflammation may lead to Heart Disease, Cancer, Diabetes, Anxiety, Allergies, Brain Fog & Excess body fat, to name a few.

4. Supplements. Another million dollar question. Do you need them? NOT a one size fits all answer. If you are eating a CLEAN, anti-inflammatory diet with lots of leafy greens, then you don’t need a lot of extras. A few items that may be beneficial, depending on your lifestyle are listed below. But once again, ingredients matter. Use reputable companies!

D3 – I’m sure you’ve heard of the benefits of being outdoors in the sunlight? D3 is the answer if there is no sun. Some call it the “Sunshine Vitamin”. D3 can increases immunities, increase bone/joint/teeth health, regulate mood, help the absorption of calcium & phosphorous (imperative for bone health) & fight cancer.
Probiotics – Healthy Bacteria! Focus is gut & immune health. Lots of natural probiotics so you don’t need to automatically grab for a capsule. Use active live culture yogurts (if you can do dairy), Keifir, Sauerkraut or Kimchi. You’ll specifically find the ever popular Kombucha missing from this list. It contains a small amount of alcohol which turns to sugar and its relatively controversial.
Omega 3 – Commonly known as “fish oil”. Omega 3 is the ONLY Omega you need. Don’t get pulled into the supplements that offer 3, 6 & 9. Your body only needs “extra” of the 3. We get enough 6 in our diet. And our body makes enough 9 that we don’t need to supplement. Omega 3 helps to fight inflammation (and related diseases), helps improve cognitive function & brain health. I’ve also read that it’s good for skin health. If you eat a lot of fatty fish, like salmon, you can probably skip this one. Its also found naturally in nuts & seeds.
Magnesium. If you’re an athlete, have trouble with constipation, get frequent headaches, have PMS cramps, or you can’t sleep, then Magnesium might be your new best friend. Magnesium comes in a couple different forms. Magnesium Citrate is what you want if you are constipated. Magnesium Glycinate is what you need for everything else: help getting to sleep, help in muscle repair, headaches, eye twitches, PMS cramping, sore or twitching muscles from physical activity, and it helps calcium absorb. Its also reported to help with anxiety and increase energy. If I only had one supplement in my cabinet, it would be magnesium. You can combine the Magnesium Glycinate & the Magnesium Citrate to get the desired result(s).

I don’t know about you but my brain is about ready to explode. That’s all I can personally process for one post. That’s probably MORE than most can process at one time, if they haven’t been studying this stuff for a long time. BUT, I wanted it all here, for reference. You may also be interested in some of my related articles below. My level of education on nutrition has increased over the years but one thing remains, passion. I’m passionate about being healthy. Learning as much as possible. And living the best life I am able. I know this isn’t easy, especially if you work, have kids, and are busy. But its worth it. I wish each and every one of you the HEALTHIEST life possible.

** Go Forth & Be Healthy ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

2018 – New Goals

Posted on January 5, 2018 by tootallfritz

My primary goal is to run a marathon in every state. However, I also love triathlon. I’ve been meshing my love for running and triathlon for many years now. I believe my first triathlon was in 2004 and then I really started doing more events in 2007. However, Mr. Michael made his appearance in 2009, shortly after I caught the Ironman bug. Little man is 8 now! Time flies …..

As a working mom with two kids and a hectic life, Ironman was put on hold. I didn’t even ride my bike for several years after Michael was born. I ran. Because that is something I can do anywhere, for any amount of time and it helps me relieve stress. But the time on the bike was just too much for me as a working mom with a new baby. So my bike sat on the trainer for 1309 days without seeing the light of day. I rode occasionally for workouts but never outside. Once I dusted off my bike, I decided to focus on races that I could manage with the family, job and my other responsibilities. I decided that I would “specialize” in the 70.3 distance. Not register for an expensive race and haul all my gear unless it really counted. It had to be worth it for me to be away from the kiddos. Once Michael arrived, that’s kinda how life went. Cut the crap. Keep what’s really important. I didn’t want to lose sight of myself but I also didn’t need to run every 5K in town unless there was another reason to go, like when Aby started running. Aby’s first 5K below in spring 2011. This race had free daycare for Mr. Michael. So freaking awesome (Ringing In Spring 5K, Valparaiso, IN).

