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.