Girl Running

Hang in There

2010-10-25T16:22:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to say I'm still alive, not running again yet, just trying to keep my head above water in my new job. Things are slowly starting to settle down. I should be back to normal by next week...*fingers crossed*.

And I promise to have the 3rd & final installment of my 1/2 marathon up by the end of the week!!! :)

Thanks for reading/following...promise my writing & running will become more frequent soon. (Sometimes life just happens)

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon, Part 2

2010-10-17T12:23:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay...now back to our regularly scheduled programming:

Saturday morning we got up and headed for a nice big breakfast at Kouzzina by Cat Cora. I loaded up on potatoes, waffles, and muffins. Yum!

Afterward we walked over to the Epcot back entrance (aka - International Gateway) and picked up our Finish Line Party tix. It was a relatively painless process, other than the long wait in line, and the fact that Disney had originally told everyone to pick up these tix at your hotel concierge, then the concierge sent us to the Guest Relations booth at Epcot, and the guy there said 'yeah...they're wrong, but I'll get the tickets for you anyways'. Grrr Disney...grrrr.

While at Epcot we took some pics of the finish line for that night!

We then headed back to the room for some rest. I would spend alllll day in bed. It was boring, and I kept trying to nap, but I was never successful. I was too amped up/nervous about the race!! It was the longest....day....ever.

Finally at 7pm I got dressed...

...and headed over to the buses to make my way to the start. Hubster and Twiu walked me to the bus, they took a pic, then I was off!

(I later heard there were outrageous lines for the buses to the start from Boardwalk - I must have gotten there just in time because I waited no more than 5 minutes.)

I got to ESPN Wide World of Sports and it was PACKED! Hubster had decided not to come to the start with me, and now I'm glad. It would have been difficult for him to see me start, and I heard the spectator buses took forever to get back to Epcot.
I just sat around, listened to the entertainment, hit up the port-o-lets, and waited for the start.

I may have snuck in a picture with Minnie before the start. :)

Right at 9:30p they started herding us towards the corrals. I had no previous race time to post, so I was placed in the last corral: D.

This was fine by me. I knew I was doing the Galloway walk/run for the race, so I didn't want to be in the way of any runners. I was probably about 200-300 people from the very back of the race (10,000 runners!). To give you a preview of the finish - I finished ahead of 3,500 runners....so I passed a LOT of people! lol

Here is the view from my starting point looking forward. There is a bend in the road and the start is REALLY far away.

After waiting for what felt like forever (thank goodness I had peed!!), I saw the fireworks announcing the start!!

(This is how far away we were! This was looking to my left)

Finally coming up on the Start:

And we were off!!

Stay tuned, the 3rd and final installment to come! (I'm stretching this out because I have no running to blog about. :( I haven't been a good runner girl...I've been so caught up with my new job. But I'm getting back on track this week. Need to get training for the Turkey Trot!)

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon, Part 1

2010-10-11T17:51:00.000-07:00

On Thursday I got off work (old job, for those keeping track lol) and Hubster and I headed down to Orlando to check in at the Boardwalk resort, one of the host resorts for the Wine & Dine Half Marathon. I had to drive the 1.5 hours back home Friday morning to shadow someone at my new job for a bit, so that was a little sucky, but def worth it. (Allll that to come in a separate post - focusing on the race now.) While I was away Hubster enjoyed a little time alone, and some Disney mini-golf.

Friday afternoon, after I got back to the resort, we headed down to the buses for the expo. Since Boardwalk was a host resort they had direct bus service to the Wide World of Sports complex - nice! There was no line for the bus, and it arrived pretty quickly. Usually Disney transportation is annoying: hot, crowded, and slow. But they were using an outside bus service, so they were nice, quick, and air-conditioned. :)

We arrived at the expo around around 5pm and it was pretty crowded. They probably could have used a little more signage to direct people, there were lines everywhere, not really sure if 1/2 of them went anywhere. We finally managed to find the expo entrance and headed inside.

After asking 3 different cast members we found the packet pickup. It took about 20 minutes to complete that, check my D tag, and pick up my shirt. (Should have gotten a small, oh well - medium usually fits me, but this time it ran large.)

Hubster and I walked around the expo, there were a lot of 'blog famous' brands there: BondiBand, SpiBelt, Running Skirts, One More Mile, YurBuds (got some of those...wow they are amazing!), etc. Names we all know and love around the blogo-sphere. There was also a Disney booth with lots of Wine & Dine gear. I loaded up here. :) Jeff Galloway was spotted, and we enjoyed a quick chat with him. He was popular here of course.


My loot from the expo

After putzing around and spending all my money we decided to head back to the resort and grab some dinner. Again, it was an easy trip back, and we grabbed a bite outside on the Boardwalk at Big River Brewery. A lot of people were doing easy laps around the Boardwalk/Beach/Yacht Club area. Stretching for Saturday maybe?

Race Day to come next.... :)

What a Change!

2010-10-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

I've been MIA this week and with good reason. I haven't shared the info, but since it was officially official today (how do you like that grammar? lol), I can tell...

I recently interviewed for a job that I thought I was a total long shot for....and got it!! So the last two weeks, on top of preparing for and running in the half marathon, I've been wrapping up at my current job and preparing for the responsibilities of my new job. I'll go in to more detail when I have a little time, but first I'll be sure to post a race-recap from the Wine & Dine last weekend.

Till then, I ask you just bear with me. I'm not missing, just temporarily unavailable. :)

I finished!!

2010-10-03T08:34:00.000-07:00

Chip Time: 3:00:31

Garmin Time: 2:57:11

More details to come later! :)

Checked in, Ready to Run!! Wine & Dine Update

2010-10-01T17:35:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are, at Disney. I've been to the expo, spent ALL my money, and picked up my packet. I'm #5847 in case anyone is tracking. Since you know I'm such a garb-junkie, here is my obligatory loot pic:

I picked up some Disney Wine & Dine merchandise, as well as a pair of YurBuds! Those guys were so nice, and the product proved itself right there at the booth. If you get a chance go check out their website here. I picked up a pink pair and love them. I also ran in to Jeff Galloway again. Always such a pleasure to speak with him. I had the opportunity to thank him for his guidance in training for this half marathon. (Of course I was all giddy and nervous like a school girl again!)

After this race I'll be posting some videos from Jeff Galloway regarding his walk/run training method. I'll be using the method again for my Princess 1/2 Marathon in February. I hope you'll stick around to see the progress there.

I'm so excited! I can't believe my first 1/2 marathon is tomorrow!!!! I've had a good yummy dinner, and have a carbo-load breakfast booked for the morning. This is it....the day I've been waiting for. It's here. Wow!!!!

Running Away

2010-09-28T17:05:00.000-07:00

There is a difference between 'running away from your problems' and 'putting on your running shoes and leaving your problems behind'.

Thank you running therapy, sometimes you really are my sanity saver.

Weekly Wrap Up 9/19 - 9/25, 2010

2010-09-25T18:59:00.000-07:00


Me & Hubster at last year's Epcot Food & Wine Festival

- What I'm Grateful For -
1) Date night with the hubster! He took me out shopping (I purchased nothing, he got a shirt), then for a fancy dinner (McDonalds fries and a chocolate shake...best combo on earth), and then to see Wall Street at the local twin cinema (It's actually really nice, a newly renovated cinema in our downtown district that serves beer! Beer + Movie = goooood!).

2) A different schedule. My work schedule was a little different than usual this past week. Since I picked up a weekend shift I then worked Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Every other day is nice when you work long shifts.

3) One week until the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon!!!! I've been waiting for this for a year and now it is almost here!

4) A great opportunity to pair with RunDisney to showcase new training videos from Jeff Galloway (the official training consultant for RunDisney) right here on my blog! Keep an eye out for them. I've used his training method to ready myself for the 13.1 miles and have loved every minute of it.

- What I'm Looking Forward To -
1) Um...the half marathon next weekend!!

2) Running my last 'training' run tomorrow (6 easy miles), though we have to get out there at 6:30am so hubster can make a tee time and 9. Oh the things we do for love lol.

3) Getting my dog Gizzy groomed on Tuesday. He's quite stinky and mangy right now.

- Goals For The Week -
Running -

Goal Last Week: Run 1.5 miles without walking - this will be where I stay until I'm recovered from the 1/2 marathon and go in to my 5k training for winter/spring. - Completed!!! So excited about this!
This Week: No increase/improvement. Just do 2 - 1.5 mile runs to help clear my head and calm my nerves leading up to the half.

Personal -

Goal Last Week: Scrapbook our trips to Washington D.C. & NYC - never happened, so I'm re-doing it as my personal goal this week, along with re-organize my closet AGAIN....since it's all mine now!! :)
Goal This Week - Get last weeks goals done!! lol

- Long Term Goals -
Running - Able to run 3 miles without walking.
Personal - More at ease and organized in my life. (ie, more 'flow', less stress)

Attention All Disney Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathoners!

2010-09-21T06:44:00.000-07:00

All of your race info is up and ready to be printed/downloaded!
Just go to: Run Disney Website
You can download/print:

Please let me know if you're running! I'd love to meet up before/after the race!

Two Weeks, 9 miles

2010-09-19T16:46:00.000-07:00

Just two weeks until the Wine & Dine half marathon! And can I just say, running 9 miles knowing you're tapering down is soooo much easier than running 9 miles knowing you have to run 11 the next weekend! Not 'easy', but 'easier' today. :)

Bring it on Disney!

Weekly Wrap Up 9/12 - 9/18, 2010

2010-09-18T16:04:00.000-07:00

- What I'm Grateful For -

1) Getting the opportunity to see how our justice system works, and playing a role in it by being a juror in a criminal trial. Found a man guilty on 6 counts, and found out afterward that he was a repeat felony offender and has 2 more trials in the works right now. Talk about making the right decision.

2) Getting some time off work to serve on the jury. With my health problems lately, the stress they cause me, along with work and all of its stress, I'm exhausted to the point that even after 8 hours of sleep I can barely hold my head up by noon. And when I get home I'm too tired to think. Having a few days to sit and rest (during the trial) made me feel a lot better, re-energized. Let's see how long it lasts.

3) My hubster - he is always amazing, but this week he really went above and beyond. Thursday night I came home to a full meal prepared by him (steak, lobster, etc) and a lovely bottle of wine, accompanied by permission to watch 3, that's not one, not two, but THREE, episodes of my new fave series 'The Tudors' on Netflix! Talk about relaxation. Then I come home Friday night to find he has relocated all of his clothing (and his dingy dresser) to the guest room closet, giving me my own walk-in closet...all to myself...just my stuff! I can't wait to re-organize it with all my new-found space!

4) I'm also grateful to have finished 12 miles last Sunday, and my last training run before my 1/2 marathon. Along with this, I'm grateful to every single follower that read and responded to my blog post about it. Slow runners rock!! (And fast runners too, as long as they'll hang back and run slow with me.)

- What I'm Looking Forward To -
1) A new week, two days off in a row, and maybe some new opportunities.

2) Getting 1 week closer to the Wine & Dine Half Marathon!! Woot woot! (That's a shout out to my friend Twiu...her celebratory phrase is 'woot'...don't ask.)

3) An easy taper run of 9 miles tomorrow. Slow and steady now. Taking it easy, not pushing the envelope. Time is irrelevant at this point. It's just about stretching the ol' legs.

- Goals For The Week -
Running -

Goal Last Week: Run 1.25 miles without walking - completed! And I felt like I could keep going if I had really wanted to!
This Week: Run 1.5 miles without walking - this will be where I stay until I'm recovered from the 1/2 marathon and go in to my 5k training for winter/spring.

Personal -

Goal Last Week: Scrapbook our trips to Washington D.C. & NYC - never happened, so I'm re-doing it as my personal goal this week, along with....
Re-organize my closet AGAIN....since it's all mine now!! :)

- Long Term Goals -
Running - Able to run 3 miles continuously.
Personal - More at ease and organized in my life. (ie, more 'flow', less stress)

Three Things Thursday

2010-09-16T17:25:00.000-07:00

Thank you thank you thank you for all of the comments on my previous post. I am so grateful to have such support, receive such inspiration, and to see so much similarity between me and all of my readers (you!!). I am getting around to responding individually to all of you. Each of you expressed something personal and supportive to me. Thank you again for all of your words.
I've been MIA today and will continue to be tomorrow. I'm serving on a jury! I'll give some more details when it's over...remember...can't talk about it! :)
I went to see my cardiologist Wednesday, I have nothing new to share, as he shared nothing new with me. He did write a prescription for anti-motion sickness medication (ie, Dramamine basically) to help my symptoms, but that's about it. I'm a little confused by this recommendation, as I really don't believe my dizziness is vertigo related. But we will see.

I'll be back Saturday with my weekly wrap-up. Until then, keep running! :)

Something Needs To Be Said: I'm Slow

2010-09-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

*Warning - this post may be long, but I'm having some bloggy backup and need to get this all out today, thanks for hanging in there with me. If you feel this post will help someone you know that is a new/slower runner, please feel free to share/repost. *

Do not let what you can't do interfere with what you can do. - John Wooden

I need to start at the beginning. I began writing this blog as a beginner runner for beginner runners. I'm still new, and that's perfectly fine for me. I want this blog to be a place where other beginners can see that what they're going through is normal. That they probably won't start out at, or reach, an eight-minute-mile right away (or ever in their first year!). That being new and being slow is O-K. That walking is not something to be ashamed of. I read a lot of blogs/articles/etc from 'elite' or 'experienced' runners that put down walking breaks, jogging, or anything over a 10-minute-mile. I just think this sends out the wrong message to a new runner, and is one of the reasons so many new runners give up the sport early on. I've been told I'm not a 'real' runner. That anyone can 'walk' 13 miles, that it's not something to be proud of. And what I have to say to all of that is: bullshit.

I went out on a 12 mile long run today and beat myself up, broke down in tears, because I felt like it wasn't worth finishing if I couldn't keep a fast pace. Why?? What put that idea in my head? The answer is: other people. Why do I listen to them? Because I have no one to tell me not to, no one (other than my amazingly supportive hubster) to say it's ok to be slow, it's ok to push your hardest and still finish a half-marathon in 3 hours. No one out there tells people: Hey! You're out there training every darn weekend, building your mileage, sweating and 'wogging' (that's walking and jogging for any new readers) your heart out, BE PROUD! Too often new runners are only given information that leads them to believe they're not 'normal' if they are over a 10-minute-mile, that they aren't 'real' runners, and are just 'in the way' of all the 'real' runners on the race course. Well let me give you some reasons why we ARE 'real' runners:

We're slow, so we put in more time than faster runners during our training. But we also get our money's worth at races - enjoying the course longer. :)
We're new, so not only are we pushing our body to do something hard, but also pushing it to do something it has NEVER done before. We're in uncharted territory here.
We're dedicated - you think it's easy being out amongst the fast runners and having to walk? NO - we aren't enjoying it, but we aren't giving up either.
We're determined - we know we're at the back of the pack, we know we'll be amongst the last to finish, we know the faster runners will have eaten most of the bananas and drank all the free smoothies by time we get to the finish, and we also know that we'll have the fewest people in the cheering section because we're last - but we run on. We don't give up or give in. We keep going.
We're proud - or at least we should be. It's not easy keeping your chin up and saying 'I run a 12 minute mile' when you're amongst a group of runners, but we're proud enough of what we've accomplished that we do it.

So what, in all of that, makes me a 'fake' runner? Nothing.

I have really enjoyed reading the works of Jeff Galloway and John Bingham since I started running. In fact, if you're a slow/new runner looking for some amazing support and inspiration, I highly encourage you to do two things:

Research and implement the Galloway training method into your runs
Go out and purchase John Bingham's 'The Courage To Start'

These are two things that have helped me exponentially in my running.

All in all I just want to say, it's ok to be slow. You're not alone. In fact, I'll bet there are a lot of runners out there that are slow but too ashamed to admit to it. Instead they just allude to distances completed, not times.
But please remember, what you're doing is amazing. Running is NOT easy. It is a struggle, but it is also an adventure. And we're just going to enjoy the adventure a little longer than those other, faster, runners.

"In many races, the better the time I was having, the slower my time would be." - John Bingham, 'The Courage To Start'

"When I focused exclusively on how fast I was running, I stopped noticing everything else. I ran right by some beautiful sunrises. I ran through the serenity that had attracted me to running in the first place. Being a faster runner didn't make me enjoy running any more than I had when I was slower." - John Bingham, "The Courage To Start"

PS - I'm not saying all 'elite' and 'experienced' runners share in these feelings towards us 'newbies', I'm just pointing to the fact that a majority of running information out there for beginners is aimed at people who can already run a 10 minute mile. I have learned, and continue to learn, a wealth of information from my more experienced friends/blog buddies, and I'm eternally grateful to them all for their support.

Run slow my friends, run slow. :)

PSS - I finished my 12 miles today, at a 14m/mile pace. It was hard. I cried. And I wanted to quit. But my hubster helped push me through. I'm done with my training for the 1/2 (which I will be walking a lot of and am perfectly fine with) and am ready to enjoy two weeks of shorter runs. I'll see some of you at the Wine & Dine on 10/2!

By the way - If you are not already a follower, you need to check out Busy Running Mama . She is an AMAZING person, and is hosting a great giveaway. Please go show her some blog love and become a follower! :)

Weekly Wrap Up 9/5 - 9/11, 2010

2010-09-11T18:18:00.000-07:00

- What I'm Grateful For -
1) A short week at work! Love 3-day work weeks.

2) Getting back to my long runs and completing 11 miles last Sunday!! (read about it HERE)

3) That tomorrow is my last training run for the 1/2 marathon!! Taper baby! :)

4) My mom - and the fact that she is an amazing southern cook. Paula Deen could learn a thing or two from her. She lives a few states away from me and I rarely get to see her, but she shipped me a case of her home made strawberry & pear jams and they are like food for the soul....yumm yummm yummmmm...

Hello Gorgeous!

Me, you, and a cinnamon english muffin.....delish!

- What I'm Looking Forward To -
1) My 12 mile run tomorrow. I'm excited to complete it & my training for my 1/2 mary!!

2) My cardiologist appt on Wednesday - and finding out more about my heart condition.

3) Having some time off to catch up on blogs Wednesday! (I haven't been able to get caught up lately!! I miss my blogs.)

- Goals For The Week -
Running

Run 1.25 miles without walking at least 1x this week.
Last week's goal: Run 1 mile without walking - completed!

Personal

Scrapbook our trips to DC & New York from last year
Last week's goal: clean out closet - completed!

- Long Term Goals -
Running - Able to run 3 miles continuously.
Personal - More at ease and organized in my life. (ie, more 'flow', less stress)

Doing the Double-Digit-Dance!

2010-09-07T16:49:00.000-07:00

I finished my first Double Digit Run!! :)

Sunday's Facebook Status Update: 11 miles, 2:30 (didn't wear the Garmin, wasn't truly timing this one). Hardest, slowest, wettest (hello rain & squishy shoes!), and longest (physically & mentally) run yet. Fast? No way. Fun? Absolutely NOT. Finished? You bet your a$$!

That is probably the best summary I can give you of my LR Sunday.

My view for 11 miles.

Notice the rain clouds??

Here's how it went down: I was supposed to do a 10-miler 2 weeks ago, then I got side-tracked with all these health issues. So I was finally cleared to 'cautiously' start running again. Long story short, my last LR was 9 miles, that was 3 weeks ago (and when all my bad symptoms started), and I've only run 1 mile since then. So what's the smart thing to do?? Jump right back in at 10 miles, then decide half-way through to make up for a lost week and push for that 1 extra mile to hit 11. Ha!

