Marathon shoes

I got an idea from the show Inside the Factory, Season 2, Episode 6. In the sneaker business, the model for a foot is called a LAST and there are separate ones for men and women. The men's is wider. So a regular men's is a wide women's. Since perimenopause is wreaking havoc on my feet, they have become longer and wider. So I got the genius idea to order men's shoes.

https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/shoes/umc.cmc.4w3gt3naq1999at1wxqeo09oq

I looked for runDisney x Brooks collaboration and found out that those shoes from previous race weekends were still available and on sale. Also, by looking for men's and knowing that my foot is smaller than an average man, I was able to find my size(s) in stock. I got the larger size in Ghost Max 2 because of availability and also when I read the reviews, people suggested to size up.

Ordered July 7, 2026

$99.95, Ghost 17 Men's Chip & Dale, 8.5 Wide, 10mm drop, slightly more tapered performance fit and a flared heel tab

• Ghost 17: Best for a traditional daily trainer feel that handles steady miles and moderate uptempo paces with equal ease.
• I've run in a Ghost before.
• https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2024/10/consumables.html
• Not sure why I stopped. Maybe once I switched to a stability shoe, I never went back.

$119.95, Glycerin 22 Men's Stitch, 8.5 Wide, softer heel and more responsive forefoot, 10mm drop, slightly roomier toe box.

• Glycerin 22: Best for long recovery miles, easy runs, and standing for hours due to its ultra-soft impact absorption
• Yes, I can agree with the pillowy description. The thing I dislike most is there is a part of the toe box that bends and irritates my toes. 

$104.95, Ghost Max 2 Men's Mickey, 9 Wide, Rocker shape, 6mm drop, stable platform with a secure midfoot and generous volume to accommodate orthotics.

• Ghost Max 2: Best for walking, high-protection cruising, and easing stress off the forefoot and joints via the rocker geometry.
• Actually of the three new pairs, this is my favorite.

Retired shoes (teaching only)

• Dec 12, 2025, $125.67, Adrenaline GTS 24, 10 extra wide (grey/pink) 76.9 miles
• Aug 15, 2025, $301.82, Brooks Ariel GTS 24, 10 wide, (black) 127.5 miles 
• Aug 15, 2025, $301.82, Brooks Ariel GTS 24, 10 wide, (purple) 101.7 miles
• Feb 8, 2026, $164.63, ASICS Gel-Kayano 32, 10.5 wide, 89.5 miles (black)
• Dec 14, 2025, $181.03, ASICS Gel-Kayano 32, 10 wide, 141 miles (white)

I know people say that you can get 300-400 miles out of one pair of shoes, and maybe that's true for some people. But for me, I do log the mileage using Strava. So these miles are just dedicated running miles, not walking or standing. I still love the Ariel for its stiff support. I dislike the Kayano because it's too soft. I don't love the Adrenaline for running but I do like it a lot for walking.

Some older posts about running shoes

The post celebrates the arrival of spring with reflections on a bike-filled Bay Area trip, staying active through hiking, running, and Zumba, and the practical challenges of traveling with a bicycle and replacing well-worn athletic shoes. Looking ahead, the author is excited about upcoming 5K races and obstacle events while finding humor, movement, and adventure helpful for staying energized through a busy semester.

https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2014/04/april-fools.html

The post bids a sentimental farewell to a collection of well-worn shoes, reflecting on the races, travels, teaching, cycling, and everyday adventures they supported before being recycled. A new lineup of running, cycling, teaching, and dancing shoes takes their place, with the hope that each pair will find its own specialty.

https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2015/06/if-shoe-fits.html

Add-ons and modifications

• $6.24 pink lock laces
• $10 brown & black lock laces
• $17.20 toe spacers & purple lock laces

I thought the lock laces would be the answer to my foot pain. Turns out no. The pain across the top of my foot may have been caused by running downhill. When I stopped doing that, the pain went away. But I do love the ease of lock laces for getting out of the house quickly. I would definitely consider continuing to replace the laces of my retired shoes with elastic. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q331MT4

The other great thing about these lock laces is that they have reflectors in them. When I photographed my shoe collection, the runDisney shoes didn't light up at all. It's hard to believe the designers would have taken such care to include characters but neglected a safety feature as important as high-vis reflective panels. So adding lock laces would give a bonus of increased visibility.

I wasn't able to run with toe spacers, they ended up causing a pinch blister on the pad of my baby toe. It was a good concept to try to keep running in shoes with too narrow a toe box, but ultimately not a permanent solution.

