Rollin' Out

Before you think this has turned in to a cooking blog, let me explain:

I got to the gym this morning and did my little mix up of a workout : 15 minutes on the elliptical, 15 minutes on the treadmill, and 15 minutes on the bike.  I did arms and abs after that.  I left the gym and my legs felt so tight.  I don't have a foam roller, but today I was wishing that I did!  Next best thing?  Yep, that's right...a rolling pin.  I rolled my legs out a few times and I was good to go.  I think I will need that rolling pin again tomorrow after my 7 miles.

I might start doing Favorite Food of the Week Fridays for a bit.  I have been really trying to watch what I put in my mouth this week.  I have been counting calories for a couple of months now...not so much to skimp on them to lose weight, but to make sure I am getting enough of what my body needs...a healthy balance of carbs, protein, and fat.  I have known about PB2 for a while now, but I had never tried it.  Last week, I tried it for the first time and loved it.  I loved it so much that I went out and bought some of my own.  I mix it up and dip my apple in it...it's good for dipping banana in it too.  So, this was my pick for my favorite food of this past week.  I love peanut butter, but this is a healthy alternative without all of the fat.

We have some big snow on the way and I am hoping I can make my trek to the gym tomorrow for my seven mile training run on the hamster wheel.

Happy Running!

Excuses? I think I have one...

When it comes to training, I try to stick to the motto : No Excuses.  It's really easy to do until you have a really good excuse...or what, in your mind, seems like a good one.

With my husband's new job, he is usually able to start later than he used to...which allows me some extra time to sleep before I need to get up and head to the gym.  Since his start time varies day to day, I make sure to ask him the night before to know when I will have to set my alarm.  I worked last night and so I sent him a text to ask.  When he replied, "Six," I knew the probability of a five mile run was pretty slim.  I'll admit I had a little bit of a mental argument between the side of me that likes my warm bed and the side of me that screams :Hard work, Dedication, No excuses!  Eventually, I knew that I had to suck it up and get out of the house.

My alarm went off at 4:30 (after 6 hours of restless sleep) and by 5:03 I was on the hamster wheel plugging along.  After the six miles I did on Saturday, the dread was still fresh and I knew this would be more mental than physical for me.  After I had three miles under my belt, I seriously considered jumping off and calling it a day...not because my body wanted to quit, but because my mind had had enough.  I averaged a 9:30 pace for my five miles...that seems to be my comfort zone lately...one that I am hoping to break.

I was thrilled to jump off that machine that makes every. single. minute. seem like an eternity, but even more thrilled that I didn't let an excuse get in my way.

Now to mentally prepare for the seven that I have to do this weekend.

Happy Running!

Back to Training

It's hard to believe that it's that time already.  It snuck up on me.  I got out my calendar the other night and counted the weeks until my half marathon and was surprised when it was just less than twelve.  So, it was time to jump on a training plan.

In 2013, the only race I ran was The CRIM...so, I feel like I am pretty rusty and I can't just wing it this time like I have in the past.  I also want to do well.

I found a plan I liked and jumped right in.  This morning called for a 4 mile run.  The weather has been less than cooperative lately.  When I woke up at 4:15AM and heard the wind howling, I was so thankful, once again, for my gym membership.

My 4 miles felt good today.  I kept an easy pace (9:30/mile) and before I knew it, my run was done.  Before I let myself get too excited about how much easier that went than expected, I remembered that I have 6 miles to do on Sunday...on the hamster wheel.

One day at a time.

Happy Running!

Playing Catch Up

Back in September, I had a bit of a health scare.  It stopped me in my tracks, literally, and made me put my relationship with running on a back burner for a bit.  Not only did it give me the much needed rest my body needed, it also gave me a refreshed appreciation that I am able to run.

Running is a gift.

Weeks later, after being cleared by my doctor, I slowly got back to it.  My body was weak, I had lost about 12 pounds, and I knew I needed a move.

I joined a gym.

I never thought I would go back.  I needed so badly to "get away" a year and a half before when I cancelled my membership.  I had become stagnant and everything was so boring.  I truly am thankful for the year and a half I spent on the open road, out in the elements, watching the sunsets and sunrises and everything in between...but I am also happy to be back in the gym, especially in this weather!

