Running Mama-in-Training

WELCOME! I *occasionally* write about my running/training/kitchen adventures as a way to record & learn from my disasters & triumphs...& maybe to inspire/spur someone on to explore the fun of running. We welcomed our little boy in the spring of 2016 & have been learning how to train & regain fitness post-baby {while juggling working, school, & being a mama/wife}! This is a sometimes wild ride, but I am loving every minute. Happy reading...& training!

Friday, July 30, 2010

Why

Why do I run?
Posted by Rachel Lynn at 3:31 PM
Labels: lessons learned from running, life, Marathon training, runners' highs, running

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#motherrunner

#motherrunner
Me with my baby and baby-daddy!

So this happened...

So this happened...
#birthannoucement

Often Running Racing Team

Often Running Racing Team
My team!

Current PRs

  • 1 mile - 6:17 (Main Street Mile, Peoria IL, July 2014)
  • 5k - 20:20 (Evergreen Lake 5k, Hudson, IL, August 5, 2017)
  • 4 mile - 27:32 (FOLEPI River Trail Classic, East Peoria, IL, November 25, 2017)
  • 8k - 39:02 (Da Deer Run Run 8k Trail Race, Hudson, IL, December 2017)
  • 5 mile - 35:34 (Park2Park, Bloomington-Normal, IL, July 4, 2017)
  • 10k - 44:30 (Run for Hope, Bloomington, IL, March 26, 2017)
  • 7 mile - 49:39 (Bix 7, Davenport, Iowa, July 29, 2017)
  • 12k - 53:18 (Lake Run, Hudson, IL, May 6, 2017)
  • 15k - 1:08:22 (Steamboat Classic, Peoria, IL, June 17, 2017)
  • 13.1 - 1:33:39 (Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon, Springfield, IL, April 1, 2017)
  • 26.2 - 3:23:07 (U of I Marathon, Champaign, IL, April 22, 2017)
  • Sprint Triathlon - 1:17:48 (Tri Shark, Hudson, IL, June 2015)
  • Olympic Triathlon - 2:59:39 (2013)
  • 70.3 (Half Iron Tri) - 6:00:51 (Ironman Racine 70.3, Racine, WI, July 2013)
  • 140.6 (Iron distance Tri) - 14:35:18 (Ironman Wisconsin, Madison, WI, September 2013)

Steamboat Classic 2015

Steamboat Classic 2015
Peoria, IL

We don't always "just run"...

We don't always "just run"...
ORRT Holiday Dinner!

BIX 2015

BIX 2015
It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Hello there!

Welcome to my little corner of the Internet:). I am by no means one of the more skilled runners in this big, awesome world of athletes...but am not lacking in passion regarding the sport.

I have eleven(stand-alone) marathons, three half-Iron distance tri's, one full-Iron and countless smaller races under my belt...but I am quite quick to say I am NO means much of an "authority" on running/triathlon! However...I find much delight in training and racing and truly enjoy sharing my love of running with others. One of the things that makes me the very happiest in the whole-wide-world is when a friend joins me and runs his/her first race! Being with someone at their very first race (or first race of a new-to-them distance) and seeing the joy of their personal accomplishment is an incredible feeling.

My "running history" is pretty unremarkable. I ran track in the 8th and 9th grades, but was painfully mediocre. When it came time to run the mile in PE class, I was less than thrilled. I tended to take the path of least resistance when it came to anything remotely "athletic" throughout high school. I enjoyed some aspects of sports...mostly just the social aspect, though, and most definitely not the sweaty aspects. Something, though, changed during my undergrad years....I began running for fun. A mile here, three miles there...running became an outlet for my brain that had become fried by academics and the mental anguish of constant thoughts of "what am I going to do with this life of mine?" (I changed my major three times).