I'm reading that rotating more than one pair (different styles) of shoes is a good idea. And I tried that. But I tend to find a favorite and keep going back to that one. So I ended up seeing the Brooks Men’s Ghost Max 3 on sale for $109.95. It's not a runDisney design, but that's okay. I bought two pairs. So it's possible the Ghost 17 Chip & Dale and Glycerin 22 Stitch will be more glamour shoes than running shoes. It gave me an opportunity to try a few different styles that I wouldn't have otherwise. I probably would not have tried a Ghost Max without Mickey Mouse on it.

marathon reflection

I attended a workshop on end-of-semester reflections for both teachers and students on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. The facilitator gave us some great reflection questions, which I have applied to my marathon training.

To what extent have you met your RunClub goals?

How it started: Keep up with kiddo. Slim down. Balance mood.

How its going: My kid is fast. I will have to get a lot faster to keep up with him. Also, I didn't appreciate how long it would take to slim down. If you had told me this would be a 5-year process, I'm not sure I would have had the courage to start. Balanced mood is 💯 working. I don't think I could have survived the past few years without running. I chill hard. So hard. My marriage has improved. Menopause symptoms are muted. Healthy eating and self-care increased.

What helped you learn? What do you wish you'd known on day one? What did you learn that actually mattered? What surprised you?

The hamstring pain after the 2025 marathon was likely due to a tight pelvic floor, not a hamstring injury. Summer beach miles are the best, shoutout to Goodr and Valley Runners LA. The Bimbo Global race was super fun and free. Damsel in Defense saved me from a rapist. Katie and Brianna RIP. The LA Road Runners Dodger Stadium meetup and Asics shoe demo was awesome.

Foot pain was caused by running downhill in bad shoes, not by laces being too tight. It was actually from a tight muscle in the shin (tibialis anterior). Lock laces are convenient, but didn’t solve the issue. Stretching is what you do after the run. Mobility is what you do between runs.

I was able to keep up with the TK boys at the LA Zoo while all the other parents and teachers were lagging behind. They said I was in amazing shape. Thanks to marathon training! Yesterday I was mistaken for a student. I'm 20-25 years older than the students. So I guess that's a compliment.

Aha moment?

An Aha moment I had was that I am not running much faster or slower than friends, so why am I running alone? Why not just do the race(s) together? Is the pace more important than the camaraderie?

Now I'm trying to decide whether I would want to do the LA Marathon again in 2027. Obviously, you don't have to run a marathon every year. You can enjoy shorter distances and still be considered a real runner. Is RunClub+ with Fit4Mom West SFV working out, or would I actually enjoy running with the LA Road Runners at Balboa Park (if they continue to offer that location)? Or do I actually enjoy running alone and creating my own program?

Major Setbacks this Training Cycle

A sexual assault was reported on campus on Sept 26, 2025, at 5:30am, and I'm convinced I saw the guy. I believe he saw me running, sized me up, and decided to keep looking. He assaulted a female running near CSUN. It shook me up and I didn't know what to do. Luckily, we attended a street fair in Simi Valley and I saw a booth selling Pepper Spray. I've been carrying it ever since.

My cousin died while out on a training run for a half-marathon on Nov 7, 2025. It has not made me want to stop running, but it has made me wear even brighter colors (if that's even possible) and keep my head on a swivel at all times. Her sister also died 25 years ago while jogging on March 19, 2001, and re-reading this article makes me so angry that they victim-shamed her, and the driver was not held responsible. The article also mentions that she was running without her ID and wasn't immediately identified. This is why I'm so adamant about running with an ID and emergency contacts.

• https://www.bmlfh.com/obituary/katherine-kate-gogela
• mother of Henry (11), Maxwell (8), Julia (6), and Jacob (4).

Subclade K, even though I got a flu shot. Albert was vomiting on Superbowl Sunday, Feb 8, 2026. We had a horrible virus that is still hanging on more than 3 weeks later. It was GI-related, then sinus, and finally a cough.

But hey, at least we got so much rain that we didn't have a horrible wildfire season like last year.

Clueless and Breathless race report

The event itself: Where? How long? When? Weather?