I have been working on my whole body and not just running.  I feel great, my hip pain is totally gone, and I feel stronger.  I am really looking forward to building more muscle, increasing my speed, and getting back to racing this year.

Almost a week ago, I walked in to Complete Nutrition.  I have been upping my protein and trying to eat cleaner.  I met with a girl there and had an analysis done.  I stepped on that analyzer and was a little freaked out as to what it would say...I was hesitant to even do it...but, I was pretty pleased with my numbers!  The trip provided me with a lot of new information and was an encouragement to keep going and doing what I am doing.  I have a trip planned to go back in there the middle of February to step on the dreaded analyzer again to see if my muscle mass has increased at all and see if any other progress has been made.

That, coupled with a few races already on the calendar has been much needed motivation.

It feels so good to be back!

Happy Running!

Cone of Shame

On Tuesday, I took my Henry boy to the vet to be neutered.  It turns out he is a bigger baby than I originally thought.  He made sure to let everyone know, in true Husky fashion, that he was not happy and very uncomfortable.  He wouldn't leave his incision alone so they sent him home with "the cone of shame" to be kept on for the next two years of his life...not really, just for a few days until it becomes a little less uncomfortable for him.  He is running in to everything and almost has one side of it chewed off...really, I expected nothing less.  He hates being cooped up not able to do anything.  I cheated and took him for a mile walk this morning...he loved his little bit of freedom.  I am really looking forward to taking the cone off of my pretty boy and having him run with us again.  Until then, I guess I have to listen to him "talk" back to me and tell me how upset he still is about the whole ordeal.

 

Oh, Henry!

 

 

 

Coupler

Last week, I got up early to take my pups for a run.  What I usually do is take Zoey out for three to four miles and then run a victory lap with Henry (usually one to two miles).  Henry was raring to go and in true Husky fashion, wanted to "talk" about it.  He let me know that he was not going to be left behind this time.  I thought, "What the heck" and leashed him up too.

I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear as we ran our morning run together...all three of us.  Zoey was quick to show Henry the ropes.  He seemed most comfortable running about a half body length behind her on her left side.  Sometimes, on the route I run, there can be a little bit of traffic.  I usually say, "over" to Zoey and she moves over beyond the shoulder of the road in to the grass.  It was nice because all I had to do was say the word and Zoey would move herself and Henry over.

It was after our first run together that I knew I needed a coupler.

And my husband was kind enough to let me pick one up on Saturday:

Potty break is going to take some getting used to with the coupler on, but all in all we had a fantastic run!  It was such a blast...and if we had a bigger house and a fenced in yard, I would get one or two more to add to my pack.

For now, I am thrilled to run short runs just the three of us.

(All tired out after our first run all together)

Changing it up...

This was our playground today.  I've been needing a change of scenery lately.  After Zoey was attacked by two dogs on our last long run, I am hesitant to take the same route with her.  So, today I loaded her up in the van and we took a short little drive to the trail.  It was a gorgeous day and I think we both appreciated the new route.  We had a lovely eight miles.  I brought her home, leashed up my baby boy, Henry, and off we went on our one mile victory lap.  I am really looking forward to when he is able to join us!

Something New : Meet My Running Buddies

I haven't been blogging like I would like to lately.  It's not because of a lack of things to write about.  I feel like, although I am still logging the miles and still passionate about running, it's changed for me.  I started out on this journey and running was something totally different to me back then that it is now.  It was a way to get in shape, lose the baby weight, and find some "me" time in the craziness of raising little ones.  My children are all school age now...life is still crazy, but a little more layed back crazy.  Running has become my lifestyle, a part of me.  It's no longer about an escape per say as much as it's about pushing myself further, challenging myself, and finding solitude out on the open road. 

 

I have run with a single jogger, a double jogger, and even a triple jogger chasing after my sanity.  Recently, they have begun to run beside me...such an awesome thing!  Although I love to run in silence, I have never really enjoyed running alone.

My little chicks began leaving the nest, my joggers began to have fewer seats, and then one day I was selling my single...it meant I was alone. 