I began running the Bix 7 race in Davenport, Iowa each July (in the summer of 2015 I completed my 12th consecutive Bix and am somewhat proud to say I consistently run that 7-mile race in under an hour...when I first ran the Bix in 2004, that "under an hour" goal seemed insurmountable!)...and found myself looking forward to it. During graduate school at Purdue University, I began running even more. I ran to stay in shape, and I ran to de-stress. Running became a much-needed constant in my life. Later, having declared 2009 as a "year of firsts" for myself...I registered for my first half marathon (at the U of I in April of '09) with my sister. After living to tell tales about this small success, I registered for the 2009 Chicago Marathon. The summer months were devoted to my running schedule. In the midst of long runs on the weekends (I followed Hal Higdon's novice plan and would highly recommend it to newby-marathon-runner-wanna-bes like myself!), I ran a number of other races that year. After my first marathon (ran in just a minute past the coveted 4 hour mark!), I was absolutely drained...physically and emotionally. It was an exhilarating experience, but I felt like I was in over my head in this "crazy runner world." I informed my friends, "I have NO IDEA how I will ever be able to do better at this than what I did today! Sure, I can imagine getting better at half marathons, but I really don't think I'll EVER be able to run a faster marathon!" Eleven and a half months later, I ran my 3rd marathon...approximately seven minutes faster than that first attempt, proving myself wrong. I love proving people wrong...especially myself.

Shortly thereafter, I began to venture cautiously into the world of triathlon...my first tri was the Kansas City Triathlon-sprint distance in 2011 (I would be remiss if I didn't mention the "indoor triathlon" I completed in St. Louis in February of 2010...pool swim, spin bikes, treadmill...nice). Following the Kansas City race, I informed my bestie Jillian who had encouraged me to complete it with her that triathlons just "aren't for me" and that I would be sticking with running. Following a six-month (or so) emotional break-up with my bike,
something made me get back on "the horse." In May of 2012 I registered for a 70.3 (half-Iron!) in Branson (thanks to an e-mail from Active.com advertising half-off registration) and realized that doing so meant I needed to get "serious" with my training. From May-September 2012 I completed one sprint-distance, four Olympic-distance and two half-Iron distance triathlons....all basically on my own.

After completing the 70.3 in Branson I toyed with the idea of continuing the forward momentum I had in my training and simply moving forward with building my endurance and skills and doing a full 140.6 the following year. In October of 2012 I met my first coach, Laura Wheatley (at the finish line of Run the Woods, one of my favorite races!). I signed on with her, thus tasking her with the job of getting me to the finish line of Ironman Wisconsin in September of 2013.

I started building my base in December of 2012 and Laura gradually built up my training plan's intensity through the summer of 2013. There were MANY moments of self-doubt, but Laura never doubted me (at least not out loud ;)) once. Completing Ironman Wisconsin 2013 was one of the proudest moments of my entire life.
Rachel Matyasse, you are an Ironman! Those are the kind of words you never forget.

What's next? Will there be another 140.6? Most definitely! When? Who knows!! But, until then, there are plenty more adventures to be had. On my short-list?
~Complete 50 marathons in 50 states by the time I am 50 (as of 12/15 I am 33 years old and have completed 12 marathons...and checked 7 states +DC off the list: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Virginia, New York, Wisconsin (if I am allowed to count IMWI, which some say I am :)), California, Washington DC.)
~Qualify for the Boston Marathon AGAIN (My current qualifying standard is 3:35. I qualified for the FIRST time in September of 2015 with a 3:33:16, but cannot run in 2016 because of...my son's pending arrival 4/29/16!). Did I mention I qualified at 7 weeks pregnant?
~Run a sub 20:00 5k (My current PR is 20:54, set 4.18.15!)
~Go sub 6 hours in a 70.3 (I was so CLOSE in my last 70.3 in the summer of 2013!)
~Continue to pursue the passion for running alongside my runner-husband
~Continue to encourage others to pursue running/triathlon/athletic endeavors and to grown in my own passion/skills...
namely my son :)
~HAVE FUN

(Oh and in the midst of all of this...I would also really like to finish my doctorate :). I started working on my Ed.D. in Special Education in May of 2014 (I am a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist). Anticipated graduation is May of 2019...but we will see how the new-baby-situation affects that situation:))

So...bring on the training, and bring on the next adventures!! The best IS yet to come.