Along the LA River between Vanalden and Owensmouth. Start time 7am but we started early at 6:30am. The route is 5k from end to end. We didn’t do a 13.1 mile half. But it was okay. We did 20k. Weather was awesome. Cool and foggy.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSh5sgXCVWJ/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Course description and evaluation of event logistics

There were aid stations at mile at 0, 1.5, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 10.5, and 12 miles. There was an inflatable start line. There was a port-a-potty at mile 0. Aid stations had Electrolyt, Gatorade, Coca-Cola, water, Red Vines, fruit snacks, and doughnuts. The course was completely off-street on a bike path.

How did you train for the event

I am following the LA Marathon training plan level 3. We're halfway to the marathon, week 13 out of 26, so it felt right to do a half marathon. Last season, the Rose Bowl Half was postponed due to wildfire. I found it was a good idea to double up on Important milestones to have a backup. So this was my first half marathon race of the season but it was very laid back. We took a potty break mid-way through and I made some adjustments to my outfit. I did not care about the time for this event since it was not a full 13.1.

@fit4mom_west_sfv RunClub+ Session 6 #runclub #mamamagic #lamarathon2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSfyuKjko7U/?igsh=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

Gear and Nutrition

I started out in a tech t-shirt with my hydration vest. I ate some but probably not enough. My feet were giving me problems at three points during the race. Like mile 1, 8, and 11. Thankfully the race organizers let us leave stuff at the aid station, so I didn't carry my vest for the second 10k. I ate 1 package of BelVita cookies, 2 Gu's and 6 Clif bloks.

Specific experiences

I ran with my friend, we stayed together the whole time, talking and laughing. It made the race go by much faster. We put on the music from the movie soundtrack in the last 2 miles. 

Finish and associated emotion

I was SO happy to be done. I didn’t want to run a step further. The end-of-semester and holiday / birthday season is so stressful for me. I am behind on everything: rest, hydration, nutrition, and sleep. So I wasn't expecting a stellar performance. But it was actually painful. I hope new shoes will help. 

Overall evaluation of the event

Jed and Ted's Excellent Races are a monthly event bringing back vibes of the '80s and '90s with nostalgic movie themes. I would do one of these again. I would definitely recommend it for a first-time race for someone looking for a low-key high-fun experience. You get a bib and a medal. The organizers took lots of photos and shared them pretty much right away. Price $35. Totally worth it.

running swaps

Hollie Sick from @fueledbyLOLZ made an instagram post that got me thinking. She was arguing that running can be a low-cost activity. You don't need a ton of fancy gear to get good at it. She noted that the rise of influencers can make you think that you need more stuff, but it's okay to start or continue with less. Or possibly that there are cheaper items you can swap for whatever is the "latest and greatest."

Do you need a fancy watch? No!

Armitron Sport Unisex Digital Chronograph Nylon Strap Watch, 45-7004 $13.65
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2PM2TX9 

I've written before about wearable electronics such as a Nike watch and a Garmin watch, so I don't want to rehash it too much. I lost my original Garmin after the strap broke and I couldn't wear it around my wrist. Then I wore it on my handlebars of my bicycle until one day I looked down and it had fallen off. It looks like I lost the Garmin on the Chatsworth Orange Line Tour (COLT) or maybe I was using something else at the time. It looks like the Nike+ data was from 1/03/2009. I got the Garmin in June 2011, when we moved to Glendale, and used it until 6/10/2018. What I liked about the Garmin was that I could see the route and elevation profile.

I will say that I've been wearing the Samsung Watch5 since August 2024 (basically the whole school year). I like the heart rate feature, but it's not better than the Fitbit Versa. Someone gave it to me, so it was free to me. The things I don't like about them are that they're annoying to remember to charge. The Versa has a longer battery life (3-4 days), whereas the Samsung has only one day and must be charged or it will die mid-day. You can send short answers to text messages, which is nice. You can use your watch as a remote shutter for your camera, and a little preview of the photo will appear on your wrist, which is a cute feature. So far the Samsung isn't generating a map, but I think I could play with the settings and get it to do that if I wanted to. I think it's possible for the Samsung watch to track elevation but I just look at my Strava for that. 

But I have worn this cheap watch linked above about half the days now, since I got it mid-April, post-marathon. Because if you're not using the data from the smartwatch, why are you wearing it? If you just need a timepiece, then why? I still use the period tracking feature in the Fitbit app because it's scarily accurate now and helpful, even though I don't wear the Fitbit Versa watch. Also, when you think of these little computers on your wrist, you have to consider the disposal cost associated with it, how long it lasts, and how often you will want to upgrade. 