 

About that time, Zoey came in to my life.  She's my husband's dog.  We adopted her from a shelter when she was a tiny puppy.  She had been abandoned with her siblings and her mother...left out in the cold to freeze to death.  Her mom and her were the only ones to survive.  I fell in love with her picture...and awkward looking little pup with crystal blue eyes.  I knew that one day she would make the best running buddy...and she has.  We started out slow, but she has logged many, many miles by my side.  She has run in all kinds of weather with me.  She has helped me make it home on those days when I am just not in to it and she makes me feel a bit safer out there.

 

 

 Zoey girl - 2.5 years old

Back in November, I lost my Pit Mix, Macy.  She was also a rescue, adopted at the age of six.  It was a loss like I have never experienced before and took me a while to feel like myself again.  I knew I wanted another dog to call my own, I just didn't know when.  I also knew that the next dog would have to be able to join my team.  I had been in touch with a husky breeder for about three months.  I turned down one of her puppies at the beginning of the year because it just didn't feel like a good fit.  One night, shortly after the 4 month anniversary of Macy's passing, I decided to go on the breeder's site and see if they had anything cooking...and that's when I saw him.  A puppy of theirs that had been adopted out, was taken back out of a bad situation.  I emailed her about him and she immediately wrote me back and told me that he was mine if I wanted him.  I talked to my husband and got the okay.  A couple of weeks later, we were driving back from Michigan with Henry curled up in the back seat on my daughter's lap.  He has been such a good fit for our family and a wonderful boy.  He has made my loss back in November a little easier.  He just turned 5 months at the end of April so he's not able to run with us just yet, but in no time we will have him out there with us.  For now, he's my victory lap boy...I pick him up when Zoey and I are finished and he enjoys a mile or two with me.

Henry (5 months)

Runnerversary

It all started with a two toned blue double jogger...and a big dream that one day I would run a marathon. 

Most days though, I just hoped that I would be rested enough and my two children under two would cooperate long enough for me to get my 3 miles in.

Things sure have changed in these last seven years!  My runnerversary is coming up...Spring is coming too.  It's always around this time of year that I fall in love with running all over again.  Maybe it's the anticipation of being able to get out there, lose the layers, and really give a run all I've got.  Maybe it's looking forward to not having to worry what's under my feet or what I may slip on.  You may be lucky enough to get a few of those days during the winter in the midwest...but when you know you will have a few months of them, it's a different kind of feeling.  Maybe it's purely the anticipation of being able to see what I am made of again...to push myself farther and reach new goals on the road.

As the years go by, it's reiterated after every run, just how much running mirrors life.  There are times in life where the "hills" or "mountains" just seem too steep...the "miles" seem too long...your "lungs" are burning too badly...and you don't think you can take another step.  Then there are those times where the "road" is flat, the "wind" is at your back, and the "weather" is just right...you take a deep breath and you push yourself to go harder, go longer, and it just feels right.  I think running has helped me appreciate different times in my life a little more.  In my mind, I have run 26.2 miles four times...I can do just about anything.

So, if you are thinking about taking up running, getting more serious about it, running your first race, signing up for your first marathon...step out of your comfort zone and take a risk.  You will discover what you are made of...and have a lot of fun doing it!

If you are a Momma that just hopes her kids will cooperate for the next three miles or the Momma who hopes to get out the door without one of your babies chasing you down, I've been there...and even though it doesn't seem like it now, you will miss this.  Some days I wish I still had a little one to push around in my two toned jogger...or a little cheerleader to yell, "faster, momma, faster".  Do your best...take time for yourself...and remember that they are watching you and you are setting a wonderful example and showing your kids that you know you are worth the time to take care of yourself.

So, as I approach my runnerversary I think I will lace up my hot pink Asics, invite my Zoey girl to come with me, buy a couple of new songs, and go for a long run...and just be thankful that I can still run...and enjoy the open road.

One Week Down...

It's amazing what 35 miles and limiting what I put in my mouth can do...

I am down 4 pounds!  I couldn't be happier!  Not bad for a weeks worth of work.  I'll take it.

I am not saying it was easy at all.  There were a few times that I was tempted to eat a box of Girl Scout cookies. A couple of times I was tempted to go through the drive through on one of my crazy days when it would have been easier just to grab something on my way to work rather than plan ahead.  I didn't...and I am so glad I didn't.