First of all, 11 miles is REALLY far to me. Ok, it's REALLY far to most everyone in the world not insane enough to try to run it. Second, not having run in 3 weeks can really beat you down.

I walked, a lot. And I'm ok with that because I knew I'd feel a little weaker from my heart issues. I was very good, slowing down when I got dizzy, keeping very hydrated (poor Hubster had to bike back to the trail head to refill my water bottle 2 times....such a good guy). The first 3 miles were really rough this time around, but then I got a second wind after my first lap (it's a 3 mile course) and felt great for miles 3-6. Then I started feeling it pretty bad again from 7-8. And then.....DOWNPOUR! I had my first run through a ~~rainstorm~~ monsoon. It felt amazing. However....wet shoes are not fun to run in for 3 miles! So 8-11 I was dragging my heavy-arse shoes along 'squish squish squish squish' and my clothes were absolutely STUCK to my body! But man, it felt great to cool off in that rain. I felt so bad-ass! lol

Me, testing out my Wine & Dine gear,

about 5 minutes before the rain let loose on me!

At the very end, about 10.5 miles in, my right leg cramped up from my butt to my ankle. It hasn't bothered me since Sunday, so I'm thinking it was just exhaustion, cause believe me....I left everything I had out on that trail. I was pretty darn sore most of Sunday & Monday, and have a little lead-leg going on today, but other than that I don't think I'm too bad off for jumping back in the deep end from my 3 week hiatus.

Next week is my 12 miler, and last 'building run' until the 1/2 mary. I then go down to 9 miles, then 6 miles, then the 1/2 mary! (I'm trying not to call it a 'race', cause at this point it's a miracle for me to even finish it!)

I also found a new stride (I know I know...don't change things right before a big event, but I swear it came natural and it helped!) that I can't wait to try on my short runs this week. I'll tell you more details later in the week. :) (Hint - I picked it up after reading a RW article)

Weekly Wrap Up 8/29 - 9/4, 2010

2010-09-04T07:03:00.000-07:00

Ok, so we're going to try something new here at Girl Running. If you head over to my new page HERE you'll see what it's all about. Now I'm just going to jump right in...

Weekly Wrap-Up 8/29-9/4, 2010

- What I'm Grateful For -

1) Bloggy Friends! Last Saturday I had the wonderful opportunity to meet up with several Central FL running bloggers. Thanks to Robin at Running Circles Around the Turtles/Own Your Journey for organizing the meet up. I was in a bad spot with my running (see previous posts here, here, and here about my medical problems) and these ladies (and one guy!) really lifted me up out of my funk. I'm eternally grateful and can't wait for the next meet up!

2) Views like this from the Waldorf Astoria Orlando we stayed at last Saturday night:

3) Kind of good news from my doctor regarding my health and running!

4) The ability to cook delicious food like this Chicken Tikka Masala I made last night - I <3 Curry!

Yes, that is a picture of MY dish! Yummmmy

- What I'm Looking Forward To -
1) Most of the day off on Monday! I work a kennel shift in the PM, but it's only a few hours. (At my work we all take turns going in to take care of the pets boarding with us on holidays.)

2) A new week, a new menu! I love cooking new dishes and trying new recipes. Each week is a new adventure in the kitchen.

3) Sunday's paper - my friend Twiu has really gotten me in to couponing lately. Every trip to the store is like a game show challenge....what coupon combos can she think of next??


Not my best, but an average savings. :)

- Goals For The Week -
Running -

Push myself in one short run this week. Run at least 1 mile straight on road.

Personal -

Clean out my closet. (This sounds fun!)

- Long Term Goals -
Running - Able to run 3 miles continuously.
Personal - More at ease and organized in my life. (ie, more 'flow', less stress)

Verdict Is...

2010-09-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

Ok, there is some good and some bad news. But over all, it is mostly good.

I am not done with doctors yet. I have an appointment with a cardiologist in two weeks for a 'walking blood pressure test' (ie - stress test). My doctor wants to get the 'all clear' from a specialist before he writes everything off as just something crappy I have to live with.

What we know for sure right now: I have an arrhythmia, and I tend to have palpitations. They suck, it makes me feel like poop, but it's not life threatening. He also said that he is 99% sure I'm having random drops in blood pressure that are causing my nausea and dizziness to occur so frequently. (This is the reason he wants me to see the cardiologist.)

Good news: I can run. Well, he wasn't jumping up and down shouting I'll be an Olympic marathoner, but before I left I made him answer me honestly: Can I Run? He said yes, but as soon as I get any symptoms I have to stop. He did say there is no reason I can't do the 1/2 marathon October 2nd. (tears of joy!!)

Bad news: I have to be extremely cautious with my running. The arrhythmia causes a shortage of oxygen to my muscles, making me weaker already. Running can make it worse since I'm depleting my oxygen, electrolyte, and potassium stores. Mix that with a random and sudden case of low blood pressure and I could become very light headed, possibly passing out. So I have to run with someone near me until I see how my body responds. This means going to the gym or hubster is going to get a lot of use on his bike. But luckily he has been riding along with me for my LRs anyways, so this isn't anything new for him. :)

I'm thrilled for what I think is good news. Yes, I have some limitations, and no, I won't ever be able to run through the hills of Mexico alone like Caballo Blanco, but....

I Can Run!

This whole experience has made me so much more appreciative of running. To have something almost taken away from you makes you realize just how much it means to you. Yes, most of the time the actual act of running sucks, and goodness knows how many times I've bitched and moaned that I didn't want to be out there doing it. But to be faced with not having the option at all, that is worse than any bad run I can imagine. So bring on the road, the sweat, and the tears. I'm ready to get back in training.

12 More Hours

2010-08-31T18:39:00.000-07:00

Well...this is it. The final count down.

Thank you all so so so much for your care and concern. I feel comforted knowing that I'm not alone, that an entire running community is behind me. I'm nervous, scared, a little apprehensive about tomorrow's appointment.

I'm trying to keep my mind positive. I mean hey, this could be a 'walking' blog if it were medically necessary right? You all wouldn't abandon me because I'm a walker I hope.

Thank goodness my appointment is in the morning. I couldn't wait 16 or 20 hours. No way.

I'll be back tomorrow to post any and all news I get, good or bad.

In the meantime...here is a pic of my two pets: Gizzy the dog and Tiger the cat...as you can see, they're close lol.

They always make me feel better. :)

Update: Still No Running

2010-08-27T18:20:00.000-07:00

I went in for my echo tonight and the finding was that I do have pretty regular palpitations.

First off, that procedure was pretty painful. Having that little scope shoved up in my ribcage and breastbone was not pleasant at all. But I'm glad they did the procedure.

I go back Wednesday for a follow up with my doctor. I am keeping my fingers crossed for really good news. In the mean time I've been wearing my sad face. I know that all this isn't that serious for my health, but it could be serious for my running - and in all honesty....

that scares the shit out of me.

Taking the news as best I can...

2010-08-25T16:07:00.000-07:00

Well, you can officially call me cyborg-MJ now. I'm currently sitting here hooked up to electrodes on my upper body, part of a holter monitor, as they send info into the little box clipped to my jeans. If I start to feel any symptoms I'm to push a little button on the box and also write down the symptom & time it occured.

Why am I doing this strange experiment?
For the last 3 weeks I've been feeling pretty odd. Dizziness, lightheaded, nausea, etc. I've continued my running as planned, since I don't really get the symptoms while training (except on my long runs, then I get a little light headed past 6 miles). I finally had enough when over the weekend in Ohio I had several bouts of nausea that were so strong I though I was really going to throw up.

I went to see my doctor today (he's my super-awesome-also-a-runner-FNP-but-I-still-call-him-doctor guy) and he did some blood work to rule out any level issues, an EKG, and a CT scan to rule out anything wrong with my head (ha!). The only thing that came back abnormal was the EKG, so that's the direction he went. After looking at the read-out and listening with his stethoscope, he determined I have a cardiac arrhythmia. At this time he believes my ventricles (the lower chambers that pump oxygenated blood back in to the body) aren't pumping at regular intervals and also aren't pumping together. This is causing my body to not receive the highest levels of oxygenated blood. It's not incredibly serious or life threatening, but it does give reason for all of the symptoms I've been having, and could have some effect....wait for it....

on my running. :(

As of right now I'm just on restriction until a few more tests are run and the results from the holter are reviewed. (I have to wear it until 12noon tomorrow) He wants to do an ultrasound on my carotid artery & heart to make sure there is no narrowing or blockage. If everything looks clear, and all that is wrong is the arrhythmia, then I am free to resume my running. However, I will always have a little more trouble with stamina due to the lower levels of oxygen in my blood. So it will always be a struggle for me, but I still want to be out there on the road!!

It's been pretty hard staying positive today. As most of you know I was supposed to run my first 10-mile training run this morning. I was super pumped about hitting double digits. But it didn't happen, and won't happen this weekend either. I'm out for at least a week. But I've re-arranged my training schedule, it just means one less week of tapering before the 1/2 mary on October 2nd. I kindly explained to my doctor that he MUST be a miracle worker and have me back up and running by next weekend or I'd trip him at the next 5k we ran together lol.

FYI - His second concern, once he finds out exactly what's going on, is to figure out why it became so bad suddenly in the last few weeks. I've had most of these symptoms on and off for a few years, but they just started occurring more frequently this month.

So please keep me in your thoughts, and keep your fingers crossed. I have a lot of running left in me, I want to be able to get out there and show the road what I've got.

Ohio/Cedar Point/Wedding Report

2010-08-22T18:40:00.000-07:00

We're back from an amazing weekend in Ohio. Everything went very smooth getting up and back. We flew up on Friday, drove the 2 hours from Detroit over to Sandusky, OH and stayed at a very cute little B&B by the waterfront:

This was our first time staying at a B&B and I really liked it. There were three rooms for rent in the house and Hubster's family took up the whole place. It was us, his parents, and his brother & sister-in-law. We all get along great so it was fun having the whole family under one roof.

Friday evening we went over to Cedar Point and I rode Millenium Force and all the usual rides...including....wait for it.... Top Thrill Dragster!!

I'm in the second row back, closest to the camera. You can't see his face but my FIL rode it with me. Everyone else in the family chickened out!! We're talking the second tallest & fastest roller coaster in the world my friends! It was amazing!!! So glad we were the 'brave ones' and rode it. Of course we bragged about it for the entire trip. :)

Saturday morning my MIL, SIL & I went out for a nice short run along the waterfront. We took our time and ran along the docks overlooking Cedar Point. The weather was perfect and cool. We finished up 3 miles then walked over to a local farmer's market for some fresh fruit to have with breakfast. It was a lot of fun.

Saturday night the wedding went off without a hitch. It did rain, but that is a sign of good luck so we're not counting that as something bad. :) The reception was a lot of fun and my SIL & I definitely burned off a lot of calories dancing!

Hubster & I at the reception - taken on my phone to quality is crappy.

I'm glad to be home, not looking forward to work, and will miss the peacefulness (and amazing breakfasts) of the bed & breakfast we stayed at. But I have a 10 miler to look forward to Wednesday morning!!

O-H-I-Go!

2010-08-19T13:24:00.000-07:00

It's time for another adventure. We're headed to Ohio for a friend of the family's wedding. Very excited, I've never been to Ohio!

Plan to hit up Cedar Point while we're up there. (Hubster keeps going on about some ride called Millennium Force?? Hmmm) I'm packed and we're headed out the door.

Don't worry...I've got the essentials....

See you all in a few days! :)

Weekend Wrap Up: Race Report, Long Run, & Inspiration

2010-08-17T18:27:00.000-07:00

Finally here it is! (Hey, work gets in the way. Send me some $$ via paypal and we won't have this problem....kidding! maybe hehe)

Saturday was the Run for Rescues 5k to benefit our local animal shelter. I showed up early (ok, I showed up at 6:30a for what was supposed to be a 7:00a race according to the flier) so I offered to help set up for the vendors. After helping out for an hour, and noticing a lot of other runners wandering about aimlessly, I decided to just head to the starting line and wait. And wait......and wait. I think the race started at 8:30a. (my Garmin should have a watch feature!) It was hot, bright, and miserable out on the trail we ran. There were also a lot of dogs in this run (soo cute!) and they were all pretty miserable in the heat and on the hot paved trail. Lesson for the organizers next year: start on time. :)

It ended up being a pretty great run, adequate aid on the trail (for humans & dogs!) and I met a few awesome people.

One lady was running her first 5k ever. She'd been training since the beginning of the year and was excited to get an 'official' time. I told her she was lucky, no matter what time she finished she was guaranteed a PR! She shared with me that she was recently diagnosed with MS and doesn't know how long her body will allow her to do activities like running, so she is wanting to push it to find out all she is capable of, and to enjoy the sensation as long as she can. Wow...what an inspiration!

I also met a second woman, a little older than the first, who was running her first race since going into remission for breast cancer. She was an avid runner in her younger years, and during her chemo she would close her eyes and re-imagine all the races she had ran, step by step. It was her escape. Since finishing her treatments she started training to run again, she's now up to "running for a song, walking for a song" and proudly finished the 5k in 51 minutes. Before the race, she shared with me that during her runs, when she feels like it's getting 'tough', she thinks of the people she saw while getting chemo, the ones who will never run, the ones who can not breath. "I run for the people who can't breath" she said. It gave me chills and definitely teared me up.

During the run I thought about both of these women, and it really helped me push myself. It also helped that the first woman was right near me the whole run! When we got close to the finish line I let up a bit, waited for her to get beside me, and we ran it in together. She finished in 34:17, me in 34:20! I set a PR and she had a great first 5k finishing time! I hope I encouraged her as much as she encouraged me.

Me Post-Race

One of the many puppies there

(Note: I ran this 5k using the Galloway method in 2:1 run/walks. I finished ahead of a lot of people who were continuously running the whole distance - there's something to that Galloway method!)

Sunday morning I got up and headed out for my 9-mile long run. I still can't believe I finished this one. Things I learned on this LR:

You should not try to PR in a 5k and then run your longest distance ever the next day - your body will hate you!
Having both G2 & water as hydration options is a good idea.
Running is hardest in the First & Last mile - everything in between is easy-breezy.
My right hamstring is evil.
You should not make your spouse your coach - your exertion induced anger is not appreciated by them.
Every once in a while Florida has a 'nice' summer day.
Even 'Lassie' can be mean.
There is not a single part of your body that won't sweat - and somehow drip in your eyes.
Sometimes running doesn't give you energy, sometimes all you want to do is sleep for the rest of the day afterward - and that's exactly what I did!

I finished my LR with a pace of aprox 12:30. I feel great at that pace and am very excited for my upcoming half-mary!!

Wanna See Something Cool??

2010-08-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

Haha...thought you'd appreciate that. :)

Run for Rescues 5k tomorrow (benefits the local animal shelter)
And 9 miles on Sunday!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Monday Mish-Mash

2010-08-09T16:21:00.000-07:00

First off, wow! Thank you for all the kind words and support you gave me for reaching 8 miles. This is why I love keeping a blog. Not just to look back on for myself, but to give and receive support from fellow runners/bloggers who know exactly how hard I've worked, how much I give, and how much it means to reach such a distance. You've all had your own little hand in helping me along the way. I can't believe how close my Half-Mary is getting, and I'll be thinking of you guys along the 13.1. :)

Second, whew what a day....I needed to end Monday with some of this....


Recipe HERE

And some of this....

yummmm

Have you ever noticed how strange the 'captcha's are when commenting on blogs?

Here's a list of some I've run into:

arnobs - as in 'those aren't boobs, those arnobs'

blimper -like 'lifer', but for very fat people

confulis - when confucius became confused, it was a state of 'confulis'

fakertsm - the practice of faking

homoo - a gay cow (soooo not PC...I know)

nymocunk - too dirty to explain

opoot - what you say when you fart

spron - tron's spawn

xygfeuck - again, too dirty to explain

And finally, my Favorite Running Song of the Week: 'Love the Way You Lie' by Rhianna & Eminem

Btw....did you know this is my 100th post???
Yay!!!

8 Miles: Been there, Ran that

2010-08-07T18:52:00.000-07:00

I finished my goal of 8 miles on my long run today! Holy cow-a-bunga!! 8 miles! That's some serious distance for a newb like myself. It was super intimidating, but I knew it just had to be taken one step at a time. I went out a little fast (not sure where the energy came from), and had to slow it down after the first 3 miles or I'd have burnt out. I finished with a 12:12min/mile pace, still using the Galloway 1:1 method.

I'm still using G2 for my hydration, though next weekend I'll be packing a water bottle too. After 6 miles the sweat on my lips started making me crave straight water. Salt over-dose! I also GU'd at 2mi, that still seems to work great for me.

My wall is still set at 5 miles, then at about 6.5 I seem to find a second wind. I noticed my form actually improving during my last mile today. I kept telling myself: 'easy, breezy, strong'. Don't know where that came from, but it helped me hold my upper body straighter and keep my feet turning over. I felt like a champ that last mile.


My 'Champ' pose lol

One very odd thing today, I noticed after about mile 5 my leg muscles starting to feel depleted. I actually started really powering through with my glutes. They were like reserve engines for my legs lol. But now my butt has been hurting all day! Guess I never really used those muscles for running before.

Next weekend: 5k on Saturday followed by 9mi on Sunday. (I know, shouldn't race the day before a long run, but I was seriously craving a 5k! And it's to benefit the local animal shelter....my calling!)

Prisoner At Home

2010-08-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks everyone for the support/wisdom/commiserating on my last post re: weight. This is why I blog, for the support and friendship all my blog-buddies provide. Today I'm taking the advice of Ann over at Slow And Steady Wins The Race. I'm watching my fluid intake and making sure what I'm feeling is actually hunger, not thirst. I had a little but of a snack craving this morning so I made myself one of these:

I brewed a lemon zinger herbal tea in my keuring, poured it over ice, and topped it off with some fresh sliced lemons. Yummm! (And refreshing in this crazy FL heat!!)

Now for the topic of my post today: I'm a prisoner at home!!
Ok, it's not as bad as it sounds. Here's the deal: I woke up today a little too late to go out on the road for a few miles (reminder: Florida, summer, 'nuff said). So I got dressed to head over to the gym. When I opened my front door I see a sticker from yesterday saying fedex tried to deliver my new cell phone that I'm ~~patiently~~ eagerly-jumping-up-and-down waiting for. It said they'd try to re-deliver today sometime before 7pm. Well isn't the whole darn day before 7pm?? Ugh.
If that wasn't bad enough, our home-owners-association is repainting all of our garage doors & exteriors, and when they're doing this we need to be home so they can paint the front door - which needs to be opened slightly. Guess who's turn it is today??
Long story short...no gym for MJ.

I do have an elliptical in the garage:

But today I want to run! I'm tired of wimping out of running, and I'm tired of turning to the elliptical. So, I want to trade/sell my elliptical for a treadmill.

Here's my question to you....

If you own a treadmill, what make/model/etc do you recommend and why? What are some reasons to own/not own a home treadmill vs. elliptical? Please share!

A 'Weighty' Issue

2010-08-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

So seriously, my weight is getting a little ridiculous lately. Hubster keeps swearing I'm just 'bloated' (what a nice guy), meanwhile he's slicing me some key lime pie and offering to order pizza for dinner. Now, I'm not a big 'diet' person. I did WW in the past (with some great success, if you like having a can of lima beans every day for lunch), and I actually used to work for JC (preservative buffet anyone?). But I really don't like being on a 'diet'. I don't drink soda, I don't eat chips. I do have a sweet tooth, and my workplace is often filled with brownies, cookies, and gifts from reps & clients. Hubster and I enjoy eating out, but we rarely order dessert. My weight is usually 158-162. I'm happy there being 5'8". But it's creeped up to 166-168! No biggie right? Ugh...SO wrong! I can feel it in my running.