Weekend Training Run

Weekend Training Run

2015 Challenge Triathlon Team

2015 Challenge Triathlon Team

Relay at Rev3 Cedar Point 2014!

Relay at Rev3 Cedar Point 2014!

2014 Rev3 Age Group Team

2014 Rev3 Age Group Team

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Sometimes I run "fun runs" :)

Sometimes I run "fun runs" :)
Warrior Dash 2010

My second marathon

My second marathon
Minneapolis Marathon 2010

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Who is this running-mama-in-training?

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Rachel Lynn
I'm a 30-something IL native with a passion for living an active lifestyle and inspiring others to do the same. While still very much a novice runner/triathlete in the grand scheme of things, I tend to be constantly "training" for the "next race" on my list and thoroughly enjoy running, racing, and talking with like-minded people and learning from others' experiences and adventures as well as my own.
View my complete profile

These Guys Love to write/swim/bike/(and/or)run, too!!

2010 Race Results

8) October 2, 2010: Run the Woods--25:46.1 (Trail 5k)
7) September 26, 2010: Quad Cities Marathon--3:53:51 PR!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6) July 24, 2010: BIX 7 Davenport Iowa--56:42
5) June 19, 2010: Warrior Dash (3.17 miles with 12 "extreme" obstacles)--28:34:.20
4) June 6, 2010: Minneapolis Marathon--4:04.07
3) May 1, 2010: U of I Half Marathon (Champaign, IL)--1:50.07
2) April 3, 2010: Lincoln Memorial Half Marathon (Springfield, IL)--1:49.57
1) February 13, 2010: JCC Indoor Triathlon (St. Louis, MI)--750 meter swim, 18 mi bike, 5 mi run

2009 Race Results

11) November 15, 2009: Jingle Bell Run (Blm, IL)--24:57:8
10) October 11, 2009: Chicago Marathon--4:01:04
9) October 3, 2009: Easter Seals Run the Woods (5k)--26:12
8) September 27, 2009: Quad Cities Half Marathon--1:52:09

7) July 25, 2009: Bix 7--58:36
6) July 4, 2009: Park 2 Park (5 mi)--43:12:1
5) June 20, 2009: Steamboat Classic (15k)--1:25:03
4) June 13, 2009: State Farm 5k--25:26
3) May 2, 2009: Lake Run (12k)-1:05:39
2) April 25, 2009: Race To Wrigley (5k)--27:32
1) April 11, 2009: Illinois Marathon (my 1st half marathon!!)--1:57:25

Stuff I've blabbed about...