It's been a while since I logged 35 miles (31 running, 4 elliptical) in one week.  It felt so good to be back on track.  My hip is giving me less of a problem.  It's at a dull ache now and not the shooting pain that I had before.  At the gym, I found the rowing machine and I love it!  It's such a good workout and it was nice to give my hip a break.  I can't wait to get back in there and row again tomorrow.

This past week, I also threw a 7 mile run in there.  I haven't done a distance like that in a few months.  It's was not uneventful.  I have a route I run that's a 7 mile square around my house.  I have run it too many times for me to count.  It's out in the country so I can just let go, sing, talk, whatever I want to do.  It's where I run to get away.  I like to take my four legged running buddy on this route when I go...it's makes me feel a bit safer and she likes it too.  Well, about two and a half miles in to it I look back to see a dog following us.  He was a big guy and kinda scared me at first.  I didn't know if he was going to be aggressive and so I sped up a little to keep Zoey away from him.  I was more concerned for her safety than mine.  After about a tenth of a mile, I realized that he wasn't backing off.  So, I stopped and yelled at him.  I told him "no", I told him to go home, and I told him to get.  Nothing worked and I didn't have the time to stand there and figure out what would.  We kept running...and he kept up right beside us.  After a little over three and a half...yes, three and a half miles...I decided enough was enough.  He obviously wasn't going to leave us alone.  After a few phone calls to different people, I called the police...I didn't know what else to do.  I paused my Garmin and stood on the corner and waited...all the while, our big tag along stood right there with us.  The officer came, checked him out, and the loaded him in to his car after seeing he had no form of ID on him.  I thanked him for coming to the rescue (of the dog and mine) and finished up the rest of our 7 miles...just the two of us.  Add that to my list of firsts.  Running is never boring (well, unless you're on a treadmill).

I am ready to start Monday off with a bang!  I have plans to hopefully drop another three pounds this week.  That will put me at the lightest I've been in a while.  I also plan to log at least over 20 miles this week and continue to keep my eating under control.  Here's to accomplishing goals!

Happy Running!

Something Different

A few months back, I canceled my gym membership.  It was something I knew I needed to do.  Not only did I feel like money was being wasted on something every month that I rarely used, but I also felt that it was softening me up.  I couldn't handle the elements, the hills, the whatever anymore.  This is just me personally...I know plenty of people that use the gym correctly and have awesome results...I was just not one of those people toward the end.

Back in the beginning of January, I fell on the ice.  I slammed down hard on my side and really hurt my hip.  Did I head right over to the doctor to get it checked out you ask?  Nope, not this girl.  I would rather moan and complain to my hubby...and then suck it up and go out for a run on it, all the while telling myself how tough I am...sigh.  Anyway, it has really been bothering me.  I think it's because I have upped my workouts and mileage over the past two or three weeks.  The pain is more noticeable now and sometimes in the evenings has me limping around here like I am 90 years old.

I work at a hospital.  One of the perks that comes along with that is that I get to use their fitness center (which is nothing special...at all...but, hey, it's free) for free.  I think I really need to cut back on the pounding several times a week and switch it up to see if that helps.  So, yesterday was my first day back in the gym.

The treadmill is like a comfort blankey to me.  I run.  I know how to run.  I know how to use a treadmill.  So, not only did I run 3miles at 5AM with my running buddy, I got on the treadmill and did three miles.  My hip was killing me last night (probably because I did a total of 8 miles after all was said and done).  Today, I went out of my comfort zone a bit.  After I did 5 on the elliptical, I gave the rowing machine a try...man, was that fun!  I am looking forward to going back there tomorrow and rowing my little heart out...but I might need to eventually get some gloves because it kinda killed my palms.  I am going to try lower impact a few times a week and see if it helps.  If not, I am giving myself until the end of March and then dragging my butt in to the doctor to see what is going on.

Question for today...or every day...

I read the words, "Why Are You Still Carb Loading?" and immediately I felt a little guilty.  Carb loading?  Me?  Okay, yeah, that's me.  And yes, I ran my last race four months ago...but I am still carb loading.

Carb loading is used by endurance athletes (or those of us who love bread), such as runners, to maximize the storage of glycogen (or energy) in the muscles.  It's recommended for endurance events lasting more the 90 minutes...which I am pretty sure, doesn't describe my day to day activities.