Here's the really funny part (funny if you have a sadistic sense of humor and like laughing at other people's misery): I don't care if my jeans are tight, I'll put on a larger pair. I don't care if a shirt shows my 'rolls', I'll just change in to something looser. I don't even care if my thighs rub together when I walk around the hallways at work. What really gets to me, what breaks me down to tears, is when my running clothes don't fit!! When I start to (hold your breath, here comes the word....) chafe on my thighs when running, or when the band of my shorts leaves a nasty red line on my ~~stomach~~ gut. That's the end of the line for me. Yuck yuck yuck!!

I know what's happened, I've fallen victim to the 'I'm a runner, I can eat anything' mentality. It has to stop. What are your weapons against the pudge?

The 7 Mile Itch

2010-08-01T17:29:00.000-07:00

I did it. I ran 7 miles today! I'm still using the Galloway walk/run method, and I'm loving it. I can not believe I'm up to this distance already! My pace is staying steady around 12:15 (Hey, I've made it perfectly clear I'm content in my turtle-ness) and I feel good after my runs. I've switched over to using G2 for my hydration (I love the lemon-lime flavored powder, mixing & freezing my bottle the night before so it stays cold during my run) and am still using 1 GU at 2 miles. Do you think I should add in a second GU anywhere as my distance increases? Right now I'm finishing right around 1h 25m for 7 miles.

Today I had something happen that hasn't happened to me yet, and I'd only heard rumors of. I had an 'invisible' mile. That's right - a mile I never knew I ran! Mile 4 - 5 seemed to pass without my knowing I was running. Amazing! I was talking on and on to Hubster about random topics and before I knew it I had reached 5 miles. Wow! Now, this meant the last two miles felt extremely hard to make up for my 'lack of perceived effort' from 4 to 5. Oh well, win some lose some. :)

It's also really nice that my 'wall' (where I feel I really have to push myself from that point to the end of my run) has moved from 2.5 miles to 5 miles!! I've doubled my comfort zone! If someone were to say 'hey, want to go out for an easy 5 miles?' my answer would now be 'absolutely!' instead of 'huh? 5 miles? are you crazy?' like it was 2 months ago. Awesomeness my friends!

I really feel like I'm earning my new bumper magnet I have on my car:

I hope everyone has a stellar week ahead, and to all you runners that raced the RnR Chicago 1/2 - Way To Go!!! And I'll be perusing your race reports as they get posted. Need all the help/tips/encouragement I can get before my 1/2 in TWO MONTHS!! eek!

A Verrry Rough Road

2010-07-31T04:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a run day for me. I woke up intending to hit the pavement - too hot, too lazy. I decided I would go to the gym later - too lazy...again, too hot to even get in the car and drive there. So last night Hubster and I went out for dinner (I'm reminded why I haven't eaten at Ruby Tuesdays in ages....it's terrible!) and afterward I decide it's dark enough & cool enough for a quick 2 miles. I put on my gear and head out the door. Hubster tagged along on his bike. Thank goodness he came along....those were the hardest & longest 2 miles I've ever done. Too hot, too full, legs too heavy, mind too out of it. I have felt better running 5 miles than I did trying to finish those 2 last night. Whew! It's a good thing I'm ok with the fact that some runs are good and some runs are bad, cause after last night it would have been hard to get me back on the road with the memory of that bad run!

The important thing is I finished, albeit incredibly slow. (My legs just didn't want to pick up & turn over!) Ready to tackle 7 miles tomorrow morning. :)

And Bob's Your Uncle: A Post For Cammy

2010-07-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the going away party for a dear co-worker-come-friend of mine.

I started my job in July of 2008. I was still pretty new and unsure when a new doctor also started. Her name was Cam, and I thought she was a little stuck up and too-good-for-this-place. A couple weeks after she started, I was sitting in my car on lunch, having just returned from the grocery store, when all of a sudden a loud CRUNCH occurred on my passenger side. I look up and the front left bumper of a huge white truck was poking my passenger seat. It was Cam. For some reason I just started laughing. She had scraped right down the side of my car as she was backing out. Some would argue that I pulled in too 'quietly' and just moments before when she checked, there was no silver Honda sitting there. I would argue she should have looked again. And thus how Cam and I became best friends.

The car was fixed, the truck barely had a scratch, and we started hanging out. Cam turned out to be one of the nicest, most honest, and genuine friends I have ever had. She has an energy about her that is undeniable. She won't let you get away with anything, she is always on you, but under it all she loves you. I've been to countless parties with her, shared too many laughs at work to count, and have had my bad mood completely turned over by some wise-crack she's come up with to cheer me up. I've even sailed the high seas with her, taking a cruise on a whim when she said she'd never been on one. (HSBFM is an acronym I'll never forget, but can't explain because this is labeled a 'family friendly' blog lol)

This amazing personality could all be due to her Aussie heritage. Originally born in the US, she moved to Australia as a young girl and stayed there until just before starting work with us. I always like to pick on her when she pulls out her Aussie slang/accent. La-bor-a-tory anyone? Which brings me to the point of this post.....she's moving back to the outback. In just two weeks she'll be half way around the world. She may not know how much I'm going to miss her, and how much she's grown on my heart. But she'll definitely know she'll be irreplaceable. Her and all her Aussie-language: 'No worries', 'hundreds and thousands', and of course...'Bob's your uncle'.

So let's raise a Cooper's Sparkling for my friend. And wish her pets (and my adopted children): Cooper, Murphy, and Mufasa/AKA Batman a safe trip over to the land of the Dingos. We'll miss ya Cam, but we'll always have the crazy memories, and thoughts of your alter-ego 'Tammy', to keep us company.

In running news: I ran 6.5 miles Monday! Long story short: I had several opportunities to quit in the middle of the run, but pushed on, knowing the feeling of completing is MUCH better than the feeling of giving up.

Running: A Family Affair

2010-07-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

My niece (K) and sister (C) are in town this weekend and I couldn't be happier! While it is taking me away from the blogosphere (and my Kindle) I love having them here. This is the same niece I 'piggy backed' through the 5k in March.

Friday night my sister and I went for a run together around the neighborhood. It was the first time I've really ran with someone and it was so much fun! We were laughing and chatting the whole time. Two miles flew by and we barely realized it. If pizza hadn't been waiting for us at home we may have kept going....but food sounded good.

Today I drove C & K to O-town to visit Track Shack. That place is so awesome! C was fitted for running shoes. She says they feel great. I picked up some different flavors of GU to try out and a foam roller for my hamstrings. Man...that things feels amazing! Like, painful in a good way.
(Sorry, no Jeff Galloway this trip)

We're going out for a 6.5 miler on Monday morning. I'm excited to see how fast it goes by with someone to run with. :)

My Lover

2010-07-22T19:05:00.000-07:00

I got a new toy last week....and it has nothing to do with running. Ok, well, actually every purchase I make has to do with running somehow or another.

I finally bought myself a Kindle!!

And what's the very first book I buy for it?? 'Born to Run' of course! (Can you say addicted runner??)

So now every free moment I have I've been spending with my Kindle. I've been cheating on the blogosphere badly, spending no time here. What can I say, I've found a new love. Soon enough I'll grow tired of my new companion and return to the blog world full time. Until then...I'll be reading...and running...but mostly reading about running. :)

As Promised...

2010-07-16T18:40:00.000-07:00

Photos from my barefoot beach run in Vero (Vero Beach, FL) last Friday. How I wish I were still there....

Pre Run

A bird that kept me company at a couple of spots

When your feet are sore there's no better solution than a cool wave

My running surface, and probable cause of the blisters

Turtle tracks going up the beach!

My view while running...a-mazing!

Post-Run: Happy!

Guess Who's A Featured Runner?

2010-07-15T18:59:00.000-07:00

Me! :)

Robin over at Running Circles Around the Turtles posted me as her Wednesday Winner HERE! If you aren't already a follower of her blog, you should be. I've said before and I'll say again, she is one of the sweetest & most motivating runners out there. She only lives a hop away from me and we need to set up a running date! (maybe a walk/run date is more my tempo lol!)

If you are a follower from Robin and have joined here from her post, Welcome!! I'll try to keep you entertained during my journey. Hold on tight, it can be a crazy ride sometimes!

Happy Thursday!
Oh....and in true MJ fashion, I left my camera at work....again. So I will have pics TOMORROW! You know you love me.

Sand Between My Toes

2010-07-14T15:40:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Hubster and I went down to Disney's Vero Beach Resort (in Vero Beach, FL). We take this trip every summer, it's our little tradition. It is also the most relaxing vacation we take because their are no plans! No clock, no schedule, just us, the ocean, and 4 days of relaxing!

Of course I had to get in my runs, so Friday morning I got up with the sunrise. As Hubster took his pole down to the beach to 'practice casting' (he calls it fishing, but he never catches anything lol) I slipped in to my running gear for a quick 2 mile run on the beach. The sand was packed decently hard along the water's edge so I decided to give barefoot running a whirl. Wow! It was the best run I think I've ever had! The barefoot running was really cool, and splashing through the waves made the run like play time. I could see turtles popping up just off shore, and a few birds playing in the surf. It wasn't work at all, it was enjoyable, and it felt like I was only out there 5 minutes (though it was actually a pretty slow pace of 13min/mile...but that included picture breaks!). The only downfall was that I ended up with 3 blisters on the pads of my toes...and I mean big blisters!! I kept having to drain them all weekend...eww! LoL

Sunday morning was my long run day. Though I wanted to, I knew I couldn't finish 5 miles on the beach with my current blister situation, so I trudged down to the resort gym at 5:45am. It was empty...nice. The run was my longest on a treadmill so far. It was pretty boring, especially since I had no other gym-goers to distract me, and the mirror was immediately in front of the treadmill, so I had a lovely view of ME the whole time. Woah. Talk about some jiggly motivation to keep running! LoL I GU'd at 2 miles and flew through the last 3 to finish in 61 min. Pretty good pace for me!

Aside from my runs, Hubster and I probably walked a couple miles around the resort and down the beach. It is simply beautiful here, and I can't wait to go back next year. Just 357 more days.

** I keep leaving my camera at work, but I promise to upload some photos tomorrow! :) **

Imma Be...

2010-07-08T04:56:00.000-07:00

Imma be relaxing in a place like this...

In a room like this...

Imma have a view like this...

And when it storms like this...

Imma be swimming in a place like this....

Playing mini-golf like this...

Imma be eatin like this...

And drinkin like this... (doesn't it look like that lady is eating my pineapple??)

All with a sexy man like this...

See you guys next week!! :) I'm on vacay!

Freedom 4-Mile And Upcoming Vacay

2010-07-05T18:18:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July morning I ran the local 4 mile race. It was a great turn out. Very humid and warm weather, but as long as you didn't mind getting soaked in sweat it felt great! :)

I ran the first 2 miles with my husband's cousin who is also a beginner runner. She kept a pace of about 13min/mile and I loved running along with her and motivating her. At mile 2 I went on by myself and my last two miles came in about 11:50/mile! I did a lot more running than I had thought I'd be able to, and I felt great. I don't know if it was my nutrition that morning, the adrenaline of the race, or what...but I was jogging along like it was my job. (Where does that saying come from?? lol) There was a very nice man out in his yard with his hose spraying over the road for us to run through....wow that felt great!! The last quarter mile of the race they gave us flags to carry across the finish line...very patriotic.

Me & my Cousin-in-Law after the race

I seriously felt amazing during and after this race. I've found I like the longer runs, it takes me a mile or two to warm up and then it's just fun from there!

On another note - I've been a terrible bloggy friend and haven't been reading/commenting as much as I want to. We have a vacay coming up and I've been doing a lot of preparing at home & work to get ahead before we leave for an extended weekend. I promise to be better upon my return. :) What can I say...vacation is hard work!!

Hope everyone had a happy & safe 4th!

Favorite Running Song of the Week: 'Give Up The Funk', Glee version. This song came on my ipod during my 2 mile run earlier in the week and was so much fun!

Did She?

2010-07-03T13:18:00.000-07:00

Oh yes she did!!!

After taking the advice of one of my fellow bloggers (Thank you Sandra!) I decided to push for 2 miles on the treadmill last night. Instead of getting on and saying 'I know I can do 1.5...then I'll TRY for 2 miles' I used the mindset of 'I know I can do 1.5....another .5 won't kill me, I'm DOING 2!'.

I ran 2 miles without stopping!

Not only did I run my farthest distance without walking, I also had a pace of 11:03!! That's super fast for me. :) It felt great and now I'm anxious to push for 2.5 and 3 miles. Don't worry...I won't over-do it.

I'm so happy I pushed myself and proved to myself how much I've accomplished over the last 6 months. I've been taking walking breaks and not really pushing my limits lately and it's time to stop that. I have 13.1 miles to accomplish in October. I know I won't run half of that, but I need to push myself a little to even be able to finish walking!

'Feetures' Review and new Mile Time Record!

2010-06-30T18:28:00.000-07:00

I'll start off with the review...

Lauren over at Bananas and Toast introduced me to a brand of running socks she's used, and since she's super awesome and I trust everything she says, I bought a pair to try! They're 'Feetures' socks. You can check out their website HERE. They come in 3 different levels of cushioning: medium, light, and ultra light; several height levels (crew, quarter, etc), and all are around $10/pair. I purchased a pair of Lights (which are actually ultra light cushioning) quarter lengths at Track Shack in O-town.

Today was my first day wearing them and wow!!! They feel very nice on my feet. Well...actually...I couldn't feel them at all! I've been using athletic socks from Adidas, and they're not bad, very thin and breathable for summer, but the Feetures socks were super soft, no seams under my toes to bug me, and supported my arch very well. I actually hit a new Mile PR today while wearing them! Which brings me to my second subject.....

I ran 1.5 miles with out walking (a pretty big feat for me!) and I ran it all at 5.5mph, with some speed work thrown in at 6.0mph! I usually run at 5.2mph. Ended up finishing around 16 min, and my mile being 10:53! That's pretty good for my turtle-newbie-booty! :) My goal Friday is to push for 2 miles....I may or may not reach it, but I won't know if I don't try! I've been completing LR's of 5 miles and I've been training for 6 months, so I've recently decided that I needed to try to push myself and see my true improvements. Too often I'll just stop running and take a walk break because I'm getting 'uncomfortable', when in reality my breathing is fine, my legs are great, just my stomach may hurt a little or something. I need to learn to handle these body issues before I set out for 13.1 in October.

On a side note...I have tix to see Eclipse tomorrow night! Very excited! A little back-story on me & Twilight: I resisted and refused to become part of the Twilight-mania when it first got huge. I would walk away from any conversation related to Twilight, would laugh at anyone ooh'ing and aaah'ing over it. But then my sister-in-law made me promise I would read the books, she swore they were wayyy better than the movies..........and OMG they were. Now I'm hooked. I'll admit, the first two movies were terrible, the acting cheesy, the whole thing just awful, but I have my fingers crossed for the third installment!! (Go Team Edward! lol)

Giveaway Winner & Weekend Run Re-Cap

2010-06-28T17:43:00.000-07:00

First of all, thank you everyone for your awesome comments on my 100 Days Countdown post! It's fun reading your responses, and to think of all the things we have in common!! I'm glad you all found something relatable in the list. We are all joined by the common thread of running and trying to be our best. The friends I have in the blog world have been some of the most supportive and encouraging people I've ever known. Thank You again!!

And now for the winner.......via random.org......It's Kelly Stodola! :) I've sent you an email, zip back your mailing address and your secret prize will be sent out asap! Congrats!! (And I'm going to look up that podcast! I am loving the Galloway method for my long runs.)

For my weekend run I went out early Sunday (with Hubster on bike as usual...he coasts most of the way and this time got called out by several fellow runners for being the lazy one in the pair hehehe). We started at 7am and it was already way too muggy and the temp around 80. (I have a love/hate relationship with the Sunshine State right now) In the first half mile I had already decided this just wasn't what I wanted to be doing at the moment. I wasn't in a 'running mood'. It happens sometimes, but I pushed on and finished out my 5 miles. My legs were really feeling like lead this time and my pace slowed quite a bit, but sometimes that's just the card the running gods deal you.

I've been slacking off on my mid-week runs due to a crazy work schedule but I've really got to step it up. I plan to run Tuesday & Thursday this week, both after work (I work 12 hour days on my feet...so an after work run is not always an easy feat). Please hold me to it!! I need to build my stamina, I feel like I'm in a bit of a rut right now.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Favorite Running Song of the Week: I'm still running sans tunes, but I have Katy Perry's 'California Gurls' in my head.

100 Days Countdown Giveaway!

2010-06-24T17:54:00.000-07:00

100 Days Until My First Half Marathon!

In celebration I've created a list (I <3 lists lol) of 100 random running thoughts, questions, and discoveries I've made so far in my training. Feel free to comment or add your own.

On Monday June 28th I'm going to choose a comment via random.org for a secret prize!