This was also the time that I really started embracing the long run. Michael was a crazy baby. He was not happy unless I was holding him and to be honest, I just needed to get away sometimes to clear my head and leave the screaming behind. I loved my little man but yes, I needed a break. To this day, I see women who refuse to leave their babies to even go for a run, and I cringe. Most mom’s need time away from their babies to think and reflect. I could never do that while pushing a jog stroller, constantly handing the little one snacks, stopping to pick up juice cups, etc. There were times that I ran with the stroller because the choices were treadmill or stroller run. I’ve also ran plenty 20 milers on the treadmill for lack of other options. I did what I had to do but honestly, I cherished my solo long runs more than anyone could possibly imagine. Through this time, my love for the longer distances really developed. Hey, the longer I ran, the longer I had quiet time, it didn’t matter if I had to run in the dark to get it. Eventually, I cut most other distances to focus on the marathon. Best bang for my buck and the marathon is ALWAYS a challenge. I didn’t want to leave the kids unless it counted. So I pared down my races to the distance I felt was worthy of time away from the kiddos.

Enough chit chat. Now, what’s the big goal for 2018? I’m sure you’ve already figured it out. Ironman. I registered for Ironman Lake Placid, July 2018.

My first, and quite possibly only, full Ironman. Yes, I’ve been waiting for this since 2008. Yes, the time is finally here. In case you’re not familiar with triathlon type races, this is a 140.6 mile event. 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking, 26.2 miles of running. There are non-branded triathlons which cover the same distance; however, Ironman has made a name for itself as offering some of the best triathlon races in the world.

I picked Lake Placid almost by default. I wanted a race that I could drive to so that I didn’t need to ship my bike. I wanted a race that was not during XC/Football or Track/Baseball season. That really narrowed things down. Lastly, I wanted a new state. The marathon at the end of the Ironman counts as a state for the 50 States Marathon Club. This made the outrageous registration fee a little more palatable. I get to tackle something new, a bucket list item per se, but I’m also still moving me forward in my 50 State goal. Win, Win.

So if you’re in Lake Placid, NY over Ironman weekend, look for me. I’ll try to post more as my training gets under way. Until then, if you need me, I’ll probably be riding my bike. You will find me at a couple warm up races this spring/summer. But everything is in prep for the big day in Lake Placid on July 22nd:

Tobacco Road Marathon – March 18th – I have a “refer a friend” $10 off discount code if you need one, just let me know.
Pokagon Olympic Distance Triathlon – May 19th.
Grand Rapids 70.3 Triathlon – June 10th

At some point, I’ll figure out post IM season. But for now, this is it.

Cheers to a Happy, Healthy 2018. I hope that you get to try something new and move something from your bucket list into the DONE column.

** Life is All About the Story ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

2017 in Review …..

Posted on January 4, 2018 by tootallfritz

The year never seems phenomenal until you take a minute to look back at what has been accomplished. Before looking back, I remembered having a lot of lack luster races, running some really hot races, having a lot of back pain and performing poorly on the bike due to nerve damage from my back injury. Nothing really stood out as amazing. Then I remembered marathon training with Aby & her friend early in 2017.

All the fun we had running up and down every hill we could find. The laughter & giggles of the good days. The tears of the not so good days. And really, that’s how life is, the good mixed with the bad. Each and every day. Easy to remember the bad but we have to search a little further to pull up the good memories.