So, I am caught...with bread in my hand, yogurt with granola on my spoon, and a big bagel with cream cheese in my mouth.  Yep, still carb loading.  Granted this was an advertisement for the Paleo diet, but it still got me thinking about what I put in my mouth and lately, it's been carbs, carbs, carbs.

Why am I still carb loading?  Well, it's because I got a little taste and never stopped.  Goal for this week: stop.

Line Up

This weather here in the midwest has got me going crazy.  One day I am running in the rain, the next I am running in the sunshine without all the layers, and the next day I wake up and there's ice and snow on the ground and it's below zero with the windchill.  I am desperate for spring here so I can have a little consistency and know what my workout week looks like in advance.

Because I can't seem to plan my weekly workouts out, I have been spending a lot of time mapping out my racing season.  I really want to go for quality this year and not quantity...I want to run my best half, my best 10 mile, and my best full.  Last year, I set a new PR for myself in the half and also in the 10 mile.  I want so badly to get my full under 5 hours again.  So, I still need to firm things up for the full I want to run in the fall, but here is what 2013 will hopefully look like for me:

May19th - Rockford Half Marathon
June 1st - Milk Days 5K with my daughter (her first race!!)
August 24th - The CRIM 10 mile
October 20th - Des Moines Marathon

I would like to find a fun mud run and another half sometime in November, but this is what I've got so far.  I am looking forward to the end of March when training begins (and hopefully the snow ends).

And now that I think about it, I think this year marks 5 years since I entered my first race.  I am hoping to set a few more PRs this year and looking forward to where my feet take me.

Happy Running!

A Runner's Valentine's Day

I thought this was perfect to post to my husband.  I love lacing up my shoes and heading out the door when I am stressed to the max and don't think I can take much more...and my man is ok with my escape...he knows I always come back...and in a better mood.

 

 

 (Picture courtesy of Slow is the New Fast)

 

I have been desperate for a new pair of shoes.  My last new pair was back in March of 2012...and I have done a whole lotta running since then...almost 700 miles worth and that doesn't include biking and hiking.  So, needless to say, my feet, hips, legs, and just about everything else have been killing me these past couple of months.  I gave my husband a not so subtle hint the other day.  I woke up this morning, came out to the kitchen, and on the counter was an Asics box with the words, "I love you".  It made my whole entire day!  Most women would love diamonds, a coach purse, flowers, chocolates...but me, I love me a new pair of shoes.  I laced them up today and I had forgotten what it was like to run on a cloud.  This is the beginning of many, many miles together.

 

 I am one happy girl...and my feet are happy too!

(My hott new pair of shoes!)

Here's to a new year...

Well, I am back.  I have been throwing around the idea of starting to blog here again and I am to a point where I really think it will be beneficial for me.  So, after I sat and thought and tried to remember my password, here I am.

The past few months have been overwhelming for me.  I have always thought of myself as a driven, motivated person but there have been more days that most that I have been struggling to find that drive within myself.  I was pretty consistent with my mileage and my workouts when I had the gym membership...when I didn't use it, I watched the money fly out the window so that in itself was motivation for me.

So, I started January 2013 the same way I started the January before...a few pounds heavier and disappointed that I let myself end up back where I started.  I sat down at the end of January, mostly because I desperately need new shoes, and went back through my workouts of 2012 (because I keep a log).  From September to the end of the year, my mileage fell drastically and my workout days were sporadic...which explains the 8 pounds coming back for a visit...thankfully, not here to stay.

January was a half way decent month.  I got back on track with my mileage, got some 5 AM's in with a running buddy of mine, and found a little bit of that motivation that I had lost.  I lost four pounds, but still no where near what I wanted to lose...wishful thinking had me hoping for the whole eight.  I have realized though, that I am so used to putting whatever in my mouth because while I am training, I know I will run it off and then some.  It has been a struggle for me the past few years to get out of that mentality when I am not running 40+ miles a week.  PMSing did me in this month already, but I have jumped back on the wagon (hey, that's what counts, right?!) and I am focused and ready to get these pesky last 5 (yep, up 1 since Jan already) off before we head to Florida for my ten year anniversary in March. 

Bikini, here I come!