At least now they sell strap replacements, but eventually it won't hold a charge anymore, or the company will no longer update the software. Many of my Fitbits lasted only a few years. I think I still have two old ones sitting in a drawer. I guess they were the Fitbit Alta HR and it looks like we bought replacement bands in 2019 for them. I used the FitBit Alta HR from Aug 24, 2018 until May 15, 2022. I guess I must have got it when the Garmin got lost. I remember that is what I used for step counting and HR tracking during my pregnancy. I liked the AltaHR because it only needed charging once per week. I think it would last about 7 days on a single charge. But the AltaHR didn't have a mapping feature.

https://sites.google.com/site/kaiserwellnesscenter/kaiser-wellness-center-statement/fitness-awareness/available-routes  The Garmin was useful for creating maps! This was before we had smart phones, LOL. Honestly, how many times do you go for a run or walk and not bring your phone? And the smartwatch can't be a phone unless you put it on your mobile plan as a separate device with a data plan. Yes phones are bulky and heavy now, so they are kind of a drag, but the camera is fun and they also play music. You don't need three separate devices for that.

Do you need fancy massage gun / recovery boots? Not really.
Amazon Basics High Density Foam Roller for Exercise and Recovery $11.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XM2MXK8 

I have addaday roller, but you can find one on Amazon for about $10

https://www.amazon.com/IDSON-Athletes-Tools-Muscle-Massager-Tightness/dp/B015RKCWR6/

I have been doing a mobility program that uses the two items mentioned above. $30 https://www.runfitmama.net/trainingprograms/runner-mobility-program  

Run Fit Fab

Do you need a large volume of shoes? Um, no.

I have one main shoe that I use for running. Then, I know how many miles I have on it because I keep track of when I bought it. When I start to notice that I'm feeling achy and the shoe is breaking down, I make that my walking shoe and buy a new pair for running.

I've written a lot about shoes before, so I won't say much more. What I have done is space out my races every three months or so, and then after I finish a race, buy a new pair of shoes. That's worked pretty well so far. There are places that you can donate your old shoes (like at Fleet Feet) and they get turned into playgrounds, running tracks, track jackets, etc.

Considering what else I wear to run in, I don't wear expensive sunglasses. When they get scratched up, I get a new pair because visibility is important. I have written about the biker shorts I love to run in. I love that they have pockets. I did get a bit delulu and buy a bunch of crowned athletics but I'm trying to just pump the brakes on that and stop. Also, I love living in sweatpants now. This post discussed the crowned althetics sets that I got and why, and also compares the price of running fuel. This is another great swap you can make: from specialized running fuel to something generalized and cheaper.

I've already discussed this hat, but I wanted to also note the price point!

ELLEWIN Unisex Baseball Cap UPF 50 Unstructured Hat with Foldable Long Large Bill $9.99
https://www.amazon.com/ELLEWIN-Baseball-Portable-Research-Foldable/dp/B01JI0XLZS

Running hats are priced between $25-100 which is kind of crazy when this foldable hat does everything I need and it's so affordable. I found it at It's A Wrap (a consignment shop) so I think I paid $2. 

Fueled by LOLZ This is the original post that inspired me to write about this. I started writing this on May 5th and am just now finishing it a month later, so that gives you an idea of how Maycember or Mayhem went for me. Just too many things in one month!

26 days until the marathon

I wanted to write a quick blog about how I'm feeling. Just one long run left before the marathon. I feel ready. I know what I'm going to wear. I know what I'm going to eat. I have my pace in mind. I've trained to climb the hills of the course. I'm done listening to doubters (including myself). 

I've had aches and pains in this journey. I remember one of the first things I felt was foot pain, like October or November 2023. I felt like I had a stress fracture in one foot. I remember googling "obese running problems" to see if there was any correlation between weight and running and foot injuries. What I found was that it was actually inversely proportional. Heavy runners tended to run slower and have fewer foot injuries. Lighter runners tended to do too much speed work too soon and get stress fractures. So I kept plodding along.

I don't know which of my runners it was that asked me, don't you have any injuries? and I remember saying, no because I do the proper stretching, strengthing, and rehab. But that's not entirely true. I got a mean case of shin splints around May and June 2024. It hurt so bad even to walk. I think it was probably muscle weakness in the calf that caused it. And I continued to stretch, and do strength exercises, and work through the pain, and buy new shoes! And more calf raises. And curtsey lunges without putting weight on the back leg.