I am slow, and I am happy
The hardest part is starting, the happiest part is completing
Running does not automatically equal weight loss, it can actually cause some gain
Motivation is not the same as Dedication
Sign up for Runner's World Daily Quotes for gems like...
"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"
Peter Maher, Canadian marathon runner
Most days I do NOT feel like going for a run
Every day I fight that feeling and get out there I feel better
I like short (crew) cut socks, and they have to match
Drinking too much water while running makes my stomach queasy
I often question if signing up for the half mary was an intelligent decision
I get misty eyed every time I envision myself crossing the finish line of the half mary
I'm addicted to blog giveaways
Running creates numbers, and I like numbers
My Garmin was the best investment I made so far...other than good shoes
I need a 'name' for my Garmin
Gu's 'Just Plain' flavor is not so bad...like vanilla and bananas
'Tri Berry' is my favorite so far though
There is nothing better in life than a cold glass of chocolate milk after a long run
Stomach pain is one of my biggest issues to get past, happens every run
I need to explore some nutrition options (pre & post run food)
I wish running trails weren't dangerous for women, I'm lucky to have a husband that gets up on Sunday mornings with me for my long run
Running has always seemed like a pipe dream to me
I have a weak right ankle...but only on the treadmill
Getting sweaty makes me feel strong
Speaking of sweat...I sweat a LOT when I run
Tempo shorts & a singlet/tank is my go-to running outfit
I always think my butt looks funny in my tempo shorts
I wish boobs wouldn't bounce when you run...it's painful
Early in the morning really is the best time to run
I am not a morning person
Runners are really awesome/nice people
Running Swag Bags are like a runner's Christmas
I think I'm going to follow Jeff Galloway's approach to running, it seems to keep me going on the long runs
Did I mention that I've met Jeff Galloway?
One day I'll be able to run 5 miles without walking, until then I'll enjoy the scenery during my walk breaks
Wireless ear buds would make millions
So would jogging strollers made for pets
I've thought about getting a Golden Retriever or Lab to run with, my poor Shih Tzu's legs just wouldn't make it
I only wear black bottoms to prevent unflattering sweat patterns
I've never needed to 'launch a snot rocket'
What will I do the first time I'm out on a long run and get GI issues??
It's funny when articles say I should be able to talk while running otherwise I'm over-exerting myself...um...I must be over-exerting myself on every run...screw talking!
To wear underwear or not wear underwear is a daily question (tempo shorts usually result in going commando)
Even though I can't run 3 or 5 miles straight, I feel I've been working at this sport long enough to call myself a runner
Dean Karnazes idea to order pizza while on a long run and have them meet you at an intersection is GENIUS!
I'd like to run in the rain just once, but it's always lightning in Florida
Running after a 12 hour day at work never sounds fun, and rarely is
I don't mind carrying water on my runs, as long as the bottle is full. Once I drink some and it's sloshing around I hate it.
I'm only halfway through this list....
The halfway point of any run is the best part for me
One day I want to run the Goofy challenge at WDW
I'll need to tackle 26.2 before then...oh dear
I often get bored before I get tired while running
My dream purchase would be a super awesome treadmill to keep right in front of my tv...can anyone say Sex & The City marathons??
My town is not very health-concious
I hate humidity
One day I'm going to trip and fall, and be embarassed
I've yet to have any toe issues, one callus, but that doesn't count
I'm amazed at people who run 5-6 miles for their short runs
I'm also amazed at people who run anything over 10 miles for their long runs
One day I will complete an ultra...though I may be 50 yrs old
Is barefoot running really that great?
I plan to keep all my running bibs...because sometimes you don't win a medal
I'm a running gear junkie
I could spend hours (and many paychecks) in a running store
Most of my free time is spent thinking about running/blogging
I actually do love hills
My back injury from December still flares up occasionally, I have to be careful
Do you stretch?
I wish I were more flexible
Better, Faster, Harder, Stronger
I quite enjoy being a running newbie...it means I can be slow & make mistakes without apologies
My blog followers/friends motivate me on a daily basis...Thank You
Our local running club intimidates me...I'm too slow right now, maybe next year
I wish 5ks were held on Sundays...I work every Saturday morning but would love to race more
It's easier to tell someone not to compare themselves to others, but it's hard to actually put in to practice yourself
Some runs will be fast, some runs will be slow, but any run is better than no run at all
I often wonder if I'll ever hit a 10min/mile
I like to do speed work on the treadmill...6.0mph makes me feel good...even if it's only for 3 minutes
The easiest way to get out the door? Put my shoes on and just go...think about it later
I'm really working on a strong finish, reserving some energy for the end
My face always turns a gorgeous reddish/purple after a run at the gym
And my eyes make me look like a zombie
I plan on spending a lot of money at the half-marathon expo
What is the best way to carry my camera during the race? (Spibelt doesn't work well with my tempo shorts)
It's a night race, in October...to long sleeve or not?
What was your first half-marathon or 15k experience like?
I like to run alone, but then again, I've never gone out with a running partner
After a long run I always want to take a nap
How is it possible that your legs can feel light as a feather at mile 2 and heavy as lead at mile 3?
Running is fun!
I've doubted myself from day 1, and maybe that's the reason I push so hard...to prove myself wrong
When I run is when my mind is the clearest
Running is my therapy, stress relief, alone time
I am the tortoise
A book by The Penguin is on my nightstand
What makes someone a 'runner'?
I fidget a lot when I run
Runners just do it - they run for the finish line even if someone else has reached it first.

Ode To A Sunday

2010-06-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

I awake to darkness, night air still cool,
The sun yet to rise, the skies not yet blue.
Some have said such an early rise is fool,
But they've yet to enjoy the birds or the dew.
With my clothes laid out my mind takes defeat,
Check my watch, grab my Gu, remember my keys,
And with sleep in my eyes I walk out the door.
Reach my trail, pull my socks, rub some glide, stretch my feet.
The sun's peaking through, please let there be breeze.
I'm praying to you running gods, I've never done 5 before.

The pace setting in, the miles will fly.
The first part is easy, it is every run.
As I round the first turn, just .5 a mile gone by?!
Why did I ever think that this'd be fun?
Mile 1, Mile 2, ok, it's not so bad,
Toss back my Gu, sip some water, relax.
Who gave me this idea to pursue a half-mary?
Miles 3, where's my legs? I'm running like mad!
Mile 3.5 - is that an old man who just passed?
Oh geez...I need that shirt 'if found, please carry'!

Here it comes, Mile 4, I'm almost there.
The last climb, 'I love hills, I love hills'
My breathing is heavy, I'm gasping for air,
My arms are swinging, my hair up in chills.
I wish I could stop, there's a bench up ahead.
But only .2 of a mile, I can do it, I must.
1111, 2222, 3333, 4444
If I had to run 6 I think I'd be dead!
The finish, I made it! 5 miles or bust!
Haha! I'm a champ! I'll be back next Sunday for more.

Don't Read This...

2010-06-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

Because I have nothing much to say other than the usual.

I got sick again (a cold this week...good grief), I've been tired, and I'm sick of it.

I went today and picked up a multi-vitamin and a B complex vitamin, I'm hoping that adding those and increasing my Vitamin C intake with fruit will help with my immunity. This is getting ridiculous!!

Still planning to attempt my 5 miles this Sunday. I've definitely had enough rest this week!! (Booo *insert sad face*)

If you have indeed read this post then thank you for putting up with my complaining. If the vitamins work then I'll be a much happier person from now on!! :)

One Step, One Minute, One Mile: Looking Back

2010-06-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

It's been 6 months since I really started trying to run. I started as a couch-sitting-never-active newbie. I have never been an athlete, and could never see myself being one in the future, but I wanted to run.

They say to start running you have to have passion & desire, I had it. But I had zero natural talent. I started out verrry slow, and have continued to progress verrry slowly. But I have still progressed! Looking back at a post from February it makes me laugh at how excited I was to break a 16min/mile pace. Wow! I was fast! (Now I'm averaging 12min/mile...still not lightning mcqueen, but faster than when I started!) When I read that 3 minutes of running made me feel like I was pushing my limits I'm proud to be running 20 minutes now.

Some days I feel like I'm not making any progress in my running abilities, something inside me thinks I should be running marathons by now, but deep down I know I'm improving, albeit a little slower than most. I may not have ran 10 miles my very first time on the road, but I have more determination and dedication to this sport than many out there.

It's hard some days. I look around and see people running faster, longer, and stronger than me, and they've only been at it a few months. But I have to remind myself that this is my first venture into the world of 'sports' and endurance. I'm a complete newbie, and I'm learning a lot along my journey - A journey I intend to continue on for a lifetime. So what's my rush? Slow down, enjoy the road. I'll get there one day. It may take me 3 hours to finish my half marathon, and it may take me 5 years before I can run 5 miles without stopping, but look at where I've come from. I'm further along than anyone who has never tried, and better than anyone who gave up.

I've come a long way.... from taking my first step, to running my first minute, to accomplishing my first mile. It's been an awesome journey so far and I can't wait to keep pushing my limits and amazing myself!

PS ~ Some pics from Disney!

The new summer fireworks show at Magic Kingdom

How excited I was for the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade

Elliot!!!!

Favorite Running Song Of The Week: 'Le Disko' by Shiny Toy Guns

Sunrise Run

2010-06-13T06:11:00.000-07:00

Had a great long run this morning. Went out at 6:30 for 4.5 miles at our local greenway. The temp was perfect! My cousin-in-law wasn't able to make it so Hubster went with me on his bike. I think he was having fun pretending to be my support team like in 'Running on the Sun'. He kept stopping ahead of me holding out my water bottle as I ran by...he's such a goof. It was really nice having someone out there with me, until the running got tough, then I just wanted to spit and make weird faces with no one watching lol. I felt like the wind for the first 2.5 miles, then my legs turned to jello at mile 3, but I kept trudging along, walking a little more than the first half. I still brought my pace down 8 seconds over last week and that makes me happy. :)

Me after my long run.

On a side note, if you haven't already seen it please go check out this awesome interview Lauren from Bananas & Toast did on RunnerDudes's Blog!!! Love her! :)

Have a great Sunday, I'll be back with pics from WDW tomorrow.

Running on the Sun

2010-06-12T17:33:00.000-07:00

Well, when you don't run...you don't post. After my 'hot run' earlier in the week I never fully recovered physically. I was sick to my stomach all week, and couldn't sleep well - logging only 3 hours Thursday night before working 12hrs Friday, not good. But I finally got my appetite back Friday and some good sleep and feel almost 100% today. I'm meeting up with my cousin-in-law for a 4.5mile run tomorrow morning and I'm excited to try out the 'Galloway method' again for this LR! It worked last week!

I also forced Hubster to watch 'Running On The Sun' tonight, it inspired and amazed both of us. What an amazing movie (and feat to finish that race!!). Ps - to those who have seen it, how funny was the part "You're running up hill" "Thank You" lol! I don't know why but this part cracked me up!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! I'm headed to the House of Mouse for a night tomorrow! :)

Heat & Hydration: a tough lesson learned

2010-06-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

It's hot out there, it's no secret. But how is the heat affecting the body of runners?

I had my own little run-in with heat issues yesterday after my long run. I did a 4-mile run at 7am, thinking it was early enough. I hadn't increased my water intake the night before or morning of in preparation, I didn't think it would be so hot! I headed out with my hand-held water bottle (8oz) and a GU (I was trying it out for the first time! More to come on that experience in a later post). I wanted to GU at 2 miles and rarely drink fluids during a short run (2-3 miles) so I didn't drink anything yesterday until mile 2 after taking my GU. I drank about 3-4oz and kept going. Over the next mile I finished the other 4oz and dropped my bottle off at the house. I ran the last mile and then headed home. The entire run lasted about 50 minutes and I drank a full glass of water immediately after the run.

After about an hour my stomach started feeling sour and my muscles were cramping in my lower abdomen. It felt like the onset of a stomach flu. I ate some carbs, thinking they would settle my stomach - nope. I started feeling weak and shaky within the next hour, and my nausea increased to the point I was pacing the floor waiting for the retching to come. I never did vomit, but I felt very weak and out of it for the rest of the day. I kept consuming fluids, ate mild foods, and by evening I was almost fully recovered.

Hubster said I had looked very red and sweaty when I returned home from the run, more than usual, and he thought it was heat exhaustion and dehydration, so I looked up the symptoms and they were dead on. It was exactly what I was feeling.

So the lesson is: BE CAREFUL!! I never felt overheated or under-hydrated during my run, I actually felt great! It was overcast and a little breeze was blowing, but none of that matters if it's 90' out!

Favorite Running Song of the Week: Nothing...I ran without music yesterday and it was awesome!

New Shoes + Running Friend Date = Jeff Galloway!

2010-06-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

How can I put this.....

Today was AWESOME!

After work I hopped in the car and drove the 1.5 hours to O-town to hit up a running store recommended by Lauren over at Bananas & Toast. She was also meeting me there for a little bloggy-friend date. How fun!

After finding Track Shack relatively easy I headed in and started getting fit for shoes. (How fun to be given permission to run around a store!!) Lauren met me shortly after and we browsed around after I found my perfect pair of shoes:

Meet my new Women's Asics Cumulus 12 (aka...clouds on my feet!):

While browsing the store (and picking up my first GU, some other sports snacks, a new sports bra, a cool magnet, and some socks recommended by Lauren) there was a small group of people gathered in the back of the store. Lauren recognized one of them as Jeff Galloway (possibly lol), so we whipped out our phones and googled a photo of him to be sure. A match! We were so ridiculous and giddy to get to meet him, and he was sooooo nice! He signed some hats we had grabbed (it was quite funny to see us running around trying to find something for him to sign!), took photos with us, and talked to us extensively about his running method, both of our upcoming races/goals and some training ideas. It was so neat to stand there, one on one, and get advice from Jeff Galloway!

Here are the pics:

Lauren, Jeff, Me

Me with Jeff!!

Lauren with Jeff

The hat he signed for me!!

After our super exciting visit to the store & meeting a running celebrity Lauren and I headed over to The Cheesecake Factory (my fave place in O-town since we don't have one where I live) and grabbed an early dinner. It was so much fun chatting with a fellow runner/blogger. We were laughing so much my cheeks hurt. :) It's nice to have someone to talk about poop and butt sweat with lol. And someone who gets just as excited to see Jeff Galloway as you!!

Thanks Lauren for a super awesome day! If you hadn't recommended Track Shack I would never have ran into Jeff! It was a great day with a great blogger/friend. Hope we can go for a run soon and try out his 1:1s! :)

Winners Of The Bondi Band Giveaway:

1 - Cathleen (no blog)

2 - Brooke at 'Smart + Strong=Sexy'

3 - Karen at Just Me & My Running Shoes

Congrats!!

I'll be emailing all of you shortly! Or you can just send me your info: girlrunningblog@gmail.com

Last Chance!

2010-06-04T18:32:00.000-07:00

Today is your last chance to enter my BondiBand giveaway! It ends tonight. :)

Tomorrow I make my first trek to a running store! I've been running in (don't kill me) random running shoes I bought off the shelf at a sports store. Not the worst option, but I think I've dedicated enough time to this sport to invest in some REAL shoes! :) The nearest running store is also over an hour away, otherwise I really feel this purchase would already have been made. :)

I had a good run tonight, 2 miles on the treadmill for 23:40. I ran for 1/2 mile at 6mph! That's super fast for me lol. I love how fast the mile ticks by at that speed. :)

Happy Friday and Happy Weekend!

Here's a photo from my work to start your weekend with an overdose of cuteness:

Count them, there's 10...and one in my arms as I took this picture makes 11! :)

Wednesday BondiBand Giveaway Reminder & Inspiration on Film

2010-06-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to enter my BondiBand giveaway! Ends Friday at 11:59pm!

I've read about several good running movies on other blogs and finally gave in and purchased a netflix subscription so I can see them all! Monday evening I watched 'Spirit of the Marathon' and all I can say is wow. I was definitely inspired. From elites to beginners, everyone's story captivated me. You can really see yourself in each individual. I highly recommend this video to any runner, whether you're like me and just starting out or if you've been running for years. It will help you push beyond your wall.

Next up in on my list was 'UltraMarathon Man', which showed up in my mailbox today! I can't wait to pop that one in tomorrow!

My 1st Giveaway!

2010-05-31T12:16:00.000-07:00

*1st I want to put a little disclaimer out there for yesterday's post. I would never advocate running through true pain (ie, knee, cramp, tear, etc) if it is serious. In the post I was referring to the general pains our bodies have when trying to push beyond what is 'comfortable', the aches and pains that are part of the running life. :)

I've been complaining a lot lately about the heat, humidity, and the sweaty soaked state I seem to return home in each day. One of these complaints has been the sweat rolling down and burning my eyes. A lot of my bloggy-friends have suggested a good hat or headband for this problem. Well, I have a big head (Literally, not figuratively lol) so hats are generally too small for my noggin, and those cute little sports headbands always pop off the top of my head as I run. No cute cheerleader look for me.

I've heard a lot about a certain company around the blogo-sphere: BondiBand
I decided I wanted to give these awesome looking headbands a try, so I ordered one and mentioned to Rebecca (Managing Director, BondiBand) that I heard about BondiBand on another blog. She was so nice and sent me three extra for a giveaway on my blog!!

I've had mine at the house for a few days now and was super excited to go out this morning for my run with it on. I'll be honest, I was a little nervous about slippage while running due to previous experiences with headbands, but I can honestly say that it didn't budge the entire time!! No more annoying hair-clips, no bangs in my eyes, no sweat rolling down! Awesome!! It was so comfy and kept me feeling good throughout my run (not to mention stylish).

Me returning from my first BondiBand experience (like my BondiBand choice? Fitting lol):

What? I'm Smiling? Yes!

Now, for the giveaway. I'm offering up 1 BondiBand each for 3 lucky followers! Each winner will be sent 1 of the following choices at random:

How To Enter?

Mandatory Entry: Visit the BondiBand website HERE and post a comment telling me which BondiBand you'd love to have.

1. If you're a follower of my blog post a comment, or become a follower of my blog and post comment.

2. Link back to this giveaway from your blog (post comment)

3. Post giveaway on FaceBook or via Twitter (post comment for each)

(Each Comment = 1 entry)

The contest will run through 11:59pm Friday 6/4/2010. The winners will be announced Saturday 6/5/2010. Winners will be picked via random.org and notified either via email or their blog (or both if available). If winner(s) does not respond within 7 days of contest end a new winner(s) will be chosen via random.org in their place.

Good Luck!

*Disclaimer: Giveaway products were supplied by BondiBand by the goodness of their hearts. I am not being paid for mentioning, reviewing, or promoting their products.

Pain Vs. Exhaustion: Pushing Your Limits

2010-05-30T19:21:00.000-07:00

"Pain doesn’t tell you when you ought to stop. Pain is the little voice in your head that tries to hold you back because it knows if you continue, you will change. Don’t let it stop you from being who you can be. Exhaustion tells you when you ought to stop. You only reach your limit when you can go no further."

You've seen this quote before, you've read it, you've pondered it....and chances are you moved on and forgot about it. I did. I had it bookmarked for a few months but had forgotten about it until yesterday. While trying to search for an old recipe I found this in my bookmark folder. It's amazing, it came to me right when I needed it.

Lately I've been really in a funk. We all get them, where running starts feeling like a chore and not something that excites us anymore. I felt like I was dragging my feet out the door and still hating it when I was done. My mileage fell, my stamina decreased, and I would give up at the slightest hint of physical struggle. But today was a little different.

After reading that quote yesterday it finally stuck with me. I pushed myself out the door and into my run. About 1/2 way through my planned mileage I started with the thoughts of 'This sucks' 'Why am I pretending I can do this?' and 'Please just let me stop already! This is too hard!'. But then I thought to myself: "Am I just dealing with a little bit of pain (physical/mental?) Or am I truly exhausted?" And each time the answer was pain, not exhaustion. So I kept going.

In the middle of my run I got a side stitch, pain. I breathed through it, not letting myself give up, it passed. My stomach muscles hurt, pain, I ran through it. The sweat was stinging my eyes, pain, I wiped them away and kept running.

Towards the end of my run, when it was getting tough, again I asked myself: "Is this pain or exhaustion? What am I truly dealing with here?" At that point I felt slightly exhausted, but I was still moving, still changing, still strong.

I finished this run feeling incredible for not giving up, for the first time in 3 weeks I felt like a runner again.

Bloggy Award

2010-05-26T14:32:00.000-07:00

Holly over at Rust Belt Runner tagged me with the Versatile Blogger Award on Monday (thank you!!) and now I'm supposed to tell you 7 random things about me. Yay!! Grab your popcorn boys & girls.... (yeah, I know, I'm the last person to post this...I'm slow ok?)

I'm addicted to anything on TLC, Discovery, Travel Channel, etc. L-O-V-E it and spend most of my days off watching random shows.
I have no desire to have kids right now, or anytime in the near future. Just not for me or my husband.
I don't like nuts in my food, I'll eat them alone, but not in any food or dessert...yuck!
I have never, and will never, see myself as athletic. I'm an impostor struggling through each and every run.
If given the opportunity, no matter how big or small, I'd move out of the city I live in, preferably to the west coast or the Keys.
My husband has turned me in to a wine snob. I can tell you a good wine vs. a crummy wine if you ask me.
I don't like using the word 'I', except when I'm telling you 7 random things about myself lol!

Ok, so now I'm supposed to tag 10 other bloggers to receive this award, but most of you already have it!! So I'm just going to tag some of you anyways and spread some bloggy love. If you've been tagged already just post something you think will make me laugh. :)

1 - Lauren at Bananas & Toast - because she's just awesomely perfect, like peanut butter.
2 - Kelly at Beginning Running - because she inspires me
3 - Junie B at Boston Dream Pie - because she is SuperWoman, but don't tell her I told you her secret
4 - Morgan at Redhead Running - because she will always be an honorary FL girl, even though she is leaving :(
5 - Tricia at Endurance Isn't Only Physical - because her story will motivate you
6 - Anne Marie at Goals for the Week - because she's 'tri' the woman I aspire to be!
7 - Ericah at I Run Because I Can - because she always makes me smile, and her page is fun!
8 - Meg at Meg Runs - because she is the sweetest, kindest, most genuine person in the blogosphere
9 - TMB at Racing With Babes - because she knows how to rock her socks (and skirts!)
10 - Erica at Run Mommy Run! - because she always motivates me when I need it most

If you're not tagged, it's not because I don't love you dearly, it's just that I'm tired, husband will be hungry soon, and I don't have enough room on here to tag the 65+ blogs I follow!

