Dear ASICS Gel Cumulus,

Thank you for 800 miles together. You really were a great pair of shoes! In 2017 you ran multiple races with me, including 3 marathons (Xenia, Flying Pig, & Grand Lake) and 3 Half Marathons (Brokeman’s SW Half, 1/2 Way to Xmas, & Happy Half).

You were with me at my second Ultra Marathon, the Tie Die 50k, when I finally realized how desperately I needed trail shoes. You trekked through the mud with me as I barely finished that race.

At the Brokeman’s Southwest, you ran with me the first time I broke 2 hours in the Half Marathon.

You were also there at the Warrior Eat N Run, when I won my first 5k race.

You traveled to North Carolina with me and ran 19, hot, humid miles along the ocean, including the OBX Freedom 5k.

You finished a total of 11 races, and multiple people commented on how nice you looked, in the blue ribbon limited edition.

You were extremely comfortable and well made. I only wish I hadn’t busted holes through your mesh top. As your name implies, you are well cushioned, almost like running on a cloud.

Thanks again! I hope I can find another pair of ASICS just like you. I would definitely buy another pair of Cumulus.

Cari

2018 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon

Cincinnati knows how to throw a party! The Flying Pig Marathon is a spectacular pig-themed tribute to the city’s roots as “Pork-opolis”, aptly named because in the 1800’s Cincinnati was the largest pork producing city in the world. This year marked the 20th Anniversary of the Flying Pig Marathon.

Weekend Schedule

The Flying Pig Marathon is not just a Marathon but includes various race distances in this three day, six event weekend series. The party starts Friday night with the 1 mile and continues on Saturday with the 10k, and then 5k events. On Sunday a half marathon, full marathon, and 4-leg relay are run. There is also an option to complete multiple races as part of a 3-way (10k, 5k, half marathon) or 4-way (10k, 5k, full marathon) challenge. You can add “extra cheese” to either challenge by adding the 1 mile on Friday night. The 3-way, 4-way, and extra cheese combinations all include additional shirts and medals. Extra Bling!

Accommodations

We stayed at the Renaissance hotel Saturday night, within walking distance to the Marathon Starting line. The hotel was decked out with Pig balloons, Obi the Pig welcomed us and posed for pre-race pictures, and we received a gift of pig shaped chocolates. The hotel staff were extremely kind and helpful, taking our pictures, and offering late checkout for Marathon runners.

The Expo

The Expo, which was held at Duke Energy Convention Center in Downtown Cincinnati, was a party in and of itself. This Expo and packet pickup featured plenty of free swag, pig themed gear and goodies for sale, vendor booths to check out, and 20 years of race history and memorabilia displayed.

I grabbed our race packets, then headed through the huge expo. Once we got around to the back we picked up our cute race tech shirts and gifts. Flying Pig is known for it’s great race swag, and this year our registration included a high quality blanket and a cute pig themed poster. The Expo was decorated with Flying Pig balloons and props for plenty of neat photo opportunities with Pig backgrounds and props. I also received tons of free magnets and snacks from generous vendor booths.

Pre-Race Dinner

For dinner we took a short walk to the nearby Wahlburgers, famous for their burgers made with Government-issued American cheese slices. The burgers were quite good, although we did swap out the processed American for cheddar cheese.

In keeping with the Pig theme for the weekend, I also had a side of Mac N’ Cheese topped with smoked bacon and garlic panko breadcrumbs , which was absolutely incredible. This is pig powered carboloading at its best!

The Start

The race is a wave start with athletes lining up in different corrals or in this case “Pig Pens” based on projected finishing times. I started in Pig Pen D, for those expecting to finish the Marathon between 4 hours and 4:10.

The Race

The Marathon starts at 6:30am with the National Anthem. The Pens are released in staggered starts, with the torches and snares at the starting line. The party continues and runners continue through the streets of downtown Cincinnati, crossing the bridge into Kentucky and then back to Ohio.

This race attracts awesome crowd support, spectators, and numerous aid station volunteers. There were frequent water & Gatorade stops along the course, and various pig themed aid stations.

Various aid stations also included the following food: Hershey kisses, cookies, Swedish Fish, pretzels, potato chips, gr”ham” crackers, GU gels, and of course the Bacon.

The Finish

After crossing the finish line which at this race is affectionately referred to as the “Finish Swine”, I received my finishers medal, Mylar blanket, and more photo opportunities.

At the finishers area I received fruit cups, banana, granola bars, pizza, and bottled water.

I made my way through the finishers post race party to pick up my 20th anniversary finishers jacket, included in this years Full Marathon registration.

Overall this is an amazing event. As one of my absolute favorite races, I definitely recommend Flying Pig Marathon!

Post Race

After each Marathon I make an omelet. As someone who does not usually eat pork, my omelet did not include any bacon, but this omelet was delicious and I had my pig shaped chocolate for dessert.

Welcome to my year of running everyday, completing a one year run streak to qualify for the National Run Streak Association, completing 34 races, racing in 3 states (OH, KY, & NC), improving my Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, and 1 mile times, coaching 2 cross-country teams, volunteering as a running buddy for Girls on the Run, volunteering as a race pacer for The Turkey Trot Half Marathon, winning my first race, running over 1000 miles in a year, and earning my RRCA Level 1 Coaching Certification.

It’s been a really good year. Consistent hard work really does pay off.

We run together.

While black, bruised, or missing toe nails may be common occurrence for many runners, they are not inevitable for all long distance runners. Here are 7 tips to help you protect your toenails.

1. Avoid cotton socks. Instead choose a breathable and moisture wicking material designed to keep your feet dry without trapping sweat. Sweaty and damp socks can cause blisters.

2. Wear properly fitting shoes, and choose running shoes at least 1/2 to 1-1/2 sizes larger than your normal daily shoe size. Keep in mind that your feet swell slightly during running. The extra space will help prevent your toes from jamming against the shoe when you run. This is especially important for trail running, or long distances. If you frequently run more than 1 hour at a time, err on at least 1 or 1-1/2 sizes bigger than you would otherwise wear.

3. Get fitted for shoes at a running store. The most important feature to look for when selecting new running shoes is comfort. Try different styles and brands and pick something you are comfortable wearing. If your toes are prone to bruising you may need a shoe with a wider toe box. Bruising under the toenail is usually caused by repetitively striking the nail against the shoe.

4. Lubricate your feet. Products like Body Glide or Trail Toes, are designed to help reduce blister causing friction by keeping your toes lubricated.

5. Wear toe socks. Injinji brand Toe Socks help reduce friction by preventing the toes from rubbing against each other. Each toe is separated in its own toe of the sock, just like a glove.

6. Keep your feet as dry as possible. Avoid puddle jumping, or walking through wet grass . Small trash bags over your feet can be used to cover your shoes before a race if it is raining on race day. Wet waterlogged shoes and socks can cause blistering. When blisters form under a toenail the nail may become weak may fall off. Remember to bring an extra pair of socks and change out of wet shoes as soon after a race as possible.

7. Relace your shoelaces. Try another lacing pattern to alleviate toe nail issues. The “ankle lock” lacing method can prevent your foot from sliding around inside your shoe and stop the toenails from striking the front of your shoe. Laces that are too tight will put excessive pressure on the toe nails, but laces that are not snug can also cause problems. Loose shoes may cause excessive friction on the toes and damage toenails. Experiment with different lacing patterns and find what is most comfortable.

Thanks for joining me as I start a blog about all things running.

Ready, Set, Run.

Coach Cari