I guess it was about a year ago that I went in and got assessed for new shoes. I was probably following a 5k training plan back then and didn't really look like a serious runner. Those shoes worked well for me and I ended up getting three more pairs of that style. I got reassessed last week and they recommended a pair of New Balance. More lightweight, more cushion. 

I remember it must have been around October or November when I started having pain in my psoas. Or hip flexor. I ordered a dance warm-up that I thought would help. I asked on the Coach's chat for the LA Roadrunners and they said it was most likely a weak muscle. And that the solution is not more stretching or foam rolling but more strengthing. So banded marches it is. What I ended up doing is attending Fit4Mom Stroller Strides classes and then swapping out the exercises I should be doing for my rehab and running strength instead of whatever the instructor tells us.

I don't know what day it was but one morning it was really cold. I had some knee pain. But I put on my knee-high leg warmers and ran anyway. As long as my knees were covered, it was okay. If the leg warmer slipped below the knee, it hurt a bit. I'm guessing it was Lassen (January 30th). Adding speed and treadmill and hills at the same time. Probably too much. 

I would love to write more about how I'm feeling, but I have to run to class. Enjoy this Venn Diagram I made about the similarities and differences between Motherhood, Marathoning and Teaching.

Consumables

In other news that nobody cares about except me... I made a list of the running shoes I've purchased and how I have evolved from Brooks Ghost to Brooks Ariel.
http://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2009/11/mission-inn-run.html

http://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2015/06/if-shoe-fits.html

http://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2021/06/shoe-heaven.html 

http://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2023/11/rundisney.html 

The internet says you should replace your running shoes every 300–500 miles, or roughly every 4–6 months if you run 20 miles per week. But it adds that heavier runners may wear out their shoes more quickly. I replace mine about every 200 miles because it seems like I start feeling the impact of running on sidewalks and streets around that time. It's not worth getting shin splints.

Shoes

• June 2019 silver ghost 11 = $99 via Zappos
• May 2021 grey pink blue ghost 13 via Nordstrom = $130
• Dec 2022 white black blue light ghost 14 via Zappos = $109 
• Oct 2023 white purple coral ghost 14 via Brooks 178 miles = $98.49
• March 2024 black Ariel 23 via Fleet Feet Encino 250 miles = $160 
• June 2024 grey green Ariel 20 via Amazon 194 miles = $92
• August 2024 grey pink sulphur ghost 14 via Poshmark = $45
• Sept 2024 grey pink Ariel 23 via Amazon = $119 

I added wings and I only wear these for teaching

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A post shared by Kayla Kaiser (@hamerk02)

I've written before about what qualities of sports bras are good for larger-chested women. I haven't written about how things changed when I had my son and have been a breastfeeding mom for several years now. The sports bras I like now have front-closure. They're very supportive but also very constricting. I can only wear them for a short time before they start to hurt. I recently added a few lighter ones from Freya active, which have a back closure. They're good for warm weather when I want something more breathable.

http://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2014/05/otto-titsling.html

http://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2014/05/coolmax-or-dri-fit.html
http://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2022/05/month-of-mama-part-2.html

The crazy thing is that the internet says you should replace your sports bras every 6 months to 1 year. That's why I have so many. But since I roll them up and put them together with shorts and a top, I like having many different ones. I feel like they can last longer if you have a larger collection to rotate through. Another great thing about the SheFit bra is that you can wear it as a swimsuit top. The straps are rigid due to the velcro, so they're not stretchy. They're not going to get "stretched out." So I do feel like they last longer. But they also feel very industrial.

Bras

Enell size 4 - high impact
🖤Black 2/18/21
💜Purple Reign 4/8/22
🏳️‍🌈Pride 2/14/23
💂‍♂️Black Camo 3/13/24
🌚Midnight Run 6/18/24

Shefit 3 Luxe - ultimate
💗"Confident" pink 2/18/21
💕Rose Taupe 2/18/21
🍉Watermelon tie-dye 4/11/22
🌷Pink floral 4/11/22
🎾 pastel lime 8/10/22

Freya Women's Dynamic Wireless Sports Bra 38J
🐆 Pure Leopard Aqua 3/13/24
🔥 Hot Crimson 3/8/24

What I like to do is arrange my running outfits with shorts, bra, and tank top in a leggings organizer so I don't have to figure out what goes together in the dark when I go out for my morning runs. I tried running without a tank top a few times this summer but unfortunately my light up vest band made a few chafe spots on my torso, which was no bueno.