Happy Wednesday! (does anyone else actually sound out that word then they spell it? wed-nes-day lol)

Giving 'The Girls' Some Support

2010-05-24T19:13:00.000-07:00

I'm not the smallest thing on top, I sometimes wish I had a membership to the IBTC so that I could run forever without any bounce or pull. However, this is not the case. I have curves, and a large portion of them are between my waist and shoulders, ie: The Girls.

Imagine, if you will, putting a red brick on your chest, then go about your day. I dare you...stuff one in your bra, then go out for a jog. Ouch! That's what it's like for me to go out day after day and run. Sometimes I have to walk purely to give The Girls a break. Sometimes I can feel the bounce with each step, and that bounce turns in to pain, which turns in to frustration, and that leads to me giving up on my run.

So those cute little spandex bras? Forget it. The cotton trio packs sold for $12? No way! (unless I wear two, then breathing becomes the problem) I have to search out bras specifically made for my Girls. They like support, breathable fabric, and separation....no uni-boob here thank you. I also like some compression to reduce the jiggle all together.

I've only had one bra that has fit the description, and I've had that one for at least 3 years. I received it as a sample when working for Victoria's Secret eons ago and have loved it ever since. They no longer sell it through them, but it is identical to this model found on target.com:

(No...that's not me...only in my dreams lol)

I've been using this same bra for years and really needed a new one, a new player to tag in when the standby got tired. I came across this little beauty at Target this past weekend. It's not available online, I've looked everywhere, but it's style #1599 by C9. It was only $16.99! What a steal!

In this one you can see the separate support cups inside the bra (I have the racer-back pulled down a little so you can see):

I've done two runs with it and love it. There will always be a 'little jiggle' in my step, but The Girls were super comfy in this one! So for all you girls with Girls, there is hope, and it doesn't have to cost $40-$50 per bra!

Happy Monday!

Favorite Running Song of the Week: 'The Resolution' by Jack's Mannequin

Sunday Fun-day

2010-05-23T19:29:00.000-07:00

First off, thanks for the comments on Friday's post. After reading your suggestions I changed out my capris & pants for some old gym shorts I have and ordered a bondi band (review to come!!) for the hair. I can't wait to get out there and sweat it out now! I've also toyed with the idea of getting up at 5am instead of 6am and running until summer is over. I work 7am-7pm so this would make for a very long day, but I may try it once or twice and see if it works.

I woke up late today and didn't feel like battling the heat so off to the gym I went. I haven't been on the treadmill in a while and wanted to see if I could push my record on it. (20 min at 4.5mph...slooowww...but good!) So today I did 20min at 5.1 mph and finished! Not bad for not running for 2 weeks. I wanted to do 3 miles, but after taking a short walking break my shoulders were hurting for some reason and it hurt to breath because of it, so I said 'good is good enough' and stepped off. I still feel good, like I said...it's been 2 weeks since my last run and I still pushed past my previous limit. :)

I'm back to my pre-cruise weight and pretty happy about it. Hubster and I have gradually started a new 'healthy lease on life', more exercise and better food. Any good salad recipes out there??

Hope you had a good weekend! :)

Sweat is Sexy.....right?

2010-05-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the 'welcome back's!!!! :) It's so nice to be back in bloggy-land (though I'd be happier blogging from the high seas rather than land lol).

Holy Begeezers it's H-O-T here!!!!!

It's been above 90' all week! It's great for weight loss...you lose 2-3lbs of water weight when you go out for a run, but dehydration is a constant worry. I've tried running in the early morning & late evening....I'm about to just head back to the treadmill (please God no!).

Seriously....this is NOT hot:

Looks like I worked really hard right?? NO! This was after 1 mile!

So, here's my question.....How do you do it??? Other than changing the time of day you run, what are some good tips for dealing with the heat?

Back To Running & Reality

2010-05-19T18:09:00.000-07:00

Ok, I actually got back Monday, but I've been too tired (& busy with work) to get caught up here!!!

Alright...want the good news or bad news first? Like you have a choice! lol

Good News: The cruise was AMAZING!!!!!!! Here's some photo evidence:

Bad News: You may not notice it in the photos, but I woke up with a little icky cold the 1st day of the cruise. My throat was sore and my ears hurt, nothing I couldn't handle, but I was so scared it was going to progress into something nasty. I still thoroughly enjoyed my vacation...but it meant NO RUNNING. :( I only had 1 box of Dayquil, and zero Nyquil, and didn't want to be stuck on a boat for 9 days with a terrible cold and no meds. The last time I tried running with a 'minor' cold it turned into an upper respiratory issue and that's when my doc put me on meds and prescribed a running break for a week. So...I decided...'eh...I'm on vacation, I'm sort of ill, and I want to enjoy myself...so running will just have to take a backseat and I refuse to feel guilty about it!'. I did pretty good, my cold stayed under control (kind of lost my voice for 2 days), and my conscience didn't nag me too much for not running.

I did get back out on the road tonight, for a very short distance...this heat & humidity is something else!!! How do you all do it???

Ok, off to start unpacking (FINALLY! lol) I miss you guys!!! *hugs*

Motivation Monday

2010-05-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.

John Bingham, running writer and speaker

I hope you have a great Monday. Remember, your Monday sets the mood for the week ahead! So run your troubles away. :)

Flippy Floppies

2010-05-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

Well peeps...this is it...the last you'll hear from me.....

CAUSE I'M CRUISIN!!!!!!

I wish I could fit all of you in my suitcase....and I'll probably cheat and log on from the ship to check on you. :) So keep running and make me proud!!!!!! I'll see you soon!

Bon Voyage!

A Time to Remember

2010-05-03T18:38:00.000-07:00

"You also need to look back, not just at the people who are runningbehind you but especially at those who don't run and never will...those who run but don't race...those who started training for a racebut didn't carry through...those who got to the starting line butdidn't in the finish line...those who once raced better than you but nolonger run at all. You're still here. Take pride in wherever youfinish. Look at all the people you've outlasted." - Joe Henderson

Sometimes we all just need to remember how much we've accomplished. Sometimes I forget that I started this as a beginner's blog, a place where someone can come and see that they're not alone in their struggle, that not everyone is born a runner. Running is hard work, you get out what you put in. And in the beginning, you put in A LOT! So feel proud of yourself! You've gone father, pushed harder, and dreamed bigger than those still on the couch. Enjoy the ride, even if it's a slow one, with some walking involved. :)

4.5 Miles & Sunshine

2010-05-02T17:57:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous weekend! Did I mention it was above 90 degrees?? Ok, so the weather was pretty miserable, but I did the best I could with it.

Saturday after work Hubster and I headed to our friends' house near O-town to celebrate Twiu's Husband's B-day (the big 4-0!) at a fancy-schmancy restaurant at WDW. (can you say 'run on sentence'??) It was delicious, expensive, and everything you'd want a good birthday dinner to be!! Afterward we headed back to their house and crashed overnight.

At 7am we got up to head out for a nice run/bike ride on the local running path. (This is the same couple we went out for a run/bike with a few weeks ago) It was important to get out early, the weather has been nas-ty here lately. It's hot, humid, and just awful.

It was a beautiful morning....

(I love that Twiu likes taking running photos of me lol)

I was scheduled for 4.5 miles today and it felt amazing accomplishing that distance. I've been running the first mile, then going into run/walk intervals for the rest of the run. It helps to keep me energized and motivated, as well as break up the monotony of the longer distance.

Running makes me happy!

The one thing that really sucked today was thanks to the heat my face was the lovely color of a tomato for a few hours after my run. But that's ok, it was totally worth the running high!

After cleaning up from our sweat session we decided to go check out the local winery. They give free tours and do a great complimentary wine tasting! Fun!!

Hubster & Me at the Wine Tasting

After our great morning we decided to grill out back at their house and enjoy some more of the local sunshine/heat. Twiu whipped up some pineapple mojitos while her hubby grilled some burgers & dogs. What can I say? When you run 4.5 miles in the morning you get hungry!!!

Yum

Now I'm off to bed, need to get ready for reality, aka Monday. Have a great week!!! :)

Alphabet Friday: M is for...

2010-04-30T18:40:00.000-07:00

Missing - Where have I been??? Busy!! But thanks to some gentle nudging (love you Lauren!) I'm back (nananananana). I'll be back to my regular posting schedule. At least....until I leave for my cruisey-cruise!

Man-Eater - Since I started running I've noticed some positive changes in my legs. But I REALLY took notice of how different (good!) they look (and my bootay) since I've been trying on shorts for my cruise. Love it!

McConaughey - He's hot, that's all.

Mushroom - pizza from Dominos, it's amazing & it's what I had for dinner tonight

Motivation - For some reason I've been seriously lacking motivation to get out and run lately!! Though I've really been starting to see improvements, I just can't fight the feeling of lazy arse-ness. Help me!!!! I need Motivation ideas! What motivates you?

Running update: I've been getting out there 3-4 times/week consistently, but I still feel lazy when I don't hit 4 times. I need to allow myself some wiggle room!
My last run was amazing! (As you know if you're a friend of mine on DailyMile!) It wasn't my longest distance or my fastest pace, but it just felt awesome! I ran the first mile, then walked 1/2, ran 1/2 and repeated. It - was - awesome! I just felt great out there and wasn't wiped when I got back. Definite improvement. :) I missed my run tonight due to the rain (um...Tornado watch??) but have 4.5 planned for Sunday with my friend Twiu pacing me on the bike! I can't wait!!

Happy Friday!

Call me a Slacker

2010-04-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

I've been totally missing my posting & catching up in my reader. I have like a jillion things lined up in my reader and zero time to catch up. This cruise has my mind all in a whirl!! But Thursday I'm off...alllll day. It's going to be me, my pj's, and a pot of coffee while I spend all morning catching up. In the meantime I leave you with this awesome quote from RW today:

What distinguishes those of us at the starting line from those of us on the couch is that we learn through running to take what the day gives us, what our body will allow us, and what our will can tolerate.

-John Bingham, running writer and speaker

Slow meet Slower

2010-04-25T18:15:00.000-07:00

I liked the whole idea of bullet-izing my post last weekend, so since I've had a few beers with dinner (woohoo Hooters!) let's try this again. :) It makes things a lot simpler lol.

10 more days until I leave for my super awesome vacay! (Miami, Key Largo, and 2 cruises...all in 12 days!)
I set out for 4.5 miles today, but got to 3 and said that was enough.
I mapped out a new route for my run today, and it was my first time running outside of my neighborhood (without getting in the car and driving to the park or greenway) & it involved crossing a pretty busy road....
....Which is why I only did 3 miles. My throat tends to close up when I get stressed/anxious, and being in a new area + crossing a busy intersection did not help with this. It's kind of like 'exercise induced asthma', but stress induced.
After feeling totally wiped at mile 1 I decided to really try to focus on why I was feeling like I'd made no improvements in my running lately.
I came to the realization/conclusion that I had not been 'not improving' my capabilities, rather I'd been running faster & faster paces for shorter periods of time, instead of running consistent slower paces for longer periods of time.
I slowed down.
I slowed down more.
When I thought I couldn't run any slower, I slowed down more.
I ran for almost 1.5 miles straight. Wow!
I felt empowered and renewed.
Finished 3 miles in a slow, but steady, 37 minutes.

And now I'm sitting here, enjoying my Sunday evening with Hubster rubbing my feet (what is he sucking up for? Hmmm....). It's been a great weekend....however I've yet to get all caught up with my bloggy-friends' lives! I'm off tomorrow with nothing to do........I think I'll be reading. :)

Earth Day & I'm a Winner!

2010-04-23T18:45:00.000-07:00

Friday is a rest day for me, but I thought I'd show you a few pics from my 3mile-er yesterday.

It was a gorgeous day here in the Sunshine State, and Hubster & I decided to make the best of it. We got up early to head over to the Greenway to get some miles in. He headed off for a few laps on his bike and I went for a single lap around the 3 mile loop.

Some pics from my favorite spot on the trail, mile 1.5, just before the only shaded section:

Me 1.5 miles in....eww sweaty lady! lol

The run was fun, I finished in just sub 36 min, which is a great pace for me! Especially since I'm still getting over my strange ankle/foot injury. It was a great feeling getting out and enjoying Mother Earth. :)

In other news....I'm a winner!!!! Where you ask? Oh, a little place called 'The Happy Runner', blogged by Felice. Please take a minute to go check out her site...it's awesome, I love it, and of course I follow regularly!! I won the Yoplait Spa Package from her Yoplait Greek Yogurt review/giveaway. It's my first blog-giveaway win! I'm so excited!!! :) So go share the bloggy love with her. And tell her MJ sent you.

Well, off to sleepy land. Unlike some of the world, I have to work on Saturdays (booo!). But when I get out of work I can't wait to spend the weekend running & catching up with all my fave blogs (that means YOU!).

Happy Friday!

Injury Watch 2010: She's Almost There

2010-04-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

This morning I decided to try out the ol' foot to see how much pain running caused me. About 1/2 mile in to my route the pain went from nagging to shooting...up to my knee. Yuck! I pushed through another 1/2 mile to see if it was the kind of pain that would disappear after warming up....nope. Home I went.

While the pain was too much to handle during my run, the rest of the day it hasn't been present at all! Almost as if pushing through it healed it. Weird. Hubster and I are going to head out to the Greenway tomorrow so I can test it out on a flat 3-mile route. If there's pain I can cut back on a 1 mile loop, if not...well...I'm going to have a blast out there and run my little heart out! :)

Today's run was at a pretty good pace by the way: 1 *gimping* mile - 11:32

I also forgot to post my Favorite Running Song of the Week on Monday, so in lieu of that I'm going to give you this link to my favorite album for running...walking...sleeping...eating...driving...just life in general!

'The Script' Self Titled Album
*you can listen to samples on the right of the page*
I've seen them twice, met them once, and will be the proud owner of another set of concert tix this Friday! (Coming to O-town in October!)

Yep, Danny O'Donoghue (in the Grumpy shirt) has his arm around ME! :)

Happy Wednesday! :)

My Mind is in the Ocean

2010-04-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

It's Monday, and we all know how I feel about Mondays:

I FREAKING LOVE THEM!!!!!!

ummm...yeah...slight bit of sarcasm there

Truth is, Mondays when I'm off (usual) are awesome, Mondays I have to work suck in general. Today was one where I worked. Combine that with my sore foot/ankle and I decided tonight was not the night for 3 miles. Tomorrow sounds much better. And yes, I know, putting off today's run is not a good practice, but my 4 mile 'long run' was yesterday (it was supposed to be Saturday), and I'm still having slight pain in my foot region. So rest day it is.

So why do I even post today? To rub this in your face:

I'm going on a cruise in 16 days!!!!

Ok, well I'm actually headed to my hometown in the Keys in 16 days, then leaving on my cruise in 18 days. I can't wait!!! It's the only thing on my mind lately.

Pretty soon I'll be doing some of this:

And relaxing like this:

On a ship like this:

And visiting beaches like this:

Jealous yet?? Don't worry, I'll still be running...on a treadmill facing the ocean. I'll miss you!

Happy Monday! :)

Slow & Sexy Sunday

2010-04-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

My day reviewed in bullet points:

Continuing to lay in bed in the morning only aids your mind in talking you out of your run, so I have to get up as soon as I wake up

Getting up for a run before Hubster even opens his eyes is pretty nice

4 miles through the neighborhood while everyone is still sipping coffee is kind of empowering

Slow really IS sexy

I aimed for 1 minute slower than my usual pace so that I wouldn't be dying by the end, and it worked!

3 Sports Beans at Mile 2 helped, or at least it did in my mind

I'm really getting used to running with my hand held water bottle, I don't drink a lot but it's nice to know it's available (I've been using a Fuel Belt Sprint 10oz Palm Holder....love it!)

I did learn today not to fill my bottle with ICE water, unless I want my hand to freeze for the first mile.

I'm learning that it takes me at least 2 miles to 'warm up', the final miles are always easier/my favorite

Coming home covered in sweat is a great feeling!

Spending the rest of the day knowing my long run is done is awesome

My ankle isn't hurting while running anymore, but starts aching a few hours after. Also...my shins have been really sore the first 2 miles recently, but then it goes away and doesn't bother me after running. Maybe time for new shoes?

I hope everyone had a stellar weekend, and good luck to all my bloggy friends in Boston!!!!!

A Letter To Myself

2010-04-15T14:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Self,
     Today I write a letter to you because, well, you need one. You see, lately I've noticed you've been really hard on yourself, and if I heard right, you even thought about giving up once. Yes, I heard you sitting on that bench, in the middle of those 4 miles. I was ready to believe in you, I knew you could do it, but I had no way of convincing you of that.
    Self, you need to sit down and look at how far you've come. No, you're not running care-free for miles on end yet, but can you remember when 1 mile was a daunting task? When 1 minute was too hard? You're only 3 months in to a life long journey, what is your rush? Do you expect to be running 9-minute miles right now? Why? Who says you have to? Who are you racing against? You're out there for one person: You.
    Go stand in front of the mirror, look at yourself. No, don't look at the blemishes, the bumps, the bulges (where are you even seeing those things??). Look at your heart. Look at that glow! Look at those sexy legs lady! You're really starting to see improvements, but you're not letting yourself accept them. They are there, others see how amazing you are doing, but you won't let yourself see it.
   You're an inspiration, not just to yourself, but others around you. Count the number of people you know in real life. Now count how many of them get out there and run or walk 3 miles 3x/week. Yeah, not many. Now....count how many have told you you've inspired them to be better/healthier/stronger. See it now?
   So what if you're walking, jogging, or running. You're trying. Be proud to be a 'Wogger'!! You're 'wogging' further than those people sitting on their couches. And remember, you're aiming for 13 miles. It doesn't matter how fast you get there, the important thing is that you cross the finish line with the biggest smile of your life. Do you honestly think anyone is going to say to you: "Oh, you finished a half-marathon? Yeah, but you ran a 12 minute mile, that doesn't count". NO!! They're going to be amazed at your drive, focus, and achievement!
   On those morning that you don't feel like getting out on the road, the days when you feel like it's not worth it because you're not running a 10 minute mile, when you feel weak for taking a walking break, stop it. Stop worrying, stop thinking, stop comparing....just put on your shoes and go. If it takes you 30 minutes to do 3 miles or an hour to do 2, just go. Enjoy your body, enjoy your life, enjoy the ride you're on. Years from now you'll look back, as you cross the finish line of another race, another distance, and remember fondly the times of easy struggle at 3, 4, and 5 miles. When your training calls for a long run of 20 miles and you just want a short 15'er, you'll remember when 4 miles made you want to cry.
    This is just the beginning, it may or may not get easier, but you will get stronger. For now, keep your chin up, keep your shoes ready, and keep running!

Love,
Me

Let's Play A Game...

2010-04-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

I've always loved a good game of 'Where's Waldo?'. I just stumbled across some photos from the event site for the March for Nutrition 5k I did last month. Ever wonder how many photos ONE person could possibly photo-bomb?? Well...let's play a little game and find out.

Here we go....

Where's MJ?

(Hint: I'm wearing black capris & pink top)

Runnin and Runnin

Looks Like I'm Ready To Vomit, Can You Say NOT Flattering??