Uneventful : About sums June up...

June was pretty uneventful for me.  I did not log over 5 miles on any of my daily runs.  My total for June was 58.5 miles...pretty low.  It was nice to sit back, relax, and slow down a little.  I felt like I wore myself down in May.

I finished out the month by running The Dirty Girl Mud Run with a group of girls.  I had done the Warrior Dash two years ago and was really looking forward to another mud run.  It was a great time and it felt nice only running a 5K...for fun.  The Warrior Dash was by far a better race, but take a group of girls, add running, and a whole lot of mud and it makes for a good time either way.

I have no races planned for July, but I do need to get my butt in gear and get back in shape for August.  I will be running CRIM number five at the end of the month and I am really hoping to shave a bit of time off of my PR from last year.

Here's to a great July!  Happy Running!

A Fight to Finish

After hearing what the temps were supposed to be, I knew that this race would be one that I would have to fight for.  Two days before the race, when the forecast wasn't changing and the temps were only predicted to be higher, my goals were thrown out the window and my only goal became to finish.  There were many firsts in this race (from start to finish):

First time racing in a tutu. - A couple of weeks ago, I bought some tulle with my birthday money.  I saw a girl racing in a tutu for my half and I really wanted to wear one for Rockford.  I made one and then my Princess wanted one so I made one for her too.  I was a little nervous to wear it to the race, but sucked it up.  I got a lot of attention and compliments and it made it a lot easier for Dan to know where I was.  This was my first time, and it definitely won't be my last!  I plan on wearing one for The CRIM in August!

First time starting "late". - I was standing in the potty line when I heard the race start.  Panic set in among those of us still in line.  Some of the 10K people let me cut and I finally made it up to the potty.  Walking out, I heard, "Last call for marathoners and half marathoners!"  I ran from the potties to the coral to start the race.  It took me about a mile to kinda settle in and get myself out of that panic feeling.

First time running with a pace group. -  Around mile two I caught the 5:00 pace group.  It was a group of really nice people.  Ralph, the pacer, was running a bit behind but his goal was just to be safe.  The 11:30 pace felt really nice in the heat and I decided to slow down and stick with them.  The conversation was fun and it was neat to hear everyones racing stories.  They slowed down a little bit more during some of the hills and before I knew it, I was running with two guys I met in the group.  We decided we would just keep trucking and stay together, the three of us, as long as we could.  We lost Mark around mile 8 and then it was just Carmen and myself until mile 13.  It was a good experience and I could see running without music if I were to run with a pace group again sometime.

First time thinking that I was going to die. - Around mile seventeen I started to feel terrible.  I wasn't in any of the normal pain that I usually feel from running.  My legs felt fine.  My feet felt fine.  It was my head and my stomach.  I felt like I had the flu.  I knew I was getting dangerously close to having to call it quits.  I backed off from running and decided to give myself some time.  If I had to speed walk until the end, I was going to do it.

First time starting my period during a race. - Of all days, it had to be this one.  During mile twenty, the course took us in to this park.  I spotted a bathroom that I decided to stop at.  I filled my fuel bottles with cold water (everything they were handing out was boiling) and went in to the bathroom.  I looked down and I think I swore out loud.  Guess this explains the cramps...for the most part.

First time laying in the grass during the race. - I saw Dan and my Princess again at mile 21.  I layed my head on his shoulder and just cried, wishing he could carry me to the car and take me away.  I composed myself, kissed him, and said goodbye.  I made it another mile down the course (it was a scenic park trail) and had the urge to lay in the grass, under the trees, in the shade...so I did.  I layed there until my back was itchy...until I knew if I layed there any longer that I wouldn't be able to get up.  During mile 22, I would stop two more times at benches and just sit there.  I was feeling so sick.

