Marathon Music Motivation

Last weekend, Mike and I completed our longest training run—a whopping 20 miles! No matter how much I train, I'm always anxious about the 20-miler run because it truly informs how I'll do on marathon day. This year, especially, had me very nervous. With the pandemic and working remotely, we haven't been nearly as mobile as we used to, and with our hectic work schedules, we haven't been hitting every training run. And let's not forget my various injuries that have slowed down my training. No wonder I barely slept the night before our 20-miler! To make matters worse, I was nauseous at the start. 

I told myself: "Sera, you just need to get the miles in. Fast, slow, walking, crawling...20 miles is 20 miles!" 

Acting silly at mile 15! Love that my 
IllumiNITE Ponyband Headband helps secure my AirPod!

I also told myself I just had to get to the halfway mark because once I hit ten miles, I had no option but to get back to my car. This is why I LOVE running long miles on a bike path. It's mindless: out and back with minimal road crossings. Isn't that boring? You ask. Sure, it can be. Running on a straight path with minimal scenery change for hours on end can be mind-numbing. But I look at that as a positive. I don't have to worry about traffic lights or who gets the right of way or getting hit by a car or running around people milling about on the street. Though, I do have to follow the rules of the bike path. But those are simple. Stay in your lane, announce when you're passing others (always on the left!), and look before passing so you don't get run over by a bicyclist!

Running on the bike path helps me concentrate on my performance and fatigue level as well as zone out for long stretches of time. And to keep me motivated, I listen to music! It really helps me stay on track and keep my pace and cadence high. To make sure that I get continuous music for hours on end, I carry my AirPods charging case with me and listen to just one AirPod bud at a time—this also helps me hear my surroundings to keep me safe!

Mike wore my AirPods ONCE,
now they're named after him

My taste in music is really eclectic. I listen to songs from many different time periods and genres, individual singers and bands. 

Some of my favorite musicians to listen to while running are:

Aretha Franklin

R.E.M.

Beyoncé

Thirty Seconds to Mars

Elvis Crespo

Janet Jackson

Linkin Park (RIP Chester Bennington!)

Lenny Kravitz

Kenny Loggins (The majority of the Footloose movie soundtrack, actually!). 

But one thing all the songs I listen to have in common: they are all fast-paced, pump-me-up songs! My absolute favorites are the songs about running and empowerment! For example:

Mike is so fast! I don't know if I'll ever catch up to him!

"Run for Cover" by the Killers

"Run Loves Out" by One Republic

"Run the World (Girls) Beyoncé

"Point of No Return" by Nu Shooz

"Dog Days Are Over" Florence + the Machine 

"I'm Gonna Be (Walk 500 Miles) by the Proclaimers

"Run" Foo Fighters

"I Wanna Go" by Britney Spears

"Highway Unicorn" by Lady Gaga

"Formation" by Beyoncé

"Woman" by Ke$ha

"Whatever It Takes" Imagine Dragons

"Mr. Rager" by Kid Cudi

"Freedom" by George Michael

"Survivor" by Destiny's Child

"Work B**ch" by Britney Spears

"Too Legit to Quit" by MC Hammer

Mike got in twenty-two miles! So proud of him!

These songs just truly get me moving! Before I knew it, Mike and I had completed our 20 miles, and we made good time too. Well, I ran 20 miles. Mike ran 22 miles. He's so much faster than me; he often runs up ahead and then walks back to where I am just to stay with me. I keep telling him he doesn't need to do that, but he takes "training together" seriously. I'm so relieved that we made it. I can now rest easy a bit—mentally, that is! Gotta keep the body moving!

Now that the marathon is coming up in JUST 13 DAYS (Ahhhh!) I really want to switch up some of my music to keep me super motivated. I'll be running for about five hours, give or take! 

I could really use your suggestions. What are your absolute favorite songs that pump you up for hard workouts and/or long runs? Please leave a comment below!

Sera is wearing IllumiNITE's PonybandHeadband, Short-Sleeve Savannah Shirt in Flo Lime, and Jammer Mid-length Reflective Running Short in Magma.

Mike is wearing IllumiNITE's Reflective Unisex Multi-Wrap in Graphite and Reflective Endeavor Long Running Short in Black/White.

You can get these great looking more AND 15% your order with discount code Sera15 at IllumiNITE.com!

I HATE Running! The Makings of an Ultra Marathoner

As I gear up for not one, but two marathons just two weeks apart in two different countries, I think back to how it all began...