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I might as well toss the inventory of sunglasses into this post. 

May 2022
Zeus = white / purple BFGs
Donkey = orange / blue
Tats = pink / pink
Flamingos = pink / blue
Dinotopia = teal / purple
Kraken = purple / purple

May 2022
Falkor = blue / blue
Bourbon BFG = blk / org
Orange crush BFG = org / blu

June 2022
Onyx = black / black BFGs
Knock = brown BFGs
Bourbon BFG = blk / org
Nessy = teal / green

June 2023
Thorny = red / green / gold
Fireworkin = white / blue

August 2023
Flamingos = pink / blue
Dinotopia = teal / purple

May 2024
Bloody Mary = red/purple
Nessy = teal / green

The reason why I put these under consumables is that they break, get lost, get scratched or otherwise gifted to friends and family. The only ones I still have that are wearable are Bloody Mary, Nessy and Dinotopia. Fireworkin and Flamingos are scratched but I haven't thrown them away yet because they're cute and I let Albert wear them if he wants to. They're important because as polarized lenses, they protect my eyes from sun damage. And at $25 per pair, they're more affordable than shoes and bras.

I guess the final topic would by the CRZ Yoga shorts that I love. They're compressive in the midsection, which holds my FUPA from jiggling while I run. I get XL size with 8" length. I prefer the ones with the phone / wallet pockets on the sides. They're great for walking around Disneyland too. I've gotten so many compliments on them while in the parks. I had planned to wear them as swimsuit bottoms but this one pair started to get a hole in it so I tossed it in the trash. The last thing I need is to get chafing from skin rubbing while on a training run or during a race.

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Why do I need so many? Well, I guess the answer is that you only need 3. One to wash, one to wear, and one for a spare. But in the case that I'm running or working out every day, I would need at least 5 in rotation to get through the work week. Considering some are wearing out, it's good to replace them. I used to have an IKEA Pressa which is an octopus with 8 arms. I would put my bra and shorts on the clips and hang the tank top over the arm. This is also a good way to dry them I guess after a run so they don't stink up your laundry basket. I prefer the 8" length over the 10" which feels hotter (not sexier) in the summer. Definitely was on the fence about the lighter colors, which do show the cellulite more. But those I tend to wear under a running skirt, so they don't show much anyway.

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I have acquired several sparkle skirts. For the sparkle running skirts I have turquoise, yellow, lime and baby pink. For the specialty skirts, I have magical shapes, mermaid, red with white polka dots, the 2023-24 squad print which is pink teal black and purple polka dots on a white background, the 2024-2025 squad print which is bright rainbow colors on a black background, an Encanto print, and a Forest print. I want to add many more because I'm obsessed with colorful stuff, sparkly stuff, and collecting. I would get the Tangled Flowers (purple) and a matching tank top. I want the Frozen Snowflakes print skirt for my Holiday Half Marathon. But at some point I have to pump the brakes, write a blog post like this and ask myself, is this something I really need for my marathon training, or is this just silly and not something that will help me get my miles?

Of course, each skirt has a matching hat or visor, so I had to get a hat organizer. I was also amassing a large collection of headbands and friendship bracelets and it was hard to find the ones I wanted, so I got an organizing rack for headbands too. I have an organizer for my sunglasses and I actually love it. My husband made it custom for me when he had access to a machine shop in grad school. The Headsweats visors fit me too tight, resulting in a headache after just two or three miles, so what I do now is cut the elastic and sew in an extender. Some of the extenders are pieces of ribbon with reflective elements and other extenders are just elastic.

RIP Falcor and Two Tats

I got the brilliant idea to train for the LA Marathon as a way to shed the post-baby pounds that lingered after breastfeeding. But I'm starting to realize that just like breastfeeding, some people lose weight while training for a marathon and some people gain weight. There's no guarantee that training for a marathon will lead to weight loss. And the truth is that I'm still breastfeeding. Not much anymore, not even every day, but we haven't completely weaned yet.

https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2023/11/fun-month-boring-month.html

RunClub

We're nearing the finish line of my first time coaching RunClub+ with my local Fit4Mom franchise "West SFV."

To what extent have you met your RunClub goals?

I would say 2 out of 5. I initially summarized my goals "Keep up with kiddo. Slim down. Balance mood." In longer form, I said "I joined RunClub+ because my kid loves to run and momma's gotta keep up. Also, I feel I've tried every workout that Fit4Mom offers to slim down and I just can't seem to lose the weight I gained while breastfeeding. I've had success with running in the past so I wanted to try it again. Plus running is a great mood balancer for me."