2017 in Review:

9 – Marathons (Little Rock, Georgia, Nashville RNR, Lincoln NE, Hatfield & McCoy, Monster Mash (Dover DE), Atlantic City NJ, Indy Monumental & the Wildwood Trail Marathon in MO.
1 – 50K (Huff 50K Trail Run)
1 – 1/2 Marathon (RNR Chicago)
1 Olympic Distance Triathlon (Pokagon)
3 – 70.3 Triathlons (IM Muncie 70.3, IM OH 70.3, IM Steelhead 70.3).
1 – 100+ mile bike ride (Dam to Dam Century, Wabash IN)
1 – Volunteer Stint (IM Louisville)

It was a year of firsts.

First time I got to run a marathon with my daughter (who was only 15 at the time!)
First Century Ride, or longer
First time volunteering at a bit event

I got a couple new states in my quest to run a marathon in all 50 states.

Georgia
Nebraska
West Virginia
Delaware
New Jersey

A few moments hit my 2017 “BEST” list. Possibly the best, if not favorite, fitness related photo I took in 2017. Aby & Annika running their first marathon in Little Rock.

Best Race – Hatfield & McCoy Marathon in WV. Low dollar. Fun. Great course with variety in sites & terrain. Excellent aid stations & support.

Best SWAG – Huff 50K handmade soup mugs.

Best Race photo – Wildwood Trail Marathon gives out free downloads for race photos.

Best Selfie – Julie & I after IM 70.3 Muncie. Her first half IM, her 2nd triathlon. She looks SO happy!!

Best detour – Philadelphia Art Museum to run up the steps like Rocky Balboa in the old Rocky movies. We had ran a marathon in Dover DE & were headed to Atlantic City NJ for a 2nd marathon. Not a lot of people would have felt like taking the detour. Julie did. Great memory.

Best non fitness related trip. Niagara Falls. The kids & I did the Canada side & the American side. Great trip.

Overall, a great year. I hope that all of you made some great memories too. Cheers to all of us having an even better year in 2018. Let’s start making new memories & get this year started right!

** Happy New Year ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

The Huff 50K Trail Run …. 2017 Edition

Posted on January 2, 2018 by tootallfritz

Saturday was the annual Huff 50K Trail Run. Huff is known for bringing something new and unique each year. The 2012 race brought epic flooding. 2016 brought 6 inches of fresh powder to the start and then added freezing rain atop the snow (and us) for the entirety of the race. 2017 will go down in history as one of the coldest years on record. Temps at the start were below zero with wind chills, then plummeted further thru the day for an average of –13 to –15 “feels like” during the bulk of the race. It was a long day for those who were able to finish and there was a large number of runners who had to drop out, or were not allowed to continue after the completion of the first loop, due to weather related concerns.

The Huff 50K offers a 1 loop “fun run” of approximately 11 miles, a 3 person 50K relay & a 50K trail run. I’ve ran, and managed to complete, the 50K every year since 2013. I’ve had good years & bad years. Ones that were tough because I wasn’t up to par physically. Ones that were brutal due to weather like 2016 & 2017. I love this race and will continue to run it as long as I am able. It’s a great way to end my racing season each year. Its close to home. And love that we can pick up our packets the morning of the race! Win, win, win!

This year, due to the cold temps, I left my phone in my check bag. My iPhone has a very short battery life & the cold kills it almost instantly. None of the photos you see in this post are mine. Thanks to Tadd B, Stacey H & Sara P for sharing their photos so I could add something visual to this write-up!.

Pre-race with Tadd B & Pat H. I’m the one in bright orange.