I first started running because my best friend Loretta stopped being social, and I missed her terribly. 

"If you want to hangout," she said, "you need to run with me. I'm training for my first marathon."

"I hate running," I said. But I joined her the next Saturday morning at a nearby parking lot to give it a try. To my surprise, a bunch of people in real athletic wear were gathered around stretching and doing high knees and butt kicks. I felt so out of place in my beat up walking shoes and old sweats.

When it was time to run, I told Loretta: "We're taking walk breaks as often as I need them." 

Loretta and I at my first half marathon:
Amica Iron Horse Half Marathon 2016
My first "birthday" race.

"Okay," she said. She may have rolled her eyes.

"And you better not leave me," I said.

"I won't," she said.

"And don't expect me to run more than three miles. Ever. I HATE running," I reiterated.

"Okay," she said, this time with a smirk. And she kept her word...mostly.

When I first started running, I ran about 30 seconds and walked two minutes. Loretta did not complain once, even though I was being a terrible sport. So, I came back each Saturday to spend time with my bestie. I noticed how happy and excited the other runners seemed, and that confused me. We're running...for no reason...what's there to be happy about? But their joy became contagious. I decided to try harder to see what all this "happiness" was about. Over time, I was able to run longer and farther before taking a walk break. People noticed and congratulated my tiniest accomplishments. I'd never belonged to any club before. And I had to admit, it was more fun than I expected. Shoutout to Run Your Health!

But then, Loretta did the most despicable thing. She volunteered me for a relay marathon team at the Cape Cod Marathon. Before I could protest, the relay team captain threw her arms around me and exclaimed her excitement. The team couldn’t race without a fifth person. I knew I couldn’t let these people down. I had no choice but to run.

"You were going to the Cape to watch me run my marathon anyway," Loretta said. "You might as well run, too."

Shooting out the gate with all the other runners
Cape Cod Marathon and Relay 2015

Loretta waving to me as we ran
the beginning our first race together
Cape Cod Marathon 2015

My leg of the race was the first three miles, and I got to shoot out the gate with all the other relay runners and marathoners alike. The vibrating energy of the crowd was exhilarating, and for the first time, I felt like I was a part of something greater than life. Those three miles were excruciating. I had only run three miles without stopping once before, but I was determined to do my best, so I ran for my life. When I saw my teammates at the transition point, I felt like a rockstar. They were jumping up and down—cheering for me. FOR ME! And that was it, I was hooked.

Cheesing it with my first marathon medal
Cape Cod Marathon 2016

I bought a real pair of running shoes from a running store that fitted me for the perfect fit. Then:

Marathon Relay, turned into 

5ks, turned into 

10ks, turned into
Half Marathons, turned into 

Marathons, turned into 

Chowdah Challenge (half marathon on Saturday/Full on Sunday), turned into

Ragnar Reach the Beach (2-day, 200-mile relay race), turned into 

Trail and Mountain races, turned into 

Ultramarathons!

And now I’m running in multiple states, in other countries, on multiple continents.

Loretta ran right by my side through my first half marathon AND my first marathon. We ran side by side for Ragnar’s Reach the Beach for some of our legs, and she even ran on a few trails and mountains with me. Life gets busy, and Loretta and I don’t run together as often as we used to. Part of that is because our schedules don't always mesh, our running goals don't always match, and she isn’t too fond of trail running...or ultramarathons. But that’s okay. I still feel her energy and inspiration with me on every run.

Loretta and I celebrating after finishing my first marathon
Cape Cod Marathon 2016

Running has changed my life in ways I could never imagine. It’s given me the chance to see pieces of the world I would never see whizzing by in a car. It’s lessened my anxiety and increased my happiness tenfold. It’s helped me realize that I can overcome other obstacles or hardships in my life. I’ve learned nothing is impossible; some things just take more effort or patience or time or education.

I'm so excited to be running Cape Cod Marathon in just eight days! Especially since it's the race that sparked my love of running! 

Still, ask me on a bad run day, and I’ll tell you: “I HATE running.” But I also LOVE it. And I can’t imagine experiencing life without it ever again.

Is there something you thought you didn't like but learned to love once you gave it a real shot? Leave a comment below!

How Green River Marathon Got Me Out of My Funk

Cranky. Anti social. Unmotivated. In other words: In A Funk! It happens to the best of us, and it's how I've felt for a while now. All the activities I love doing have recently felt like a burden, another thing I have to do. And that's not me. So I knew I had to do something drastic to get rid of this funk once and for all. But I didn't know what could possibly help!