Lovely Ladies Having A Conversation...

Aww...Look At The Happy Couple!

They're Getting More Difficult!

Only For The Truly Skilled


And Finally: Can You Find Me??

So, how did you do??

Isn't it ridiculous how I managed to land in everyone's photos?? That or the camera person realllly liked me, hmmmmm. The strange thing is I don't ever remember seeing a camera there! Sneaky little boogers!

(Thanks to Brianna @ marchfornutrition.com for photos!)

Happy Wednesday!! :)

Shamelessly Begging for a Vote!

2010-04-13T19:20:00.000-07:00

It's out of the ordinary for me to post on a Tuesday, but had to put this out there! :)

Beth over at Shut Up And Run recently held a giveaway and you had to submit a photo of a ridiculous running outfit for extra entries. She is now hosting a secondary contest for the worst outfit out of the top 10 entries.

So...what am I asking?? Go vote for me HERE!! :)

And if you don't (for some crazy insane ridiculously stupid reason) currently follow Beth...you need to! So do that too while you're over there. :)

Treadmill Time & Peculiar Pains

2010-04-12T18:56:00.000-07:00

Ouch ouch ouch. That's all I have to say tonight. I have nothing inspirational, nothing motivational, just 'ouch'!

My *Ouches* -

I've been having random super strong bursts of pain in my lower abdomen all day. I know I have some small benign cysts on my ovaries and my doc said they could cause pain...and man do they sometimes!!
During my run, from about .5 mile to 2 miles, my right ankle was really painful. I stretched it twice during the run, but it wouldn't go away. Then at the start of the 3rd mile it felt fine, and hasn't hurt since. However....
My back is really painful in one spot. On my left side, about halfway down my back. I've stretched and stretched, but it won't go away. I finally broke down and took some NSAIDs, it's feeling a bit better now, but then again...I'm not moving, just sitting here typing.

My Run -
It was sprinkling out when I got home today and I just wasn't up for my first run in the rain. So I opted for the gym. I haven't been on the treadmill since my first 20-min run back in March. I wanted to see how improved I was in comparison anyways. I completed 3 miles in 36 min! And I only walked 2 minutes of that!!! Of course, it helped that I had two guys on each side of me that were trying to keep up with me, and that pushed me harder. (Ok, they may have been super awesome runners, but in MY mind they were trying to keep up with ME!) I probably could have pushed a little harder, but decided not to press my luck with the ankle.

Something interesting...since doing 4 miles on Saturday, today's 3 miles seemed much easier. I can't wait until I'm able to run 10 or 12 miles on my long runs, then doing 3-5 on the weekdays will be easy-schmeesy (sometimes lol).

Ok bloggy-friends...off to bed for me. Going to fall asleep while my meds are still working.

Favorite Running Song of the Week: 'I Got It From My Mama' by will.i.am

4 Miles, Done! (Barely)

2010-04-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've all just been waiting with bated breath to hear about my 4 mile run. Well...here you go.

It SUCKED!!

Yeah...seriously. It was hot, dry, and miserable. Hubster and I went to the local greenway and I planned a 2 mile trek out, and 2 miles back. The whole loop is 3 miles, but I didn't want to give myself the option of stopping at 3 miles, so turning around on the loop at mile 2 was my best option.

The Location of my Treacherous Run

Several things went wrong:

I learned that a Spi Belt doesn't work too well with Nike Tempo Track Shorts. The material of the shorts is just too slippery and the belt won't stay put. No matter how I adjusted it, it wouldn't stop moving. I eventually took it off and wrapped it around my hand, and then Hubster rode by me on his bike and I gave it to him to carry. I was then running without cell phone or ID. EEK! (I need to invest in a Road ID)
After fidgeting around for the first mile I started to realize how hot & unusually dry it was. And that I had forgotten to properly hydrate....or eat...pre-run. It was 2pm and the only thing I had consumed all day was a granola bar at 7am. Crud.
At mile 1.5 I nearly gave up. Seriously. I had yet to hit a shady spot on the trail, my hand-held water was already hot, my lips were chapped, and I felt like I was inhaling sand. It sucked, and I wanted to cry. I found a bench on the side of the trail, paused my music, and had a little inner discussion with myself. I either quit this whole running thing right there and then, or I get off my arse and run/walk/crawl....whatever it took to get through these 4 miles. Period. I got up a moment later with much more determination....and noticed the path was shaded ahead. Yay!

At the 2 mile-turnaround point I took a 2 minute break, sipped some water, and patted myself on the back for not giving up. I knew that once I turned around I HAD to go the other 2 miles. It actually made me feel better, I was half-way done. The way back was a little easier, I felt better, I had ditched the irritating belt with Hubster, and I had a lot more down-hill in this direction.

Somehow I reached the finish, 4 miles, in under 50 minutes. That was my goal heading out, and with all the crap I dealt with/felt out on the trail I still managed to accomplish that time goal. Even after walking wayyyy too much.

Splits - (Is there such a thing as 'positive' splits?? lol)
Mile 1: 11:47
Mile 2: 12:06
Mile 3: 12:34
Mile 4: 12:40

Me after 4 miles

After the run I went home and slept for 2 hours. I was exhausted!! And that night was my friend's 25th birthday party. She was throwing a themed party...'Tight & Bright'. Needless to say...it was a blast!!

Run Hard, Play Hard!

My Friend Cross Training

2010-04-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday everyone!!!

My schedule called for some cross-training today, 30 minutes actually. I was wanting to hit the gym and try out the bikes, but I became very lazy. So off to the garage for some drudgery on the elliptical. I don't mind the elliptical, but it just gets tedious after a while. I'm going through the motions of running...but going no where. It's hard to judge time/distance/speed. Ugh.

The view I wanted:

The view I got:

But the time passed pretty quick and it was off to a day of relaxing. I like this new schedule, one less run a week but longer runs when I do get out there.

Hubster and I are hitting up the local greenway tomorrow. I'm scheduled for 4 miles! That's small potatoes for some of you, but the longest distance I'll have attempted so far! I have run this course for 2 recent 5ks, so I know the 3 mile loop. But I plan to do a 2-mile run out, so I'm forced to do the 2-miles back (equaling 4-miles). If I pass my car at mile 3 on the loop I'll be way too tempted to quit.

As for you, my dear friend...I'll see you next cross-training day....

What are your favorite cross-training activities? If you are a gym-goer, do you prefer the elliptical or bike?

Negative Splits Say What?!

2010-04-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I wasn't aiming for negative splits, but they happened! And some pretty impressive times for my turtle-shufflin-booty!

3 miles:
Mile 1- 11:51
Mile 2- 11:43
Mile 3- 11:39

Uh huh...oh yeah...booyah...eat that...I'm awesome...uh huh...mmhmm......I think I'm done. (woot woot!) Ok..now done.

I may not be lightning, but I'm still pretty cool. :) I'm still walking here or there, it ends up about 1 minute every 3/4 mile. I'm ok with it because I'm better rested and able to keep a natural 10:30-11:00 min/mile while running. I'm not trying to run faster, it's just happening. I don't want to go much past 10:30 for now though. But I am finding it a lot harder to slow down than I imagined. Running faster is actually easier. Weird.

As for my training, I've been running 3-4x/week for 3 full months now. So I feel I'm ready to start actually 'training' for my 1/2 marathon in October. I looked up a couple of schedules and the one by Hal Higdon fits well into my current abilities/distance and work schedule. After transferring the info to my schedule I found I can actually go through the training program twice before the 1/2 and still have some wiggle-weeks in case of illness or *gulp* injury (it will not happen, it will not happen, it will not happen). I have enough time to repeat weeks if I'm not ready to move on, or to cut back a week or two if I'm tired.

This is what April looks like for me:

(Click on picture for full view)

I'm very excited to start making real progress towards my goal of 13.1!! :)

Easter Weekend Recap

2010-04-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had an awesome weekend and had the opportunity to get out there and sweat a little bit.

Get ready for lots-o-photos!!

The weather here in 'sunny' Florida has been beautiful the last week. The kind of days where you just can't stay indoors. So Hubster and I went down to O-town to spend the holiday weekend with a set of close friends, T & S. They were hosting a Latin themed Easter cookout. It was cleverly nicknamed 'Cinco de Easter'. Yes, I'm well aware this doesn't make any lingual sense, but it was a fun name!

We headed down Saturday night and stayed over at their house. We all got up early Sunday and enjoyed some coffee & fresh doughnuts before heading out on a gorgeous trail around Lake Minneola (for locals, you may know the area).

*Note to Self: large cup of black coffee & 1 glazed jelly filled doughnut do NOT make for the most nutritious/well thought out pre-running meal*

Me & T Pre-run/bike

Me & Hubster before heading out

The Boys (Hubster & S)

Me & T (on her pink Scwhinn) went out towards the lake for a 3 mile out -and- back while the boys did their own thing on an 8 mile ride. It was a perfectly sunny day and I really enjoyed the fresh air and good times with a friend. She was a great coach too! Made me laugh, carried my water, and motivated me.

Awww...so sweet on her Schwinn!

The trail was absolutely gorgeous. There were some groups out taking Easter photos and even an Easter egg hunt by the lake. There were quite a few cyclists out there too!

T took some good photos of me running:

Me Post-Run

After a good workout we headed back to the house to get ready for the 'Cinco de Easter' celebration!
Some other friends & family met us at the house and we enjoyed the beautiful weather until the sun went down.

*warning: the following section could make you very hungry!*

Pineapple Mojitos!

Grilling Out with Chimichurri Steak & Mojo Chicken

The Food...yummm

The Desserts

(My friend Mikkel Paige made these cupcakes! They were lime flavor & delicious!!)

Me resting after a wonderful day with friends!

Now back to reality! And a new training schedule....which I'll explain on Wednesday. Until then...keep running! :) (off to catch up on all of your fun from the weekend)

Have Road, Will Run.....or walk

2010-04-02T18:09:00.000-07:00

Last you heard from me I was complaining about how cruddy my run was on Wednesday. After that run, my dear Hubster/coach gave me some advice. It was that I needed to get some mileage on my shoes, regardless if I was running or walking it. I needed to get used to being out there for longer periods of time. And that the further I trained with my running/walking, the further I'd actually be able to run straight through. Ie...run/walk 3-4 miles....run 2 miles easy-schmeezy! This seemed to make sense to me! So tonight I set my mind to it and pounded out 3 miles around the ol' neighborhood. It took me approx 37 minutes...but I was comfortable and never gave up. It was an easy pace for me and I actually enjoyed my time out there!

A few changes I made tonight:

I took a water bottle out and hid it behind a tree I'd be passing at every mile-loop so I could re-hydrate. I think this made a HUGE difference! I may have drank a little too much the first time around, my stomach cramped a little for a few minutes. But my other loops I just took a sip and it kept my mouth from getting all thick with mucus and that hot cottony feeling. Yuck! (I've ordered a hand-help bottle btw...I'll be reviewing it later next week after it comes in!!)
I tried out some sports beans I got for free at a 5k last month. I only ate 4 or 5 beans before heading out. I loved the flavor! Though I needed some water to help wash them down. I don't know when they're supposed to kick in, but I felt a random and amazing burst of energy at the 2 mile mark. I started running without a care in the world at a 10min/mile pace!! I kept at it for that last 1/2 mile and was actually smiling!! My legs seemed to turn over easier, my muscles weren't as heavy, and I just felt....better! Not sure if it was the water, the sports beans, or my attitude...but something worked great!

I know I didn't run the entire 3 miles. I walked...more than I may have wanted to. But I felt good when I was done. I didn't feel like dying, I didn't feel like I had short-changed my workout, and I was happy for what I had accomplished. I could have pushed harder/faster....but I'll save that for a new PR on my next 5k. :)

Why am I doing this again?

2010-03-31T18:54:00.000-07:00

I am the first one to admit, I have bad days. But today was a doozie. Work was fine, life is fine....my running sucked arse.

I got home from work and decided I did NOT want to run today. Nope, no ma'am, not me. Not a single bone in my body wanted to put my running shoes on. No real reason, just knew I shouldn't run today. Well, my coach/Hubster said I should get out there, even if it was just for 1 mile (oh...how he nailed it with this statement), so I could stay on schedule (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun). So I did...begrudgingly.

I felt ok leaving the house, a little more pep in my step with my shoes on my feet. But the minute I got through my warm up and started my run I felt my legs...they were lead, still sore from my 5k Sunday. I pushed through. I learned early on that the physical pain in my legs only gets easier after the first few minutes. But after 1/2 mile I was just done. I kept running through 1 mile and then made my mistake: I turned towards home instead of out for a second loop. I gave up. Once again, I didn't kick my mind in the butt like I should have. Granted...I ran a 11:30 mile and never stopped. Which is a big achievement for me over where I started 3 months ago. And over my usual 12:30 pace.

The new pace today actually felt more comfortable than my slower pace. 11:30 just feels right. It's a quicker stride, but more of a 'run' than a 'silly looking fast walk with some hopping thrown it so it can be called a jog'. Granted, I only went 1 mile at it, but had my mental game been with me I would have easily pulled 2-2.5 miles at that pace. It just felt 'right'.

So, when I got home I cried to Hubster. I told him I'm a fool, I'm not meant to be a runner, and I should be so much further in my abilities than I am. He, of course, consoles me and tells me all the things I needed to hear to feel a little better.

I've come away from my terrible run tonight with this: I needed today to happen. I needed to give up on myself one time to learn a lesson. And that lesson is that 10-20 more minutes of running when I feel like I should give up will hurt a lot less than the 3-4 hours I'll spend beating myself up for quitting. And that is what I will remind myself the next time I'm faced with the decision of one more lap or home. I'll always choose the extra lap.

If Arms Could Talk...

2010-03-29T18:55:00.000-07:00

Man! If anyone had told me Sunday that carrying a 50lb kid on my back for half a 5k would result in the pain my arms are in today...well...I still would have done it lol. But I'm in some serious pain today! My spine cracked from top to bottom this morning when I woke up. And after 30 minutes of a constant bicep-curl yesterday, my arms are basically useless!! I've decided 48 hours rest is called for, I'll get back on the pavement Wednesday. Until then, I'm still enjoying the fun memories from Sunday! (Made easier to remember by the constant twinges of pain in my body!)

Favorite Running Song of the Week: 'Bust a Move' by Young MC

Live Oak 5k/ Tall Mom's Race for the Cure 10k Pt 2!

2010-03-28T17:12:00.000-07:00

.....And a Lesson Learned

Today was my second 5k of the weekend. It was a beautiful 5k at a local horse farm. There were options for: 10k run, 5k run, or 5k walk. I had signed up for the 5k run with some people from work a while back and was excited to let it all out on the muddy cross country trails of this farm.

The Group From Work

I'm on the left in the pink...of course. :)

However, my plans changed when my sister & niece paid me a surprise visit from out of state! My niece K is 6 years old. Her & my sister are signed up for their first 5k up in North Carolina next weekend. But after telling them about my race they decided to ride out there with me this morning and register for the walk today.

I decided it was more important to stay back with my niece and encourage her through her first race rather than try to run it out on the course. So that's what we did. We went as fast (or as slow at some points) as she wanted. With the race having a very small turnout we were pretty near last place. But we were having a lot of fun in the mud & wet grass along the course. I was able to teach her about pacing, not going out too fast, and enjoying the race.

Me & K before the race

K running on ahead during Mile 1

We kept a pretty slow pace, averaging 17 min/mile. But I wasn't worried about time at all! I was having a blast!

About a mile in K got tired and started really slowing down. I offered to piggy-back her. Whew...was I in for a workout!! Have you ever carried 50lbs on your back for a mile?? Wow! I got a great full body workout while walking!

K's preferred mode of transportation

After catching her breath (and me losing mine) she was back on her feet. About halfway through we looked across the field to see my friend from work running to the finish with her dog 'Lilly'. She finished with 34 minutes! Way to go!!

H & 'Lilly' Running in to the Finish

When I saw H running I could have gotten sad about not actually 'running' this race...but then I looked over at my niece and she was having so much fun, it made any regret for my decision disappear.

Up ahead from this point we reached the water station and I taught her about saying thank you, smiling, and what the race volunteers have to do to make everything work perfectly for our race. She was very nice to them, I was proud.

As we approached the last mile (after a bit more piggy-backing and some older ladies talking about how strong I looked...Thank You ladies) me and K let it out for a bit towards the finish.

As we were on the final leg of the race I taught her to be courteous to other/faster runners and allow them right of way. She was a great listener.

Coming in to the finish chute I allowed her to run way ahead of me as I kept walking. She had the loudest cheering from the spectators out of everyone!! It was an amazing experience and I was so happy to have shared it with her. I hope I've given her a little of the running/racing bug. She definately has the competitive spirit for it!!

K & Me at the Finish

Overall it was an amazing day. We finished at 53:16 and I wouldn't have wanted it to go a minute faster. I was reminded today what I love so much about running. It's really for everyone. Regardless of fitness level, or age. It's a great life experience & learning experience. I'm glad I was able to share some of my experience & knowledge with my niece. Maybe she'll grow up to be a marathon runner!

This was part 2 of my weekend 10k for Tall Mom's Race for the Cure. I was very happy to share this with my fellow walkers today and hope they'll participate in something in the future for a cause. Thank you Tall Mom for hosting this!!!

A little mud on your Sole is good for your Soul

March for Nutrition 5k/ Tall Mom's Virtual Race for the Cure 10k Pt1

2010-03-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

I <3 Race Bag Swag!

This race started with a super case of the jitters. It was the first time I was running by myself and I was scared!! I didn't know anyone running in this race and didn't want to stand around looking like a doof waiting for the start.

I got up this morning with a serious case of tummy trouble...ugh - nerves. Two tums later and I'm out the door. Five minutes down the road and I realize I've forgotten my Garmin!! Grrr. I turn back around and call Hubster, he's standing outside with it in hand, waiting for my return. I love him.

I get to the race location with 15 minutes till start. I run over, grab my bag, shirt & bib. After spending a few minutes getting it attached to my belt I sprint my stuff back over to my car then head to the loo. I hate loo lines. After 'doing my business' I head to the start with 01:00 left on the countdown. Sweet! No waiting around looking silly by myself. I did run in to my doctor in the start area. He was shooting for a 30 min finish. Good for him!! We wish each other luck and the race starts (a few seconds after I get a nice cold wet labrador nose up my bum...thanks buddy).

This race was along a course I've run on before, I knew what was coming....and that included a couple nasty hills on the last mile...including an uphill climb to the finish. (Seriously??) So I tried to reserve my energy during the first 1/2 of the race.

One huge difference I felt this time compared to my 5k on March 6th: I did not hate life after the first mile. At this point I usually think to myself 'Why did I ever think this was a good idea? This whole running thing?'. But this race I was still trudging along in my slow jog (11:30min/mile at that point). I actually leaned my head back at one point and really enjoyed the beautiful Florida sunshine & fresh air. I walked for 1 minute at this point, it was in my plan to walk for 1 minute at 1 mile, 1.5 miles, 2 miles, and 2.5 miles. As I began back into my run I was actually smiling. I was enjoying myself! And then there was the 3rd mile...

As soon as I started the 3rd mile I felt like my tank went from full to empty, just like that. My legs felt great, my breathing was labored but not overwhelmingly difficult...but it was my stomach. It didn't really 'hurt', but rather felt like I had done 1,000 crunches. It felt sore, and empty. And I needed water. So the last mile was painful and at this point I began my 'Why did I ever think this was a good idea?' thoughts. Add that to the multiple hills ('I love hills, I love hills, use my arms, use my arms, I love hills' was my mantra the entire time!) and you have one tired runner. I really wanted to leave it all out there today, I told myself to give it every last ounce I had and that I shouldn't be able to move when I get home. I was in the game mentally....

