First Podcast Released!!!

How cool is that.....I met Matt Johnson when we both got out RCAA Adult running coaching certification in Dayton last year and I'd kept in touch.  He has had a very very successful podcast called Runner Academy for years and has been nominated for the top heath related podcast as well. I had asked him if he had thought about going in another direction to those that are not elite and how myself as well as others that I have worked with whether training for running, just fitness, members of my gym over the past 12 years who do get intimated by those that run a 2:05 marathon compared to some of us running a 2:05 half marathon. It's hard to feel like a runner and some are so discouraged because they allow those in the running community to feel like less of a runner if they are not running a certain pace etc. After a couple months of consideration and other request he felt it was a great idea and he would do TWO podcast now. Matt does a wonderful job with his interviews and love spreading the love of running with all audiences. Here is a link to my podcast debute

/http://runneracademy.com/er006-jennifer-hatcher/

Jennifer Hatcher is a single mother from Portsmith, Ohio that came from finding herself at 244 pounds and smoking 3 packs of cigarettes a day to a dramatic transformation of now completing 100 mile runs, a marathon maniac, fitness club owner, coach and inspiration to others.

From her first experiences with endurance sports in triathlon she has since found her place in marathon and ultra running having accomplished many years worth of races for most in a span of just two years.

After being told she needed a new knee by 3 separate doctors and that she would never run again, she has ran five 50 milers, over 38 marathons including 31 in different states, the Umstead 100 mile race and more.

This year she has more marathons on her agenda and is planning on running the Zion 100 in Utah.

For many runners completing back to back marathons in a weekend is a big accomplishment – Jenn likes to call it Saturday and Sunday.

In this episode Jenn and I discuss:

How she draws inspiration from others, and you can too
The choice to make excuses, or the choice to look at the big picture and find ways to achieve what you want
Her advice in what you need to do to get started to make your own transformation
How to overcome the frustrations of initially getting into a running habit
Her thoughts on progressing to distances, events and experiences that are new to you and the fear that can accompany them
What is working for her in running ultras and back to back marathons almost every weekend
Her strategy of using races and events to avoid succumbing to other distractions
Running without cartilage in her knee
How she overcame a painful IT Band issue 45 miles into her 100 mile event that stopped her in her tracks
What hurts more: child birth or the aftermath of a 100 mile run

Rock N Roll New Orleans Marathon

Oh My......I don't even know where to begin for this weekend and event so let's just start from the beginning. I flew out of Dayton which is a little farther drive to the airport then Cincinnati or Columbus but I have to go by the least expensive ways to travel in order to go to so many events.  Haley and her husband Kurt were at the airport to pick me up, I was starving but there was an hour time difference so the lunch place wasnt opening until 11am- it was only an hour away so we took their things to Haley's cousins who has a place there and then got to the Po Boy place just before it opened. YUMMMY!! After we ate I got checked into my hotel and we headed down to the French Quarter and then onto the expo. This was going to be Haley's first "official" pacing event too! very exciting. The line at Cafe De Monde was so long we decided we would get some beignets another time.  Took the trolly car to dinner but the place we were going to had sold and was only open for lunch right now so we headed to another place, the trolly cars were nowhere in site! They were doing some repairs on the track so we had to hop off the trolly onto a bus then back on a trolly, instead of waiting we just started walking. We got to a restaurant that had amazing sliders! Got back to the room chilled a bit and got to bed.

My friend David from the UK was running with a group of his friends and dropped me a special edition UF BUFF to wear, his organization is sponsored by Buff so that cool. Haley had to be there really early due to pacing so they parked at my hotel she headed down and a little after 6am I met Kurt and he and I walked to the start.  Arrived in time to meet up with David and his group and some other marathon maniacs and had our group photo. Off we went, the day was very very dreary, light misty rains super foggy and about 60 degrees.
At times you couldnt see too far ahead of you from the fog.The course consisted of an out and back one way then an out and back towards the french quarter. Aid stations were only a couple miles apart and super early in the race was the first beer station, I decided to pass on the first one as the size of those beers intimidated me and heck it was only 7:20am? I had thought on the second out and back when we pass my Cafe De Monde I would stop during the race and grab a bag to go, as we passed the line was semi long and the weather was so moist I decided I didnt want the sticky white powdered sugar all over me. Soon after I got to the next station with beer I decided what the heck, Im in New Orleans so I grabbed a cup of beer and went on my way. A couple miles up the road was another beer station with jelloshots as well!! OK... let's do this again, so another beer and this time a jelloshot. I was also stopping at the stations that had JUST water and would have a sip or so of water so I wouldnt dehydrate too quickly. At this point it became super fun as I decided to run from beer station to beer station, they were not at every aid station though so I had that little sense of surprise wondering when they would pop up.  Up ahead I see a sign that says Beer Aid station so I know I'm coming on another, not only did this one have beer this one also had small martini's with olive and all!!!

 Of course I had both, I wasnt going to be rude to these folks that took the time out of their day to make martini's and offer us beer!  By now I am feeling good, laughing, giving high fives to other runners and the maniacs, I spot Elvis so had a selfie with Elvis, posting photos on Facebook and then I decided my goal for this run was to try to finish sober ha! I hadnt run the course before and even though it was 2 out and backs wasnt for sure if we would pass the same aid station but I was hoping we would!! I was ready for another martini. I never saw the jello shots again but did run into the martini station and a couple more beer stations. I think the total count was about 8 cups of beers, 2 martinis and a jello shot all in 4:51! So much fun...Now to wait on Haley and try to find Kurt- but first my free beer at the end also! I couldnt get ahold of Kurt and finally Haley had messaged and said she had lost most that were in her group and had to slow down a tad so she could finish in the time she was pacing, you dont wanna be too early and you dont wanna be late you wanna hit your pacing time as close as possible so that you can get another gig.  She said Kurt was messaging me and was dancing somewhere ha. We all finally found each other and took the bus back to the start and went for food and shower and ready to go out for the evening.