Let's rewind.

Early this year, I raved about Green River Marathon to anyone who would listen. I had run it last year and loved every minute of it. The course was so beautiful; I wanted to run it again! I convinced some friends that Green River was the perfect first marathon because the course descends 1,450 feet to the finish line. I had shaved an hour off my marathon time! So, my friends signed up, and I promised to follow suit. But when I went to register, it was sold out! 

Fast-forward to a couple months. 

My friends kept me in the loop of their training. They sent texts like "16 mile long run this morning. Feet don't fail me now" and then a few hours later "Mission accomplished!" It felt good to know that I had inspired people to run their first marathon and that they thought of me as they increased their mileage. Every time I run long distance, I still think of the first people who inspired me to run my first marathon. And I'm forever grateful to them. I was happy to pay that inspiration forward. Though, I myself, was beginning to slide into a terrible funk.

Fast-forward to a couple more months. 

One of my friends training for Green River for his first marathon got injured. A stress fracture. Doctor's orders: No running. He was devastated. And I'll admit I felt guilty that I was the one who convinced him to sign up. I wondered: Why the hell do we do this to ourselves? Which added to my frustration, which added to my feeling overwhelmed, which added to my lack of motivation.

This funk wasn't going away. I noticed that running on my own (which I love so much) totally sucked. I couldn't even get pumped up when I ran with my boyfriend, who is beyond excited to be training for his first marathon—in Greece! Despite all my smiling selfies, my joy for running got lost somewhere on the road. I had entered the danger zone of rutsville, but I couldn't explain why. I needed to take action. But how?

Fast-forward to one week before Green River Marathon.

My injured friend? He messaged me a few days before the race telling me he was out of his boot. He was healing just fine and felt excited that he could start running again soon. He said he was still going to Green River to cheer everyone on! He asked if he would see me there. I was so happy to hear he was recovering well and was in good spirits. But I had never gone to a race as a spectator before.

This funk of mine made every excuse in the book as to why sleeping in was the better option. But his text reminded me that many of my friends were running Green River, including Ruthie—who I convinced to run her first marathon. Then I remembered that some running friends had surprised me at the Green River finish line last year. It was the best feeling ever to see people I loved and admired cheering me on at my finish!

So I found myself texting back before I could talk myself out of it: "YES!" I wrote. "I'll be there!"

Green River Marathon Finish Line! 

Fast-forward to RACE DAY!

Ruthie won first place female!
2019 Green River Marathon

My running friends and I set up chairs at the finish line with a bunch of other spectators and watched with anticipation as
the clock ticked away. I met mothers, fathers, children, siblings, romantic partners, and extended families of the racers. I met runners who were injured, runners who had run last year, runners who didn't get in this year, and runners simply there to cheer on friends. I was surprised to feel a similar excited energy among fellow spectators that I had felt amidst fellow racers at starting lines. 

When the first three male runners crossed the finish line, the excitement skyrocketed. Cheers and noise-makers and hand-claps erupted in a cacophony of congratulations. And then the crowd buzzed with anticipation for the first female. After a while, I said, "Did we miss her?" Murmurs broke out, "Where could she be?" and "It should be any moment now!" Someone pointed and shouted, "There she is!" We all craned our necks and pointed our cameras. As I looked through my phone's screen as it recorded, I realized I knew that face. "Ruthie....First! She's first! That's my girl!" I shouted so loud, I lost my voice for a bit.

The hours ticked by as I continued to cheer on multiple friends over the finish line! Before I knew it, the last of my friends came through, and I was eating and drinking and listening to all their stories about their experience on the course. Their bodies shook with excitement....and okay, maybe a little fatigue...their faces beamed with pure joy, and their eyes misted up with pride for their accomplishment. My own heart swelled with pride, joy, and inspiration. 

Do you see the pure joy on my face?!
So proud of my marathoner friends!

As I packed up my lawn chair to head out, I left my funk on the sidelines. Good riddance!

Once I got home, I texted my boyfriend. "We're adding speedwork into our marathon training! Monday night we're going to the track. Be prepared to work hard!"

Being a spectator is exactly what I needed to get out of this funk. Thank you to everyone for keeping me inspired and for all your support in my own running endeavors! I left Green River feeling so much love for my running community. You remind me why I run. 

Congratulations to all the Green River Marathon finishers. 

What's next on your race list?