The race started at 8am for the 1 loop runners. At 8:20 for the 50K runners. The course is different for each race. For the 50K race, there are 3 aid stations on each loop. Located at miles 4, 8 & 14. Then the warming tent at the start/finish which is also the half way point of the 50K can be used as an aid station. Other than the aid stations, there are only a few road crossings. This is not a race that you can cut short in very many places if an injury, illness or other issues result. I heard some criticism from some who were not allowed to go out for a second loop of the 50K due to time & weather issues. I can say from a safety standpoint, it was imperative to have runners off the trail by dark. Then if we add in the weather concerns, the second loop of the 50K was cold. Really cold. Plus the trails were drifting from the blowing wind & snow. It was a bit of a challenge. I had to have my face covered almost the entirety of that loop to avoid frostbite. Our bodies were burning extra energy to try to keep warm, in addition to the running, so fueling was a huge issue. And the volunteers at the aid stations were FREEZING trying to support us. More respect needs to be given to the race officials and volunteers for these races. Nobody wants to cancel or shorten a race. Its bad publicity, especially in this age of social media. However, they are liable for each and every runner. They have to do what they think is best for everyone, runners & volunteers included.

We had about 3” of snow on the ground. Flurries during the race. Roads were iced over with a little snow on top. It was a much better situation running wise than the deeper snow and freezing rain of 2016. However, it was still a tough race. Tough but beautiful.

Lots of hills. Lots of slipping and sliding. Running for most of us was slow going. I was amazed by the varying degrees of dress. I was focused on keeping my face covered to avoid frost bite, yet there were people running in shorts, or less. The conditions were dangerous. I wouldn’t recommend running with exposed skin when the temps are below zero.

Sara & I in the pines on loop 1. One of my favorite areas.

Pure joy as we cross the half way mat (after I stopped to put on my yaktrax).

And then the wind hit us. Cold. Strong. Blowing us around. Trying to cover the tracks of those before us. Time to put our heads down and just run. The yaktrax were a welcome addition to loop 2. They helped A LOT in the areas that were packed down and in the slippery areas. I wish I had worn them for the first loop but thought the snow was probably too deep for them to do much good. I’ll definitely wear them for all snowy trail runs going forward. My footing was a lot better after I put them on.

The wind made the temperature drop further but I was warm. My clothing was perfect: Athleta Polartec tights, Injinji over the calf compression socks, thin Under Armour Long Sleeve Infrared tech shirt, Nike Pro Hyper Warm Fleece Lined 1/2 Zip, Saucony Vita Run Vizipro jacket, ear band, hat, balaclava, lined gloves with a an extra pair of throw away gloves that had hand warmers inside. I used the throw away gloves with hand warmers at the start for a several miles, then again on loop 2 after a lengthy stop at an aid station. Only difference between loop 1 & loop 2 was that I had to keep my face covered the majority of the second loop due to the added wind.

Best Aid Station Ever at Dock Lake. Team Tritanium ran the aid station again with the Huff Couch. Two fires were burning. Smores, gluten free chicken noodle soup, homemade sweet bread, plus the usual ultra fare.

But really the best part is always the finish. My 5th Huff 50K is in the done column. I hope to be back for #6 in 2018. See the finishers medal and cool handmade soup mug below. Lots of fun.

Finisher stats: 50K – 118 Finishers, 57 DNFs; 1 Loop Fun Run: 139 Finishers, 5 DNFs. Relay – 24 Finishing teams, 5 DNFs, 3 DQs.

As always, a great race. If you are going to run in the winter, I’d recommend layering up and minimizing exposed skin. There will always be people running with very little on but honestly, that’s just not safe. Be smart & enjoy the beauty of the season. Running is a great way to get out and enjoy the winter months and keep those Winter Blues away!

** Happy Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Wildwood Trail Marathon Race Review– Wildwood MO

Posted on December 6, 2017 by tootallfritz

I ran the Wildwood Trail Marathon in Wildwood MO on Sunday. It was my 47th marathon (or longer). I’m a runner who loves to run. I love the trails and the serenity. However, I’m not a real trail runner. Let’s not squabble over the fact that “if I run trails, then I’m a trail runner”. You know what I mean. I’m a road runner. I enjoy the road under my feet. A solid surface that does not move. One where I probably won’t trip over something that I can’t see because its covered by a forest of leaves. One where sharp rocks don’t jut out at every step. One where if I fall, I won’t stress about sliding down the bluff in the process. Road runner. Yep, that’s me.