 Kurt had some schoolwork to do so Haley and I headed on to Bourbon Street, stopped for a Hand Grednade and started walking around, it was super sweet so we headed to Cafe De Monde to get our beignets. Love them!!! After that I switched to beer and we headed to Pat Obriens till Kurt came on down.  We hung out a bit and he was ready to eat again so we all walked down to a nice italian type restaurant and I had some more beer while he ate. I think by then we went ahead and head to Cats Meow- beers for 3 for 1 when we got there so hey had to go for it! Then I was in the mood for shots so I ordered us all those car bomb thingy's....now I was ready to sing. I had messaged Doug another maniac to come on down and shortly after he and Eddie showed up. After my second song we all headed back to Pat Obriens but Doug didnt make it, instead we picked up 2 guys with their marathon shirts on and just another random non runner.  Conversation was hilarious as the non runner was like I can run a mile or 2 and he runs that FAST!! But I cant imagine being able to go that far. I think by the end of the evening he was convinced if he wanted to do it he really could. They headed back to the hotel they were staying at that night and I was still having a hurricane that came from somewhere and singing with the dueling pianos. I ended up at another table with a couple girls and guys and they were buying me shots and more drinks and then realized I needed to get a cab and get back to the room so I could get to the  airport the next morning.
When I woke up wow, I hadnt had that kind of hangover in a long time and looking thru the pictures on my phone reminded me of the movie the Hangover...there was a selfie of myself and a police man who helped get me a cab and told them where I was staying? A picture of myself with the random strangers I decided to stay with that were buying me shots and drinks, my bag was completely packed and ready when I woke as well.  Haley and Kurt picked me up and we headed to a breakfast place, Kurt was feeling just as I was and neither of us could eat. I made it to Atlanta and there I was finally able to have food and got greasy 5 Guys and that help tremendously! The flight was delayed about 30 minutes and I was think uggg that means we wont land till after 9pm then I will still be almost 3 hours getting home after that, I talked it over in my head that I prolly would just get a hotel in Dayton since I was so tired and still not 100% but then they made an announcement! They needed folks to give up their seats for a $300 voucher as well as a night in a hotel and we would fly out at 10:30am!! Heck yes sign me up....Perfect ending to a super fun short run cation!!!

Key West Half Marathon

Had a 12 hour event scheduled for this weekend but back in October the race company cancelled it due to lack of participants, I felt that was a little premature since many dont sign up till it's closer but I guess they couldnt take any chances in losing money so they cancelled.
 My best friend Erin and her husband recently got a new place in key largo and I hadnt even visited their other places they had during the past couple years. Now they decided they were sold on the place and found the house they wanted for keeps. I decided this would be a great time to go visit and Key West was having a half marathon this weekend so I talked Erin into doing that with me. She is a very fit lady but just hadnt been run training and in reality to feel good after even 13.1 miles you do need some run training- I told her I had no worries about any pace that lets do this together and have lots of shenanigans along the ways!! This was gonna be hard for her I knew since she is a competitive person but I also knew she had done 2 pervious half's with not much training but a HECK of a lot more then she had been able to for this one.
The run cation started a couple days before the run and we did a yoga class at her local yoga studio, it was a tough class and actually comical for me as I have no coordination but felt ok because Erin doesnt either ha. The next day we took the kayaks out into the ocean and into the mangroves, we had packed a lunch and just had a wonderful day!! It was really really weird for me to go a whole week, (including travel time) and only doing one run and that run being a half! But I will tell you know that was the best week I've had in a long long time! So relaxing and refreshing and just girl time and girl and guy time when She and Dave and I would go to dinner and hang out.
We started with a run walk planned pace and then just decided to play! So we stopped for any and all photo ops along the way and just really enjoyed the beautiful sunny day and each others company. I have only been to Key West once with my son years and years ago as we stopped their during a cruise, I just remember renting a cool looking golf cart thing and seeing Hemingway's house and stuff like that. Here we got to run by all these places. The course was an out and back and we got to run by the southern most point of the US which was another cool photo op. The am started a little chilly but that didnt last long-Even though temps were maybe in the 60's that hot sun does get hot!! When we finish there was all the free booze you could or wanted to drink! But...since we had to drive back to key largo eventually that day we settled on a bloody mary and I had a couple beers. We went to eat at a great Irish pub then went to the beach and just relaxed!! Actually was so hot just laying there in the sun and we got fried!!! Was a super day with a super friend!
Erin's house sits right on the ocean and the next day for a recovery and another relaxing day we took the paddle boards out for a couple hours.  We say a couple small rays and then one really large one. I didnt get to see any sharks but a nurse shark was under her board. It is very common for her to see them, rays and turtles on a daily basis.
Now it was time to go back to reality and to the cold, when I arrived home it was SNOW!
PS remember I suck at tyring to figure out how to put pictures on here correctly!! And my ADHD doesnt allow me to stick to a subject without jumping to the next :)