Marathon training (81) running (42) Often Running Racing Team (36) friends (19) Quad Cities Marathon (18) 5k (16) frustrations (16) Lake Run Club (15) triathlon training (14) Triathlon (13) Ironman training (12) BloNo (11) half marathon (11) Clint (10) Easter Seals (10) pregnant running (9) 2015 races (8) Marathons (8) family (8) Chicago Marathon (7) Ironman (7) Team Believe (7) knee problems (7) lessons learned from running (7) pregnancy (7) racing (7) swimming (7) Cycling (6) None (6) Often Running (6) Rev3 (6) Team Rev3 (6) Triathlons (6) marathon three (6) stroller racing (6) stroller running (6) 2013 Races (5) Bix 7 (5) Illinois Marathon (5) Jeremy (5) NYC Marathon (5) biking (5) half marathons (5) race reports (5) running outside (5) training (5) 2014 races (4) 70.3 (4) Challenge Family (4) Hal Higdon (4) Ironman Wisconsin (4) Jillian (4) Lake Run (4) Peoria (4) Quad Cities (4) Race to Wrigley (4) Steamboat Classic (4) University of Illinois (4) life (4) mother runner (4) 2014 Team Rev3 (3) Boston marathon (3) Boston qualifying (3) Challenge Triathlon Team (3) Champaign marathon (3) Lake Bloomington (3) Lincoln Half Marathon (3) Megan (3) Minneapolis Marathon (3) Rachel's Running-Related Bowel Mishaps (3) U of I marathon (3) achilles tendonitis (3) gluten free living (3) post-partum running (3) races (3) running together (3) the Lake Run (3) 10k (2) 2009 races (2) 2010 races (2) Against All Grain (2) Canal connection (2) Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon (2) Coach Clint (2) Da Deer Run Run (2) Danielle Walker (2) ISU (2) Jamie (2) Jenn (2) Kansas City Triathlon (2) Life changes (2) New York City marathon (2) Oglesby Turkey Trot (2) PR (2) Park 2 Park 5 Miler (2) Physical Therapy (2) Rev 3 (2) Rev3 Dells (2) Rockford Triathlon (2) Run River City (2) Sports Enhancement Center (2) St. Pat's 5k (2) TRX (2) U of I half marathon (2) cross training (2) disgusting (2) divorce (2) gluten free baking (2) gluten free dairy free (2) injuries (2) post-partum races (2) recipes (2) relays (2) runners' highs (2) running in heat (2) running inside (2) strength training (2) stress fractures (2) trail running (2) travel (2) ultramarathon (2) wedding (2) 12k (1) 140.6 (1) 2011 races (1) 2016 Goals (1) 2017 races (1) 2018 Season (1) 2018 goals (1) 23rd place (1) 4th of July (1) Allerton Park (1) Allerton Park Trail Half Marathon (1) Augustana (1) Augustana College (1) B12 deficiency (1) BQ (1) BRRC (1) Bix (1) Boston 2018 (1) COMLARA (1) Camping (1) Cedar Point (1) Challenges (1) Davenport (1) Evergreen Lake (1) FOLEPI (1) Fall running (1) February (1) Frosty 5k (1) Furrow Euro (1) Gabriel (1) Galena (1) Hennepin Hundred (1) I have Issues (1) IM training (1) ING NYC Marathon (1) IT band (1) Illinois State University (1) Indianapolis Monumental Marathon (1) Jingle Bell Run (1) Last Chance Boston Qualifier (1) MCM (1) Macy (1) Miles for Milestones (1) National Running Day (1) Olympic triathlons (1) PR's (1) PT (1) PowerBar (1) Quad Cities Distance Classic (1) Racine (1) Rest (1) Rev 3 Knoxville (1) Rev3 Knoxville (1) Rev3 Williamsburg (1) Road I.D. (1) Run the Woods (1) Run the Woods 5k (1) Saucony (1) State Farm 5k (1) Things that Annoy Me about Runners (1) Tri Shark (1) Tri for Kids' Sake (1) Turkey Trot (1) Vacation (1) Warrior Dash (1) Wells Wedding (1) Wells Wedding Run (1) West Virginia (1) aqua jogging (1) aquabike (1) baby Wells (1) baby announcement (1) baking (1) being humble (1) broken toe (1) cats (1) cholesterol (1) cold (1) crazy schedules (1) doctors (1) dog days 5k (1) duathlon (1) fuel (1) gluten free cookies (1) goals (1) grain free (1) gym (1) half Ironman (1) health (1) healthy eating (1) holiday foods (1) humility (1) indoor triathlon (1) joy (1) laziness (1) leg problems (1) marathon (1) matyasse-wells triple crown (1) memorial mile (1) mile race (1) my first triathlon (1) name change (1) numbers (1) parenthood (1) peace (1) pool running (1) pregnant (1) quinoa (1) quinoa cookies (1) real life (1) resistance training (1) resolutions (1) running related mishaps (1) running shoes (1) setbacks (1) sister (1) slacking (1) spectating (1) spinning (1) summer races (1) summer running (1) tiredness (1) toes (1) toning up (1) traditions (1) training frustrations (1) traithlon training (1) treadmill (1) triathlon relay (1) trophies (1) ultra running (1) upcoming events (1) vacation training (1) vibram five fingers (1) week-in-review (1) wine (1) winter (1)

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