Until I crested the very last hill. My Garmin said 34:00....I could see the finish line. But something in me clicked off. My body could have done it, but my mind wouldn't let me. I lost mentally. I walked the finish. It took me 2 minutes and 13 seconds. I was so upset with myself.

It took me a few minutes to get over my disappointment. I called Hubster and he gave me a good pep talk. Hey! I just beat my PR by a minute!! That is really awesome!!! So I cheered up...but I'm still reaching for that sub-35 min time. (Btw, my doctor didn't make his goal, but he DID shave 2 min off his PR!)

While the awards were being handed out my loneliness paid off - I met an older runner with a 3-legged Aussie that I had seen running at other races too. Because I was alone I started talking to him, asking about his dog. He said her name was 'Apple' and she ran several 1/2 marathons before losing her leg. Now she loves doing 5ks and has an average finish time of 24 minutes!! What an inspiration!!

As I was leaving the race location I saw these balloons tied up to the park sign. I thought it was neat that the race directors had put them there while we were out running...just a small touch that made me smile:

They say 'Good Job!' 'You Rock' and 'Congratulations!'

Things I Learned From This 5k:

A Luna Bar 2 hours before is better than a banana 30 minutes before
It will get easier with time and training
Change up your playlist before a race, it keeps you motivated
Don't be afraid to go alone, you'll meet new people (and dogs!)
I need to figure out a way to carry hydration with me
Be sure to thank my Hubster for all his patience and support
Be stronger than your own mind

Me - happy it was all over!!! Yippeee!!!

I mentioned before that I love love love my new spibelt!! Right? Oh..well here.
So I had the chance to use a new feature on it today: Race Number Toggles. These were a super cheap add on to my order and I'm glad I decided to get them! It was so easy to attach my bib to my belt and not have to put pins through my tech shirt.

The SpiBelt with bib number attached:

And All Seperated

I wore the number above my right thigh. If you place each toggle on opposite sides of the pouch it stays put really good.

Well I hope you've enjoyed my race report. This race was also part 1 of Tall Mom's Virtual Race for the Cure. Tomorrow I will be doing a cross country 5k with a group from work for part 2. I haven't decided if I'm going to walk it with the group or try to run it. My legs are still tight from this morning. We will see tomorrow! :)

Question for my Readers (since you're all super amazing speedy runners!): What do you use to get through that feeling of pain in your abdomen when running? Does it happen to you? How can I fuel better so it doesn't happen?

Fun Video Friday

2010-03-26T17:46:00.000-07:00

I'm exhausted from work, I didn't run today (because I have a 5k tomorrow morning) and I'm ready for bed. So I leave you with not much writing...but a very funny video to start your weekend off right.

I highly encourage you to watch the video in its entirety.

Do you ever feel like you're doing something the hard way??

Happy Friday!!

Something Tasty Going On

2010-03-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome the the Wednesday edition of my life. I have 2 days until my double-5k-weekend. I've been training good and feeling great!

Today I went out with the plan to increase my mileage from my typical 2 miles to 2.5 miles (don't want to jump to 3 and cause any pain/injury before this weekend!). It was an amazing run!! I completed the 2.5 miles in 31:02. With an average pace of 12:25 I'm definitely still in turtle-ville, but here's the AWESOME part: I only walked for 2 minutes!! Remember just a few weeks ago when I was SO excited to run for a full 20 min on the treadmill??? And now I'm running nearly a full 2.5 miles outside!! Such an amazing feeling.

During my run I kept telling myself I could walk the last .5 mile, knowing it was a stretch on my usual distance and I didn't want to push too hard or be disappointed. So when I reached the 2 mile mark I started thinking:

'Should I walk now? How do I feel? Hmm...I don't want to stop at this point, let me think about it.'

And next thing I knew .25 mile had gone by. So then I thought:

'Well, you've ran 1/2 of it, let's finish this sucker!'

Now, .25 mile may not seem like a lot, but when you're ready to drop it's a very long time...those 2-3 minutes take forever to pass. When I thought I couldn't make it and my breathing got heavy a thought came in to my head:

No one gets better by saying "I can't"

Wow! For some reason that thought really made sense at that moment. I realized I needed to push myself to improve myself. Instead of focusing on what I couldn't do, it made me re-focus on what I wanted to do...and what I had to do to get there: Push Myself! I finished the run with no problem. :)

On a side note:
I have been experimenting with nutrition lately and came up with a pretty yummy snack idea I wanted to share. It's home-made trail mix. It is super filling, so I like to use it in the afternoon when the munchies hit. (I work 7am-7pm and usually eat lunch at 12:30pm. So I'm starving towards the end of the day). Pretty easy and straight forward. Here is the recipe in pictures:

Go to the store, buy random healthy stuff you like:

Pour ingredients into bowl and mix:

Scoop 1 Cup of mix and place in small snack bag:

Seal bags, place in pantry, take with you for a great on-the-go snack!

I will put a little warning out there: This is a HIGH FIBER snack! It is not for those who are sensitive to products such as Fiber One. You know what I'm talking about if you're one of those people! LoL I am, but I only eat this in the afternoon, right as I'm leaving work. Poor hubby.

Running before Coffee

2010-03-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

I'm usually a PM runner, after work. I like to use it as a way to get out all my frustrations from a long day. But on my days off I like to just get my run done. This past Sunday I went out at 9am for my run. It felt good, I felt energized, and the rest of the day went by smoothly without me having to worry about squeezing in my run in the evening.

So today when I woke up I decided to do the same thing. I had a few things already in my schedule this afternoon, so I knew getting up and getting out the door for my run was my only option today. I decided to stay in the neighborhood instead of going to the local park. I'm getting used to the streets here. I actually like running in my neighborhood now! So at 9am I headed out the door.

The weather was beautiful, and thanks to a suggestion from Casi over at Racy Runners, I picked up some Zyrtec the other day and took one last night in anticipation of my run today. I could actually breath outside this morning!! I didn't have any problems with the pollen. No more dirt being shoved up my nose! Thanks girl!! :)

I was also excited to use my new toy:

That's right! A cool, new, PINK spibelt!! I absolutely love it! I couldn't wait to use it today. I stuck my blackberry in it and headed out the door. I never felt it the entire run and it stayed in place! I was pretty shocked. About one mile in I reached down thinking I would need to re-adjust the belt, but it was still in the same place I had put it. Totally awesome in my book! Wednesday I'm going to try using it as a 'ghetto hydration belt' thanks to a little idea Lauren over at Bananas and Toast came up with. Go check it out. :) The girl is a genius.

As for my run stats: 2 miles - 24:31. Staying consistent.

Why is it that every day I go out for a run I want to quit at .5 miles?? Seriously. At this point in every run I think to myself 'Gosh girl, you're terrible, give up!! You'll never be a runner...this is soooo hard!!!'. But I always push through and after the first mile I feel like a rock star! What is up with that??? It's a very bad mental game that I wish would go away. I just always feel so clunky the first few minutes. But then I get into a groove and feel good. I also almost quit after 1.5 miles today, but turned right (away from my house) instead of left (towards my house) and told myself 'Haha! Now you HAVE to run the last half mile sucker!'. I'm such a bully to my brain.

Me after my run today, and after beating myself up for wanting to quit:

I need to save this picture (can you tell I like taking photos btw?? I'm such a photo-ho!) and look at it on the days I don't want to run. I'm smiling, I look happy, and most importantly...I look like I feel good!

Question: What do you use for fueling up before your run? I always enjoy a nice glass of cold chocolate milk after (and that really works too!! No muscle soreness and feel completely recovered when I drink my chocolate milk!). But I've been trying to find something good for pre-run. I tried two different varieties of Lara Bars, but I just can't get into the consistency (umm, brick of goo??) and I hate nuts in my food. So those have to go. I have a box of Luna Bars I'm going to try, and I picked up some stuff to make my own trail mix today. What do YOU use? :)

Favorite Running Song of the Week: 'Galvanize' by The Chemical Brothers

I Hate the Color Green

2010-03-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

That's right. Me and the color green have a very volatile relationship. Mainly because of photos like this:

See that beautiful little pink dot over Florida?? Yeah, that's where I live! Stupid radar, stupid rain, stupid person who invented rain.

Hubby and I had been planning to head out to the local trail head for a couple of weeks. We were all set to get up this morning, strap his bike to the car, and get in a good 3 miles (me + running shoes), and 6 miles (him + bike).

Instead, he stayed in his pj's and I went to the gym. Not my idea of a beautiful Sunday. Whatever...have to do what you have to do.

I was actually kind of excited to use the treadmill. I haven't been on it for a couple of weeks and I know my endurance is a little better on the 'mill than outdoors. I fired it up at a 12min/mile pace and surprisingly ran the entire first mile without a break! I walked for one minute at that point then went back into running to complete the last mile (running at 11min/mil for the last 1/2 mile...I like to push myself). Finished 2 miles in 24:21. I wish I could have skipped the walking break, but I'm still thrilled that I nearly ran 2 miles without stopping!! Now, if only I could do this outside on the streets! (I'm getting there)

Me after my lovely run, so happy it's over but so I happy I ran it too! (See the icky rain outside??)

Question: Does anyone else get THIS red after your run?? You can't see it too well here, but I'm a serious tomato face!

Hope you had an awesome weekend!! Pray the rain goes away here so I can get a good run outside tomorrow. :)

25 for my 25

2010-03-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

Wow! I hit 25 followers here today! This means that, if I subtract the 3 people I know IRL that are obligated to follow me (hello TWiu!!), 22 of you choose to read about my craziness for no apparent reason other than you like me, you really really like me!! (If you haven't figured out by now, I'm the cheesiest of all cheese-balls)

So let's do something random to celebrate:

25 Things You Didn't Know (And probably don't want to know) About Me!

1. I love bags, purses, suitcases, gym bags, caboodles, anything I can put STUFF in.

2. I have anxiety - mainly social anxiety. I don't like large groups of people, people looking at me, or being in crowded places. I prefer to be at home in my own little 'safe' zone. (I'm NOT an agoraphobe!! lol) Seriously, just checking out at the grocery store can send me into a minor panic. Crazy! I know! I don't use any medication for my anxiety, I rely on regular exercise and relaxation techniques.

3. Tied to my anxiety - I have hyperhydrosis - which means I sweat... A LOT, and usually in situations that don't call for it. My body is in a pretty consistent state of fight-or-flight, but I've learned to live with it and it doesn't bug me most days.

4. I don't keep secrets from people very well. I'm an open book and love telling people MY secrets. However...

5. I can keep other people's secrets VERY well! I hide them so well I usually forget what they are lol.

6. I have a dog, my husband has a cat. We all live in one house, but neither of us claim the other's pet.

7. I love ALL things Disney. I used to be a Cast Member and have never fallen out of love with the entire company.

Yeah, that's me contemplating the tastiness of Mickey's nose.

8. My husband and I were married at Walt Disney World. And yes, Mickey and Minnie were at the reception.

9. I grew up in Key Largo, FL, and I'm still an island girl at heart.

10. I listened to Hanson in the '90s, and I still do.

11. I bite my nails....and my toe nails. EW!!!

12. I drink coffee...black.

13. I work at an animal hospital. It's fun...and a little smelly.

14. When I 'grow up' I want to be a college professor, in Humanities.

15. I've been to the Louvre, twice.

16. I've been to the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. I went without my husband, with people I barely knew from a college class, and lived on a boat for a week in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 600 miles from the nearest continent. And I loved it.

17. My second hobby (after running) is photography. I'd love to learn the technicalities of it, but I still have fun with what I do know:

18. I used to be my own model for photos (and really bored) in college:

19. I read...a lot. And I should wear glasses, but never do. (Could that be related to my constant use of Aleve for headaches??)

20. I <3 Mexcian food. Seriously, the stuff is like oxygen to me, I can't live without it.

21. I love to scrapbook. And I spend too much money on new craft stuff.

22. I don't mind doing laundry, but I HATE putting it away. I also hate emptying the dishwasher. Ugh.

23. I'm incapable of remembering where I put anything.

24. I have to pee...all the time...anywhere I go...I must go.

25. If I could only have 1 type of beverage for the rest of my life it would be milk.

There you go! 25 random tid-bits and a lot of TMI for you to peruse. :)

As for my run today, well....we can't always have good runs. I went over to the park and the pollen was killer, I feel like I just shoved a pound of dirt up my nose (talk about nasty snot rockets!!). I couldn't breath and felt like I had a nose bleed the whole time. I did 1.52-miles in 19:05 and had to call it quits. Came home and did my shred DVD (I hate you Jillian Michaels) and now am enjoying a nice glass of chocolaty Ovaltine. :) Sunday will be a better run, I just know it!

Bad Day, Good Run!

2010-03-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

Today's run was one of those that make you say 'wow, this is why I run!'. It wasn't my best, it wasn't the easiest, probably wasn't even my fastest, but it felt great! After a pretty crappy day at work all I wanted to do was get some frustration out via my running shoes.

I have always had an irrational fear of running my neighborhood streets. Blame it on the fact that I have social anxiety and embarrassing myself in front of my neighbors while attempting to run is not my idea of a good time. Or the fact that my neighborhood has a hill that is my own personal Heartbreak and I prefer the flat track at the local park. Either way you look at it, I have always avoided the streets right outside my door. However, with the new time change I've gained 30 minutes of sunlight after I get home at night. This provides me with not quite enough time to drive to the park, but just enough time to head out my front door and pound out a few miles. So tonight was my first run in the 'hood since early February.

It was amazing! I wasn't able to run the full 2 miles straight, but I only walked a total of 3 or 4 minutes, and usually only after cresting the hills. Two things I learned from this run -

If I focus on my feet or my immediate surroundings I tend to tire out quickly, but if I focus out on the horizon or a distant tree I can zone out like on the treadmill and can go for a much longer distance.
You can slow down to a jog to catch your breath, you don't have to stop and walk. Granted, my jog is just about as slow as my walk, but it makes me feel better mentally to keep moving. (And I'm less self conscious jogging by neighbors rather than walking.)

I'm really enjoying this full transition from treadmill running to outdoors. It's a completely different feeling, like I'm actually accomplishing something. And I know if I went and hopped on a treadmill now I'd be able to go for 30 min straight with no problem. Outdoors has always been more difficult for me, so to see some real progress out there is thrilling, especially after just being sick for 2 weeks.

Time tonight: 2 miles: 24:32

I also had the opportunity to try out some new running pants I got from Champion @ Target. These were SO comfy and kept my legs warm in the slightly chilly weather tonight. They were a little loose just at the waistline and felt like they might shift down, but they ended up staying up the whole time. When I got home I noticed there were drawstrings that I could have tied around my waist to feel more secure. Oh well, still comfy!

This model but with reflective grey/silver accents instead of pink:

And they have a small zipper pocket on the front, perfect for a house key.

Thank you all for your support while I was sick and down. Logging on and seeing your comments, blog posts, and support really keeps me going and helps me push myself further than I would alone. You may not realize it, but you're all my coaches. So thank you!!!

Question: How do you manage hills without dying? Any tips/tricks?

Jumping In Feet First

2010-03-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

Countdown: Day 0!

That's right, it was back to the pavement for me today! After being sick and on rest for the last 2 weeks I was very nervous about getting back out there. I decided to change up my training just a smidge to help motivate myself. Instead of set intervals (because after 2 weeks off I would be highly disappointed if I wasn't able to complete any of the intervals) I decided to run the 2 mile loop at the park and just try to get a decent time. Then, for the next few weeks I'm going to keep trying to beat that time. Run when I can, walk when I have to, until I can run the full loop in under 22 minutes (I'm aiming for an 11min/mile for my 1/2 in October, it's a comfy pace for me).

I was so excited about running again. Just to see my running shoes on my feet was a huge mental boost!

A good look for me:

The sun was shining and it was a beautiful 66 degrees out, but the wind was killer!!! I had to lean in to it almost the entire run. As I mentioned above I did my running intervals based on how I felt today. I managed a few good long ones, and I ended up doing a lot less walking than I thought I'd do. Though, at about mile 1 I was ready to quit (Why does this feel like the very first time I ever went out for a run?? I wanna die!!). My Garmin was almost thrown in the bushes and a few thoughts of 'Who am I kidding? I'm no runner.' crept in to my mind, but I just reminded myself that when I first started I couldn't run 60 seconds and now I'm recovering from being sick at 5 minute intervals!

I finished the run in 25:34. Not bad for having 2 weeks off. It's not the pace I was at pre-illness, but not back to the beginning. I'm going to work hard over the next two weeks, I really want a sub 35min 5k on the 27th. (Don't tell my brain, but I'd be ecstatic for a sub 33!!!)

When I got home I decided to cross train (Just cause you were sick doesn't mean you get to be a pansy on day 1!!). As mentioned before I recently purchased the 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels and some 3lb hand weights. I popped the DVD in and got ready for some mild strength training.

Omg!!! Holy F'ing Bejeezers! I hate Jillian Michaels now!!!! Ok, actually I like her, a lot. But damn girl! She's all laughing and crap while I'm ready to pass out! Apparently I have ZERO upper body strength, that level 1 workout kicked my A$$! (Oh, I love how one of the cardio moves is the 'Butt Kick'...yeah...I'm kicking my own butt over here Jillian...trust me!)

After suffering through the 20 minutes I plopped down and thought 'Holy cow....I got an awesome workout today!' and enjoyed my chocolate milk. After taking 2 weeks off this was exactly what I needed to get my butt back in the game, although I'm going to pay for it tomorrow!

Favorite Running Song of the Week: 'Walk Idiot Walk' by The Hives

2 Down, 2 To Go

2010-03-12T17:29:00.000-08:00

Well, we're smack in the middle of my non-running adventure. This sucks. It is not pleasant at all. Especially since I feel perfectly fine except for an annoying cough every few minutes. But I'm going to stick it out until Monday. Two more full days until I can run. I'm planning to get up Monday, put on my shoes, and just go. I don't know how long I'll run, what my plan is, or how many miles I'll do...I just want to get out there and get my heart pumping.

In my down time I have been a little productive. I've decided to start the shred series to get some muscle definition (I have a cruise in 2 months...need to look good!), and...*drum roll please* I've signed up for 2 more 5K's! And here's the kicker...they're both on the same weekend. March 27th & 28th. Now...don't go freaking out about me doing too much in too little time. The first one is on the same nice, flat, paved trail I ran last weekend. I am doing it to beat my time over the same course when NOT sick. The second is a cross-country one that I'm doing with my friend from work that ran the Valentine's 5K with me. My plan is just to have fun that day. I'm not too worried about time. I'm thinking of that one as more of an adventure. And of course I'll take the 29th off. :)

So that's it from me today. Thanks for stopping by and listening to me grumble. I'll be back to myself on Monday, when I can put a few miles on my shoes.

Let The Countdown Begin

2010-03-10T18:05:00.000-08:00

Well, my coughing never subsided, and after several nights of only 3-4 hours of sleep due to hacking up my lung, I broke down and went to the doctor this morning. Ok, technically he's an FNP, but he's close enough for me. After showing off my sexy phlegm in his office he informed me that I have a mass of mucus in my lungs, put me on 3 different meds, told me to stay away from milk, .............and off my feet for a while.

My response:

Now, let me say, I have the COOLEST doctor in the world. He is awesome. Very nice, personable, and funny. He also has ran 2 of the same 5k's with me! So...he's a runner! (And about my pace too, which is awesome because we can both relate to being turtles.) I decide to level with him....