I did experience an initial dip in weight during week 3 of the program, which was good because I had been training for already 16 weeks by then and I was starting to get depressed that it wasn't working. But I've gained back a bit and hit a plateau now it seems. I'm not too upset about it because it seems like my panniculus has shrunk. I feel so grateful for that. It seems like the fat above my belly button is still pretty dense, but at least I can feel like I've made some progress. The C-section scar was such a source of unhappiness for me, having less of an overhang in that area makes me so happy.

Strangely, my mom rage kind of got worse during the program, especially in weeks 2 and 3. I think it was stressful adding "one more thing" into my weekly routine. I felt pressured to do my runs while still doing all of my regular job and my tasks at home. It was hard to balance. Maybe the running has given me more energy, but rather than feeling centered, I felt really off balance. I didn't feel grounded, I felt like I needed more support to keep everything in perspective.

Which components of the program supported your progress? (Select all that apply)

Daily reach-outs (WhatsApp), Weekly emails, Recipes, In-person group runs, Client guide, Weekly running journal, Coach's YouTube videos, Coach's texts/emails, F4M on demand, F4M in-person classes, The finish line (LA 5k). 

Obviously, for me, I took advantage of all these components. I think the training plan was the #1 most valuable. I used the client guide a lot, very often, when thinking about what running gear I needed and the warm-up and cool-down. I never used the weekly running journal, but instead kept my own journal in a Google sheet. I enjoyed making the YouTube videos, I enjoyed sending the daily reach-outs. I enjoyed reading the weekly emails, and I did try all of the suggested recipes. 

It was stressful for me to plan and execute the in-person group runs. I felt insecure about the warm-up and I worried a lot about the route being stroller-friendly and how to keep a group of women together when they run at different paces and have different training goals. But I think I did benefit from participating in the group runs, they encouraged me to run faster than I would have alone. I did use the "on-demand" workouts by Fit4Mom, but it wasn't essential. I did 3 workouts from the Fit4Mom on-demand and 6 from my own library. I did attend weekly Fit4Mom in-person classes, so that was definitely essential for me. 

I'm really looking forward to the "finish line." I wouldn't say I'm not nervous at all. I'm nervous. I feel extra pressure that I won't be able to run the entire time. I feel like we might all get lost and separated from each other. I want to get finish-line photos of each finisher with their medals, and I'm not sure it will be possible.

What about RunClub+ surprised you or did not match your expectations (whether positive or negative)? You can share your general reflections here.

I was surprised that I asked my husband to rearrange his schedule to accommodate my workouts. I was surprised that he said yes, okay. I'm surprised I could stick with my plan and keep at it even when I got sick or didn't feel like it or when we had lots of rain this year. I was surprised that my participants hit a slump mid-program but are trying to finish strong. I'm surprised they want to do it again, even though they weren't engaged steadily throughout the program. 

I am surprised that I actually enjoyed participating in the daily reach-outs, and it felt like Fit4Mom was reaching out to me, too. I hope the other sessions go as well as this one did. I'm not sure I could have created that content independently, even though I did create some original content.

• Week 1 Homework https://youtu.be/23DpBu4txrM?si=0foCPnfJJUyC2xWP
• Route Planning https://youtu.be/An6d_B6uesE?si=4rn6BmXUMLmQQYVU
• Strava Beacon https://youtu.be/xTb_wBuZ1_8?si=q_Bl9IFCuTLBl1pY
• ABC Quick Check https://youtu.be/V6sjDntlZj4?si=7GveTt536VVQ8NSL
• Slo Mo Jump https://www.tiktok.com/@hamerk02/video/7339262637168954666
• LA Big 5k Course https://youtu.be/uK_jnZRleKY?si=6qWT8j9lt76815es

I'm surprised that I actually look forward to two-mile Tuesdays. It might be my favorite day of the week.

More specifically, what suggestions do you have to improve session 2 (April, May, June)?

Maybe a video about Cycle Syncing (adapting your training schedule to your menstrual cycle).

https://www.runnersworld.com/women/a42699204/training-during-menstrual-cycle

Maybe a tutorial video on Fitbit or Samsung or Garmin or NikeRunClub Apps.

Maybe a tutorial on how/why to do a magic mile and how to determine what walk-run interval to use. And how run/walk might help you go faster.