First time puking during a race, not once, but two times. - The last three miles were absolute torture.  I have never experienced anything like it.  I puked during mile 23, but it was nothing like what was ahead.  During my races, I usually use all of my "alone time" to pray for people and just talk to God.  I prayed for a few people, but the last few miles were just asking Him to give me the strength to keep going.  At mile 25, I came up to a water station.  I was not looking good or feeling good.  I took a cup of water and a cup of Gatorade and tried to drink as much as I could.  I got about .1 of a mile away and started throwing up again...and couldn't stop...to the point where I knelt in the street...I thought it was over.  There were two cops directing traffic who came over.  One of the cops gave me what was left in his water bottle...it was ice cold and tasted so good.  The other cop poured water down my back.  I heard them talking with eachother about calling medical.  While dry heaving in the street, on my knees, I knew I could not quit a mile from the finish.  I told them that I was sure I was okay and that I could suck it up and finish the race.  They said that they would let me go only if I was sure and that if I made it over the hill and felt like I was going to be sick again that I was to turn around and come back.  I agreed, but it my head I was thinking that I just needed to book it over the hill out of their sight...there was no way I was stopping.  I had come too far and been through too much to not make it the last mile.

First time running across the finish with my Princess - I rounded the corner, with tears in my eyes, and spotted Dan and Kait waiting there for me.  Kait was walking toward me and when we met, I held out my hand and she ran with me to the finish line.  It was a terrible race, but in that moment, I was so proud and thought it was my best finish ever.

First time finishing a marathon in over 6 hours. - I really have no idea what my time was.  I stopped my Garmin at mile 23 because I was convinced that I wasn't going to make it.   Nothing (but the tutu) about this race was pretty and at times I was sure that they would find me hours later laying in the grass beside the course.  This was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but my need to persevere proved stronger.  I finished.  I didn't rock this race, but I did rock my tutu.

April Recap and a Look Ahead to May

Miles Run - 116

Miles Biked - 118

I am pretty happy with my mileage for the month of April.  I kept pretty busy and the month really flew by.

While I was having problems with my foot, I gave the bike a try and found I really like it.  I rode off most of my baby weight after I had Middle Man...up until I couldn't get the last pesky ten pounds off and then I switched to running.  It was nice to switch things up this month, but still keep on top of my running miles.  I don't know, I may want to give a triathlon a try.

I did great this month with my diet...well, until the last week.  I was crazy hungry and gave in to all the carbs and birthday sweets.  It's going to be really hard to get back on track, but the cake is gone and frankly all the junk has left me feeling pretty crappy.

For the month of May :

I have a Marathon on the horizon.  My goal is to finish under 5 hours...it would be really nice to come in close to my Des Moines time.  Chicago knocked the wind out of my sails and left me with a lot of self doubt...it was such a terrible race.  So, hopefully the weather will cooperate and I will enjoy it.

I need to get back on track with my eating.  Nuff said about that.  Time to get to work.

Celebrating 30 at the Illinois Marathon

On April 28th, I celebrated my 30th birthday by running a half...and I wouldn't have wanted to celebrate any other way.

I got up at 4:45 that morning.  I was a little nervous about catching a shuttle and making my way to the start line by myself, but I was so pumped about my first race of the year.

My breakfast that morning (poor planning on my part) consisted of a brown sugar cinnamon poptart and a banana.  Because I wasn't planning on filling my bottles for my fuel belt, I was drinking water like crazy...which might have been a bit of an overkill.

At around 5:45, I went down and boarded a shuttle to the start line.  I hit the porta-potty (I am practically a pro by now and don't give it a second thought anymore) and followed the sea of people to the starting corals to freeze my butt of waiting for the race to begin.  It was cold and windy, but at least the rain stopped.

I had every intention of joining a pace group, probably right up until that morning.  I guess I decided against it because I felt this race was something I needed to do myself...to prove to myself that I can run by myself and be okay.  But, just in case I wasn't going to be okay, I got in right beside the 10:07 pacer and planned on staying on the outskirts of the group for the first couple of miles just to get comfortable.

It was such a rush crossing that start line.  It was nice being with the pace group at the beginning to keep me from getting too excited and starting out too fast.  I stayed with them until mile two and decided that it was time to run my own race.

At around two and a half miles, I looked and saw my little family standing on the side of the road.  I tried not to get too emotional.  My three kiddos were holding up signs that they made to cheer me on.  It was great to see them and gave me the little boost I needed.  I pictured them many times after that.