Now that is has been clarified that I’m a road runner, my report follows.

The Wildwood Trail marathon is self described as scenic & fast. Good for road and trail runners, experienced and beginners alike. I’ve ran a lot of road races, plus my fair share of trail races. So I feel well versed and able to give a realistic point of view. Scenic, yes, in spots. It’s a beautiful run thru the woods. This race, unlike others I have ran, consisted of a lot of rock based trails. Most trail runs are on dirt trails. Wildwood has a lot of rock. Not to make this too simple but the bluffs are made of rock. The dirt wears away & only rock is left in spots. Second pic below shows it well. That looks like a well worn dirt trail, right? No. Its solid rock. Somewhat smooth surface in some spots. Jagged rocks sticking out in other spots. Pics below are from the Bluff View Trail.

The race started at a school, right off the Hamilton-Carr paved trail. Then we hit a crushed stone & dirt type trail called the Al Foster Memorial Trail. This lead us to the first detour, the Bluff View Trail which was about 2 miles into the race. That’s where things started to get interesting. The trail (seen above) was 2.5 miles of single track, some slanted to one side or the other, winding up the Bluff for an awesome lookout. The Bluff View Trail provided some of the most scenic views of the day to the Crescent Valley below.

After climbing the Bluff Trail, we made a small loop & returned the same way we went up. I must say that after staring at the course map for days, I really didn’t understand it. But thankfully, the race was marked very well and there was never a question as to where we were headed. Course map below. One note, it would have been super helpful if the course map had mile markers. For those of us unfamiliar with the area, we never really knew where we were at any given moment. I had the map in my head but as you are climbing, climbing, climbing and maneuvering the switchbacks, everything is very focused. It would have been great to know that I just had to manage the climb/terrain until mile x, then I would get some relief.

December can be tricky but we had a beautiful day with the sun shining on us. Made me happy.

Dry trails. Leaves cushioning the rock. And a few breathtaking views. After the Bluff Trail, we hit the Rock Hollow Trail with the infamous Zombie Heights. This was by far the toughest section (on the map it’s the tall section of zig zags, middle of the map) and I was zombie like, just watching the ground and trying to navigate the terrain. Rock, switchbacks, lots of technical sections, all on a single track of rock and/or dirt. We spent a lot of time hiking in this section for safety reasons. My legs felt good but I can only go as fast as I feel safe. I’m not a super coordinated person. I’m not exactly clumsy but I do try to be careful. So we saw a lot of 20 minute miles in this section. Took forever to get thru it. This was approximately mile 6 through 14. Pics below of this section show the varied terrain.

After Rock Hollow and Zombie Heights, we had a nice flat section back on the Al Foster Memorial Trail heading to Sherman Beach. Easy terrain. Well packed. Fast section.

Sherman Beach was a hot spot. By the time we got there, a lot were already headed back to the finish. Lucky them. But this was an important area. First, the only port-o-potty on course was here. It was also the 3rd & 4th aid station. And this is where the cut-off happened. Once passing thru the Sherman Beach aid station (mile 15.5ish), there was a 7.5 mile loop. We had to be back to that aid station by 2:30pm or we wouldn’t be allowed to finish. Technically we had plenty of time. But if we ran into a section of 20 min miles, then the cutoff was in jeopardy. I must say this is the first time I ever really thought about a cutoff (in any race) and it was stressful!

Leaving Sherman Beach we had a short section of flat, well groomed trails. Then we hit the tunnels. Concrete, manmade tunnels. I had to bend over and walk thru them, they were short in height and long in length. A volunteer on a bike told us that he would see us in 2 miles, once we hit the tunnels. Must say this might have been the longest 2 miles of my life. The tunnels lead to the Cedar Bluff Trail. Obviously a short 2 mile jaunt. Not as technical as the Zombie Heights but we had to be on our toes. And we were apparently rushing because of the cutoff. Both my run partner & myself fell in this section. Hard. Blood & bruises the result.