Me: "Exactly what day can I go back to running?"
Him: *ponders for a moment* "Monday"
Me: "Monday?" *insert low grumble here*
Him: "You'll be ok."
Me: *sigh* "You're right, Monday is better than 2 weeks from now. Thanks for understanding."

As I leave he also gives me a flier for a 5k at the end of this month and encourages me to sign up. I seriously <3 my doctor!

So here I sit, after taking approximately 72 8 pills so far today with 2 more to go. Ugh...I hate medicine. And it has been making me cough up something nasty!

On a positive-thinking note, the following quote came from Runner's World today:

"The thinking must be done first, before training begins. "
-Peter Coe, Father of Olympic Gold Medalist Sebastian Coe

I couldn't agree with this quote more. You have to do the time with your mind as well as your feet. Sometimes (like me right now) you can't just get out and run. But it's important to stay in the mindset of a runner. Do the research, read the blogs, join the community, plan your training. Those will be the things that support you through bad runs, injuries, and illness. Prepare your mind and it will carry your feet.

5 days to go...

Calling In Sick

2010-03-08T18:28:00.000-08:00

Monday has rolled around again, a typical training day for me. But after consulting my coach (aka: my husband DJ) I have decided to take an unscheduled rest day.

I have my reasons (and Coach concurs):

I am still hacking, coughing, and quite congested from my cold.
I really pushed myself to do the 5k Saturday, thus never letting myself get over this cold completely.
I was making lasagna tonight, and that takes a lot of time. Going to the gym would have meant dinner at 9pm, not cool.
I was planning an easy run today, nothing too hard due to the lingering cold, so I wouldn't really be making any progress.
I only managed 4 hours of sleep last night thanks to my coughing and would probably fall asleep on the treadmill.

There you have it, my list of excuses for today.

I have a good run planned for Wednesday at the park. I'm hoping to get out there and kick some butt, because after being sick for the last 7 days I'm starting to feel like a giant non-running lump.

Enough whining....

I really can't wait for 2 things: our neighborhood pool to warm up so I can swim on the weekends, and the time change coming up so I can go for a run outside after work.

Happy Monday! :)

Favorite Running Song of the Week: 'Rusty Halo' by The Script

Kidney Foundation 5K Race Report

2010-03-07T06:48:00.000-08:00

**I know there is nothing that can be done to reverse the terrible events of the last week, but I want to dedicate this race in memory of Chelsea King. She may no longer be able to run, but we can keep running for her.**

I did it! I ran the race yesterday. Looking back, maybe I shouldn't have (I've been coughing non-stop ever since) but I'm glad I did. It was a gorgeous day out, a brisk 40 degrees in the morning. I ventured out in my tempo shorts and a long sleeved tech tee. I was perfectly warm....in the sun.

My sister-in-law AJ ran this 5k with me (if you haven't noticed, I like to use initials rather than names here....my real name is not the same as Spiderman's girlfriend, though that would be cool), it's always more fun to have someone there with you, though I'm sure she was regretting the decision when the forecast showed such cold temps. (Hey, we're in Florida...anything below 60 is freezing!)

The race was for the local Kidney Foundation and had a decent turn out. Even our small-town mayor was there! I would say about 200 participants in all. Not too shabby. There were a lot of vendors (free-stuff-itis kicking in bad!!) and a great assortment of snacks/drinks. I had eaten a banana on the way to the race so I didn't take anything else beforehand....big mistake I would find out later.

As the race started off I felt pretty good. Not too congested, breathing ok, and managed to run the first 1/2 mile straight through at AJ's pace of near 10 min/mile. My cold finally caught up with me and I told her to go on ahead, I'd see her at the finish. I walked for a bit, caught my breath, then picked up my pace for an 11 min/mile. I was feeling fantastic for running with a cold when suddenly, at about mile 2, my stomach let out a monstrous noise (thank goodness I was more than 20 feet from anyone else) and did a somersault inside of me. What the ????? I slowed down and walked for a few minutes. Feeling better I picked up the pace again. No more than 20 steps into my running it did it again, and this time there was a distinct instinct to vomit. I stopped again, kind of freaked out about the whole thing. I've never felt like this during a run, maybe after...when I've pushed myself good, but never during.

From that point on I couldn't run more than 20 steps without the feeling/noise occuring again. My breathing & HR were fine, my legs felt powerful, but my stomach wouldn't quit. So I settled with speed walking, and let my goal of sub-36 minutes slip through my fingers. (Did I mention I was a full minute ahead of my goal at the first 2 splits?? grrrr....) At the last bend I said 'F-it'....my Garmin said I was at 36min and I was determined to finish with a 36:XX....so I let it all out...I may puke, but I'd finish in a respectable time! I bolted up the last hill and around the turn.

Coming in to the finish chute the race clock read 37:00 but I knew it had taken me at least 15-20 seconds to reach the start line earlier. AJ was on the side cheering me on (she finished in 30:XX!!) and I looked over at her, said 'I'm going to throw up!' then ran through the finish. I took a few moments, bent over on the other side of a truck near the finish, and regained my composure. No puking, thank goodness...but it was the closest I've ever come since I started running.

I had forgotten to stop my Garmin as I crossed the finish (more focused on finding a private spot to visit with my banana from earlier) but after plugging it in the computer and re-tracing the finish I came in at 36:50!!! I may not have reached my goal of sub-36, but I did PR, and for running with a cold + near-vomiting I did pretty darn good.

I replenished with some gatorade and we enjoyed the award presentation (AJ got 2nd in her age group!). Then I headed home, showered off, and plopped on the couch, slightly dissapointed, slightly nauseated, and slightly relieved the whole thing was over. I'll get my goal next time....matter of fact...I'll probably shoot for a sub-35. And one day I'll catch up with AJ. In the meantime I'm happy to be a turtle....a green nauseated turtle.

Me after the race, green glow gone:

Every time I have done a long run or race I've learned something new, and I realize I should start documenting these lessons for my future use. So here we are...

Things I Learned from this 5K:

Eat more than a banana pre-race...and eat it early, not right before.
Probably not a good idea to run when sick, will only make you sicker
Don't freak out when you're near puking, others have puked ahead of you
Don't start to think about giving up at 2miles, you're more than halfway done
Always go for the cooler option, ie: shorts over pants
Pigtails make for a comfy & cute running hair-do
Talk to other runners at the end of the race, they're just as excited to finish with 18 minutes as your are with 36, and they're just as proud of you as you are of yourself.

Race Bag Swag

2010-03-05T18:15:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, due to ~~Swine Flue~~ the common cold + a sinus infection, I have no running to report to you. I do however have massive amounts of green snot & tissue in my house! I've also tested the effects of Nyquil (helps you sleep for 4 hours, you're on your own after that...helllooooo 2am coughing and hacking!) and sleeping on the couch (why is the couch so much more comfy than the bed?).

Due to the lack of running-related information, I had to make something up for Friday's post, so we're going to take a look at one of my favorite topics: FREE STUFF!!

My DH says I have a bad case of 'free-stuff-itis'. It's completely true. If you're handing/giving something out I'm THERE! T-shirts? There! Stickers? There! Magnets? Pens? Keychains? There There There!! So what better sport for a sufferer of this disease to participate in than running? Have you ever heard of a race packet?? It's like heaven to me!!! I actually torture myself, running for miles on end, just to get my bag with a free shirt and a flier to a local chiropractic.

I have a 5k I'm running tomorrow and had to go pick up my packet today. To my surprise I found more than just the typical cotton t-shirt and race number.... (yes...I actually get excited about this stuff lol)

A Water Bottle
Sports Beans
Biofreeze Gel
Pens
Asics Running Shoe Keychain
Free Appetizer Coupon
and a nice White Tech Tee

My Idea of Christmas:

I was like a kid in a candy store. I raced back to my car and started going through the bag. So excited!! Free stuff!!! This reaction is a common side effect to Free-Stuff-Itis and my DH is quite used to it by now.

If you, or someone you know, suffers from this terrible disease, contact your local Free-Stuff-Itis support center. Symptoms include: waiting in long lines for meaningless free junk, searching on Google for blog giveaways, coupons, and samples, buying things not needed for free gift included, and the accumulation of pens, key chains, stickers, fliers, t-shirts, etc.

Do you get as excited about race packets as I do???

PS~~ Don't forget to enter the awesome giveaways over on my sidebar :) Good luck!

Caution: Ladies Only Please

2010-03-03T15:59:00.000-08:00

If you're a male and still reading this I encourage you to find something else to read now.....

Still here?? Go! Trust me! You'll be scarred for life!!!!

How about I suggest something.... Check Out Man Babies. :)

Ok....I think that got their attention.

So here is my question for you ladies...

When it's 'That Time', what do you use for protection when running? During the last few days of the week a tampon will usually do the trick, but I always feel like it's going to fall out. And forget a pad! Those just get crinkled up and give you diaper butt. It never fails that my first day (ie, the heaviest!) falls on a run day, not a rest day, and I have a huge fear that one time it will fall on a race day!

I have been using these cups called 'Instead' for a couple of years and they definitely help when paired with a tampon:

That combo does well for a few miles, but then I get worried that I have a red streak going down the back of my leg or something. What are your experiences? Tips? Tricks?? If you're too 'shy' to discuss here feel free to email me your tips!

Btw...on an end note, I'm sick again, so no running for me the last two days. I probably won't run again until my 5k this weekend. I'm going to shoot for a PR, but probably won't hit my goal of sub-35. :( Oh well, can't control when you're sick I suppose.

My name is MJ, and I'm a Runner

2010-03-01T16:35:00.000-08:00

That's right...this is another one of those 'can you believe I just accomplished that?!?!' posts. You know you love them.

So I took my own professional advice and went to the gym today with the thought of 'at the end of my first 5 minutes of running I'll decide to either stop and do intervals or I'll go on and bust out 20 minutes'. Guess what this chic did???

I RAN FOR 20 MINUTES!!!

Can you say AWESOME??

I'm still shocked I actually did it. I have been dreading this day in the C25K program since I started. I was actually nauseous driving to the gym. But I kept telling myself 'No one knows my goal...if I have to stop at 10 minutes no one will know I failed'. Then, on the treadmill, I kept telling myself I was fully capable of this. I've been training for it and it's all part of the program. Hundreds of others have accomplished it and I can too. I've done everything I can to get ready for a steady run like this and here is the chance to prove to myself all of it has been worth it.

I started off feeling yucky and awkward (did I mention I was still slightly hungover? lol), but after 3 or 4 minutes I really got into a good groove. I said I wouldn't look down at the time until I started feeling tired....that was 10 minutes in. Holy cow! I've only ever ran 8! I'm already kicking ass, and I'm halfway there! Minute 15, not doing too bad, my breathing was still steady and my form still good. At minute 17 I started feeling a little fatigued but knew I could push through the last 3 minutes. Minute 18 was hard, and my breathing got a little heavy, but there was no way I was going to come on here and blog about running '18 minutes'. I was going to finish. The last minute ticked by and I slowed the treadmill down for my cool-down. Wow! I had just run 20 minutes!!!! I practically floated out of there.

I am so impressed with the C25K program. I can't say enough good things about it. I'm going in to my last week of intervals and can hardly believe that just 2 months ago I could barely run 1 minute. My legs used to hurt after one tenth of a mile, my heart rate would go through the roof instantly and my face would be tomato red. Now, I can run 20 minutes. I am a runner.

Me celebrating after my TWENTY MINUTE run (and showing off my new Champion singlet & water bottle...I <3 Pink)

What have you achieved recently?

Favorite Running Song of the Week: 'Hey Soul Sister' by Train

Running Fail

2010-03-01T07:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday to everyone. How was your weekend?

I have to admit, mine was a blast....but did not include running (unless you count running to the stage to watch my friend sing). I went down to O-town to see a show with a friend, then met up with more friends at City Walk for some 'light' partying, which ended up lasting well into the late hours of the night/early morning. Alcohol may have been involved, that's all I'm saying.

So Sunday was not exactly a good day for my first 20 minute run. Painful brain being bobbed around inside my skull for 20 minutes? No thank you. Dehydration at its finest? Eh...no running for me ma'am.

My dilemma today: I have a 5k to run this Saturday and I really want to beat 36 minutes. I just have that 12 min/mile stuck in my head for some reason. Now, my training called for 20 minutes yesterday, then two interval workouts this week, then a 25 minute run on Saturday which I was going to use the 5k for. BUT....I didn't run yesterday. Sooo...do I do the 20 minutes today and 1 interval workout this week and skip to the 25 minutes of running on Saturday? Or do I skip the 20 minute workout from yesterday and get back on schedule, not having a long run under my belt until race day? Expert advice appreciated! :)

Ok...back to my coffee and catching up on the 10,000 blog posts I missed from all of you this weekend!

Forgive a drunk girl.

Finally Friday!

2010-02-26T18:34:00.000-08:00

Omg I'm exauhsted!! If today were Monday I think I'd stick a fork in my eye. Yes...seriously. So glad this work week is almost done (Just 5 hours tomorrow morning, no biggie for me..during the week I do 11-12hr shifts).

I went to the gym for my workout today, too dark outside after work. (How excited will I be for the time change coming soon!!! I can run outside after work!!) I did my intervals: Run 8 minutes, walk 5 minutes, Run 8 minutes. I'm shocked that I'm not sweating until my second run, my HR recovers super fast, and my legs aren't burning like they did before when running. Walking is actually more uncomfortable than running now!! And after my workout I rarely have 'tomato-face' (you pale girls know what I'm talking about!). By time I get home I feel back to normal, just a little sticky from sweat lol. A few weeks ago I would feel like throwing up for 2-3 hours after each run. One night my DH had cooked an awesome dinner and I couldn't eat at all because I had worked so hard for my run. I know I'm still working hard right now, but my body is starting to accept the changes running is bringing instead of fighting against them.

I have my very first 20 minute run this weekend. I'm probably going to run it on Sunday (more Orlando fun tomorrow after work! Yay!). So please think of me Sunday and pray I make it to 20!!! I'll be happy if I do 15 lol! I can do it....I'm going to do it....I will do it!

Bashful Badass Beginners

2010-02-24T15:13:00.000-08:00

A random mid-week day off meant a run outside today in our (ducks for snowballs) sunny 68 degree weather here. I grabbed the Garmin and the ipod and headed over to my favorite running path and had a great time. There I was, trudging along at my 12min/mile pace, doing my 5 minute running intervals, when an interesting subject hit me.

I really think sometimes beginners are nervous about getting out there and trying to run. You seem to only see people walking, or running. Nothing in between. The walkers are slow, the runners are fast, and your 12-14min/mile pace seems like it's not even worth it. Never mind the fact that when you first start, running for one minute makes you feel like dying!

Let me share this with you: not everyone is naturally born to run!!

The very first time I went out, the very first running interval I ever tried (1 minute) I nearly passed out, I swore this was the stupidest idea I had ever had, and that I must have been born with some rare genetic disorder that would permanently prevent me from running....ever. I went home, I gave up.

The next day I was supposed to train I decided to give this whole running thing another shot, out I went. I managed to finish a 1-minute run, and after walking a bit even did a second 1-minute interval. I didn't feel like dying this time, that's an improvement. But I knew I'd never be able to complete a half marathon with a Run 1/Walk 10 interval plan. I decided to just keep at it and see what happened.

Over the next few weeks I had great improvements, and terrible set backs. There was the week I had to run two 3-minute intervals in a workout. I thought I would pass out. The very next week I ran a 5-minute interval like I had wings on me...no problems! The very next training session I could barely drag out 3-minutes again.

The point is, you're not alone. You're not the only one who thinks they have cinder-blocks for feet, or that your hips must be stuck with super-glue, or that your lungs have the capacity of a fly. You're not alone when you're out there, celebrating that you just ran/walked 1 mile today, or that you ran for 5 minutes straight.

Things I Have Celebrated With A VFP (Visible Fist Pump):

Running more than 1 minute
Finishing ANY run/walk
Completing my first 5K (who cares if it took more than 40 minutes?? I was out there doing it!)
Completeng my 2nd 5K and beating my PR!
Running for 3 minutes
Running for 5 minutes!
Running for 8 minutes!!
Getting my first running bloggy-friend follower (I <3 you Morgan!)
Being told by a 'real runner' to have a "good run" when I was headed to the health club at a hotel
Actually exercising while on vacation
Getting my first blister
Being told by DH I have more toned thighs
Reaching that point where I feel like a 'real runner'
Every single day I choose to work towards my goal and get out there and DO IT!

So be persistent, be slow, be proud of what you're doing beginners!! Everyone started here at some point.

Oh, and that beautiful 'runner's glow'?? Yeah...tell that to my red, blotchy "just busted my butt for those 5-minute intervals" post-run face....

Rock on with your bad a$$ self!

Such a long Monday I forgot a post title

2010-02-22T19:01:00.000-08:00

It's Monday again. Yeah, it just happened 7 days ago, but as some cruel joke from the Gods it's back. Have I ever mentioned how much I HATE Mondays?? Ugh...please get me to the weekend.

First a little shameless friend's blog plug:
Remember that yummy cake you saw yesterday?? Here's a reminder....
(Kelbo, Me, TWiu)

Well my awesome friend, who is extremely talented (Btw...What do intelligent owls say? 'Whom' lololol...yes...I'm a cheese ball. I digress....) made that cake for me. She also does photography, digital scrapbooking, and countless other crafty things and she is amazing at it all!! There is nothing this girl can't do! So if you're in the O-town (Orlando) area and in need of something yummy or a good photographer check her out : Mikkel Paige (code name Kelbo lol).

So, let's get back to running. Did I mention how awesome my run was today?? I didn't?? Oh..well...just sit back and let me tell you....

Last Monday was the beginning of Week 4 of C25K for me. I aced my first 5 minute run! It was the most amazing feeling, actually getting into a good rhythm for a few minutes of real running. Well, my Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday runs last week were not all that impressive due to being sick. I couldn't seem to repeat my awesome Monday run. So I was a little hesitant about this week, I was supposed to do an 8 minute run today!! Agh!! I kept battling with my inner-self.
"I didn't really run all my intervals last week, so I'm probably not conditioned enough to complete that"
"But I reaaalllly want to give 8 minutes a try!"
"But you'll fall on your ass"
"At least I'll fall while trying!"

So at the icky gym tonight I ~~waltz~~ cower up to the treadmills, still debating what run I'm going to do. I pick a spot between two reasonably unfit people, surely I won't look that stupid falling off this thing if I'm next to 'old man' here. Set up my music and start my warmup. Excuse me 'old man', why are you running now?? Oh no no...I'm the runner here! F-that! I'm running my 8!! I do a short 5 min run (Haha!! Notice how last week 5 minutes was a huge accomplishment and this week it's my short interval?? Not conditioned my arse!! Btw...3 minutes of running feels like 10 seconds now...all this work is really paying off!!! YAY!) and get ready for my big show....8 minutes. I start up and knock out the first half like it's nothing ('old man' hasn't stopped running yet btw...darn his old-fit lungs!), then I start to feel my legs in the second half. I knew it would pass and just pushed through the pain. Poof! Leg pain gone...5 minutes down...at this point I'm running the longest time I've ever ran in my life. Six....seven.....eight!!! I slowed it down for my walk break and may have done a little fist pump celebration lol. I didn't care...I was SO happy!!! I finished up my run with one more quick 5 min interval and got off the treadmill with my head floating above my body and a huge grin on my face...I don't care how stupid I look! I just ran 8 minutes!

By the way, I found an amazing snack today! Pre-run I had a banana with 1/2tbsp of Nutella spread on it...yummers!!

How was your Monday??