Shortly after seeing my family, I had to pee so bad.  After every mile marker, I would check out the porta-potties to see what waiting was like.  I couldn't justify standing in line at mile 3, 4, or 5 to pee.  So, I passed each of those up.  By mile seven, I was uncomfortable and it's all I could think about.  I had to stop.  Luckily, there was no waiting so I took a little pit stop.  This is where I noticed that the skin was pretty much gone on my left inner thigh, thanks to my stupid choice of shorts, which my husband would later inform me of.

It's the last 5K that usually plays a few mind games with me...this race being no exception.  I did a lot of praying and I knew that I had many praying for me.  I wrestled a lot with myself in mile 10 and by the time I was on to mile 11 my heart had won and I kept trucking.

Mile 12 I started to get teary...especially during the approach to the stadium.  The winding seemed to take forever and there was really no way to gain any speed weaving through the corals they had set up for us but I was happy to be so close to the finish.  As soon as I entered the stadium, "Knees to the Earth" came on my ipod and I crossed the finish to the verse couple lines to that song.  It was perfect.

I had so hoped to finish in 2:10 on my birthday, but there was no way that I could be disappointed with my time (and new PR!!!) of 2:12:48.  I was thrilled.  After I got my medal and grabbed a bottle of water, I stood in the stadium, looking around, and taking it all in.  While waiting to meet my family (who was in the stadium and saw me come in and cross the finish line) I sat up in the bleachers watching the other runners come in.  It was a neat experience.

The course was beautiful, flat, and one that I would like to run again.  It was the perfect way to ring in another decade!

Mile By Mile :

Mile 1 - 9:56
Mile 2 - 9:57
Mile 3 - 9:50
Mile 4 - 9:51
Mile 5 - 10:00
Mile 6 - 9:45
Mile 7 - 10:37 (potty break hurt me)
Mile 8 - 9:56
Mile 9 - 9:49
Mile 10 - 10:36 (where I became a headcase :) )
Mile 11 - 10:16
Mile 12 - 10:34 (my thigh was KILLING me!)
Mile 13 - 10:14

Average - 10:06/mile

Highlights of my Race - Seeing my family along the course holding the signs they made, proving to myself that I can keep running when my head is telling me to give up, running in to Memorial Stadium, Looking down and seeing my new PR!

Low points - Wearing tight cotton shorts (I guess it's a big no, no...which my husband failed to tell me before I walked out the door) and scraping off about six inches of the inside of my left thigh...which was pusing and bleeding for two days...now it's just one big scab.

What a way to start the year...couldn't be happier...couldn't be more excited for my upcoming races.

Here's to a great running season...my first season in my 30s!

Ready to run! 

My K with her running sign. 

My Littlest Man with his sign he made. 

Middle Man with his sign. 

Running in to the Stadium...almost there! 

Me with shirt on and my Finisher's Medal!

Happy Running!

Ten

I was up early this morning.  I had trouble falling asleep after getting home from work last night...and then my Middle Man woke me at around 3AM.  At 3:30, I decided that I would head to the gym and hop on the bike for ten.  I finished ten in under 40 minutes and felt like I could go home and go back to sleep...so I did.

After dropping the kids off at school, my husband, my Littlest Man, and I went to the trail.  My husband rode the bike with my Littlest Man on the back while I knocked out 10 miles.  I was determined to finish as close to 1:40 as I could.  Here's a rundown:

Mile #1 - 9:43
Mile #2 - 9:28
Mile #3 - 9:53
Mile #4 - 9:45
Mile #5 - 9:52
Mile #6 - 10:20
Mile #7 - 10:29
Mile #8 - 10:55
Mile #9 - 10:12
Mile #10 - 10:18

Total - 1:40:54  -- average 10:05/mile

My foot started killing me at around 7.5 miles...and I was so thirsty.  I didn't even think to wear my fuel belt and I really wished I had.  I had some serious dry mouth going on.  Other than that, I felt great and was so pleased with my time.  My half marathon is two weeks from tomorrow and I actually feel like I am somewhat ready.  I probably won't run any more long runs until that day...and then it will be time to cram for my full a month later.

I've been starving these last two weeks!  I'm always so hungry when I up my mileage.  I worked out for about three hours today so I had a huge salad with two hard boiled eggs and about a 1/4 cup of cheese on it along with a protein bar this afternoon.  Yum!

I am looking forward to having this weekend off...and hopefully getting in a few more miles tomorrow to finish off my week.

Happy Running!