Once we were back to the tunnels, things got much better. We hit a network of trails by the Meramec River. These trails consisted of dirt & sand. Well groomed. Lots of people riding bikes, walking dogs & hanging out.

And then eventually the Stinging Nettle trail which was a sand trail taking us back to the 4th aid station at Sherman Beach. Well AHEAD of the cutoff. Smile Tamyra below on the Stinging Nettle trail.

After Sherman Beach, there was an easy, flat run back to the finish on the Al Foster & Hamilton Carr trails. Photographer caught us in this section. Yep, I’m dirty. I fell down somewhere along Cedar Bluff.

This marathon was approximately 25.77 miles. If you are a 50 States Marathon Club runner who is trying to run all the states, don’t use this one for Missouri or you’ll be short & it won’t count. Trail runs are always questionable in distance since you go where the terrain takes you. Very normal.

So, was this race scenic & fast? Yes. Obviously scenic. But its also one of the faster trail marathons that I’ve ran thanks to several flat sections where you can run faster. Good for beginners & experienced runners alike? Maybe. The flat sections help a lot. But there was a lot of technical spots too. Anyone can do it. But they really have to be invested in it. So yes, good for anyone as long as they are committed & ready to go the distance no matter what the trails present.

Overall, great race. Great volunteers. Only 4 aid stations. Stocked with trail running basics: Coca Cola, Ginger Ale, peanut M&Ms, cookies, pretzels, oranges, pickles, electrolytes, Hammer gels. Water & Heed (a Hammer product). This was a cup free event so everyone needed a handheld, water bottles or collapsible cups to utilize the fluids on course.

Small event. I had read before race day that there were 209 entrants. Not exactly how the results panned out. I’m not sure if everyone was listed but they show 89 finishers. I was #81 (6 hrs 30 min). 3 DNFs. 8 DNS. Winning male: 2:52. Winning female: 3:44. So it was apparently a fast race for some. Smile Cutoff was 8 hours. Last finisher was 7 hrs 51 min.

SWAG: Beanie, Hammer gels, Hammer Endurolytes, sample pack of Biofreeze, finishers medal & FREE race photos.

That’s a wrap on this marathon! If your interested in trail running, I’ll link to some of my other trail runs below. The hardest I’ve done so far is the Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon in Duluth, MN. That race is the warm up for the Minnesota Voyageur 50 miler. God help those 50 milers. They are tougher than me! My second hardest trail marathon was the Dances with Dirt Devil’s Lake Trail Marathon in Baraboo, WI. Easiest trail run/ultra was the Lakefront 50K in Chicago. If you need a fast 50K time, go to Chicago. Race is on a paved path along Lake MI. Fun. Easy.

Trail Race Reviews (minus the 2014 Huff 50K, which apparently I didn’t write up?!?):

Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon (MN)
Dances with Dirt – Devils Lake Marathon (WI)
Bobcat Trail Marathon (OH)
Huff 50K (2016) (IN)
Huff 50K (2015)
Huff 50K (2013)
Lakefront 50K (IL) – Paved Multipurpose Trail

Next up the 2017 Huff 50K on 12/30. Then I rest.

Happy Running, all! ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

TooTallFritz

Running Toward: Health, Wellness & PEACE …………………………………….. Running From: Insanity, Screaming Children, Housework & a Big Ass

Category Archives: Fitness

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Fort 4 Fitness Spring Cycle – 2018

Muncie May Triathlon – Muncie, IN

Tobacco Road Marathon Race Review

The Skinny on Healthy Fats …. What You Need to Know

Healthy Living 101 … Comprehensive How To Guide For Busy Families

2018 – New Goals

2017 in Review …..

The Huff 50K Trail Run …. 2017 Edition

Wildwood Trail Marathon Race Review– Wildwood MO

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