Maybe a video on Acceleration Gliders (AG) or Cadence Drills (CD). Or what is the purpose of the sprints? Or why are some days "easy" and some "steady" and some are "tempo." What is active recovery and what is not?

I would like a tutorial on how and why to keep a training journal. I could be more organized in keeping and sharing the routes on Google Maps, Google Docs, and Google Sheets. According to "Half Marathon: A Complete Training Guide for Women" by Jeff and Barbara Galloway these are some parameters you can include in your training journal. I also added suggestions from my aunt Anne.

• Distance
• Temperature
• Pace
• Route
• Time of day
• Heart rate (pulse)
• Humidity
• Running time (duration)
• Elevation change (ft)
• Walk/run frequency
• Special segments (hills)
• Company (friends)
• Terrain (trail or pavement)
• Overall vibe (1-10)
• Yucky or Yummy breast milk?
• Empty or full stomach (time since last meal)
• Nutrition during training segment
• Fluid amount during / after
• Bowel movement / GI distress?

These are the pieces of data that I collected this time. I only added Route/Course after the fact.

	Wk	Date	Dist (mi)	Duration (H:MM:SS)	Pace (min/mi)	Split (run/walk)	Route/Course
S	0	1/14/24	6.85	2:49:00	24.8	walk only	Wilbur/Kenya/SanFernandoMission/Lindley/Superior
M	0	1/15/24	5.51	2:18:00	25	walk only	PorterRanchDr/Sesnon/Tampa/Rinaldi
T	0	1/16/24	1.85	0:27:00	15	30/20	Topanga / Vanowen / Owensmouth
F	0	1/19/24	0	0	0	?	-
S	1	1/21/24	0	0	0	didn't feel like it	-
T	1	1/23/24	2.14	0:30:33	14.25	run only	Two Mile Tuesday
F	1	1/26/24	3.24	0:48:29	15	30/20 uphills	Porter Ranch / Sesnon
S	2	1/28/24	3.33	0:51:41	15.5	run only	Chatsworth Park South
T	2	1/30/24	2.5	0:35:43	14.25	run only	Two Mile Tuesday
F	2	2/2/24	3.5	0:51:53	14.8	run only	CSUN / Zelzah
S	3	2/4/24	3.45	0:51:01	14.75	6m run/1m walk	CSUN / G3 Parking Structure
T	3	2/6/24	0	0:46:00	0	12 d of Xmas	Two Mile Tuesday
F	3	2/9/24	9	1:19:00	21	Disneyland!
S	4	2/11/24	4	1:04:36	15.75	mostly walk	Mason Park
T	4	2/13/24	2.22	0:32:11	14.5	40/20 when it got hard	Two Mile Tuesday
F	4	2/16/24	3	0:44:00	14.9	40/20, 90/20	CSUN / Zelzah
S	5	2/18/24	4.5	1:11:23	15.8	6m run/1m walk	CSUN / Zelzah
W	5	2/21/24	2	0:32:00	-	didn't feel like it	across campus
F	5	2/23/24	4.5	1:04:00	14.2	run only	CSUN / Zelzah
S	6	2/25/24	7.5	1:30:00	12	bicycle only	CicLAvia ~ Melrose
T	6	2/27/24	2.23	0:32	14.5	run only	Two Mile Tuesday
F	6	3/1/24	5	1:15:00	15	run only	Dearborn Park / Sherwood Forest
S	7	3/3/24	3.85	1:02:00	16.3	mostly walk	Dearborn Park / Sherwood Forest
T	7	3/5/24	2	0:35:00	14.5	6m run/1m walk	Two Mile Tuesday
F	7	3/8/24	6.6	1:49:58	16.5	random as hell	Porter Ranch / Sesnon
S	8	3/10/24	3	0:46:53	14.5	run only until the hill	Porter Ranch / Sesnon
T	8	3/12/24	3	0:42:08	14	run only	Big Block
F	8	3/15/24	0
		RACE DAY!

Conclusion

I am happy, I love my Brooks Ariel shoes. I got two new sports bras from Freya and one from Enell. I think it's important to continue to support the milk makers. I got a Muzen portable speaker, because I saw one rollergirl had one at CicLAvia and it was incredibly small and light while being incredibly loud, but maybe I should have gotten the Noxgear one. I got myself a massager, which I tend to use on Friday after my long run while waiting for my kid to finish his 50-minute speech therapy.