Marathon Training Has Begun! Week #3

Yeah, it's been a while!  This is in part to the fact that our NYC trip movie that Chris made is too large of a file to upload anywhere so I've been waiting to get that fixed to blog.  As life gets in the way, I realized if I don't just sit and blog it's just not going to happen, LOL

Today I finished my 3rd week of Marathon Training!  It was a HUMID 7 mile long run and wasn't the easiest, my body was sore and I was drenched with sweat, but now after a full belly, cup of coffee and shower, I feel FABULOUS!

Here's the thing with running, in my opinion....it's tough, it pushes you mentally and exercises your will to dig in deep and perform with your heart!  It's hard on my body, yes, but the achievement I feel after a run trumps that pain for sure.  I was not raised an "athlete".  My parents were not athletic or gym goers.  I wasn't encouraged to do sports, in fact I was discouraged because I didn't have a support system to bring me to practices, games, etc so I never entertained the idea.  This in itself motivates me to support, encourage and push my children in the sports they LOVE!

Picking up the sport of running 6 years ago was one of the best things I've done for myself, even if I hit a couple bumps in the road and haven't run in a while! LOL I've been a "gym goer" since I was 16 and have always loved being active but never did anything that was competitive, nothing to receive a "medal" or "reward".  Running changed me.  Running showed me that yes, even little old me in my thirties can consider myself an "athlete".  It gave me an outlet for my competitive, fighting spirit!

I'm thankful for my crazy friend Kim, my partner in crime, it makes the journey that much more FUN!!!  So, here's to training for Marathon #2 and #3, because as you know, I don't do anything in a "small" or "simple" way.....hahahahahahaha!!!!!  Get Ready Rock n Roll Series....we're coming for you in December (San Antonio) and February (New Orleans)!!

My Bestest Buddy!

On our run this morning ,which we have not done one together in a while, I was reminded just how AWESOME it is to have a running buddy.  Through running, this girl has become one of my sisters!  I love her and would do anything for her.  It's so funny how over the years running together, our topics of conversation have changed as we grow and change.

We have gone through different things at different times, listening, coaching, laughing, and crying....yes, all while running.  We share victories, setbacks, holidays, vacations, everything.  SHE is the friend I always wished I had.  SHE makes me a better friend to others.


So, Kim, Kimmers, Kimberlina, Kimmie.....here's to another running season, upcoming holidays, and a new season of life, yet again.  I'm so very thankful for you!!

First 5k!

Warrior Dash

Jingle all the way....

National Running Day

Between the Piriformis injury and stress overload, my running went down the drain!!  While I was at Adrianna's track practice today she asked me to run with her for her warm up.  I was winded. I felt SO out of shape. 5 year olds put me to shame.  BUT, as soon as she grabbed my hand I remembered I have always run for FUN.  I enjoy it, it relaxes me, it helps build my confidence.

I threw running out the window.

Tsk. Tsk.

I drove home after practice and replayed in my head all the words of encouragement I gave her for myself too...

"It takes time to build up your endurance."

"You just have to get back out there and try your best."

"If you need a break, TAKE it."

"You are strong, determined and CAPABLE."

I told her how proud I was of her that she kept pushing forward and didn't quit, even though I KNEW she did NOT want to do that last 400...it was HOT.... she said to me, "I didn't quit because Auditores don't quit!"

That's right my wise baby girl.....

WE DON'T QUIT.

I may NOT be at the top of my game, but I celebrated National Running Day running two miles *with* my girl and I feel GREAT!  Time to *officially* MOVE FORWARD!!!

Adrianna's First Track Practice

"Now that I am a great runner, I can ride at least 6 miles without being tired and Daddy can train me to swim, I can totally do a triathlon and even a marathon" 

- Adrianna 10yrs old (right after her first track practice today)

Hurdles!

Anna and Lulu

Little Rockstar Runners!

My baby girl has watched me running for the past few years and has always encouraged me, shown interest in an active lifestyle, but has been intimidated with it all, especially with having asthma.  I signed her up for Summer Track last year and after the first practice, we left with her crying because she was out of breath and thought she just couldn't "do it".  I didn't push her and set it aside.  Today, while my friend Martha was over, Adrianna went over to her (she is the fastest woman I know, a true *runner* goddess!) and asked if she could go with her and her daughter Lulu to their next practice which happened to be tonight.

These were some pics from her first practice. She came home PUMPED up and FULL of confidence and excitement in what she achieved tonight!  This meant SO much to me.  I am so so SO very proud of my girl!!    I can't wait to run with her!  Soon enough, she will only ask me to run with her on HER recovery days...LOL!

"Mom, I can't wait for Ms. Martha to pick me up. I am going to do great!"

Run it off....

My text went something like this....

Me: We running long tomorrow?
Kim: Yes, what time? How Far, 5?
Me: How's 6am, 6miles.
Kim: Okay, but I'll be going SLOW. See you at 6
Me: k


This is why I LOVE this woman!  She is the BEST running buddy you could have!  She's flexible, take charge, dependable and supportive....oh yeah and she lets me do most of the talking! Gotta love that of course, LOL

Running is something I love and while she says she tolerates it, gets it done, I know deep down she likes it too.  It's the more difficult sport for her (she rocks out the swimming and cycling like no one's business) and I know that's why she doesn't give up on it.  You can't tell her she "can't" and that's why I love her!  This has been a season of adjustment for me with all the homeschooling, and people in this house getting sick left and right so having her still "show up" for me, not just with the running, has been life giving.

Today, I just "ran it off".....ran off the stress from the week, ran off some calories and ran off my mouth!

Some days you just have to run!  There is such a childlike freedom I feel when I finish a run.  Thankful this morning that I CAN run!

Race Goals 2013

Well, I did it!  I allowed myself some loose planning for races this year.  I've been very "minimal" with the racing after my first year.  I literally "hit the ground running" full speed back in 2010/11 season and have since then done very little!  I have kept up my running and fitness to the level I can maintain and now I finally feel ready to slowly add in.  My goal is for 2 triathlons this season, short easy ones since I don't plan on training a ton. I would like to keep my running to 4-5 days a week, about 15-20 miles a week, with a day of swimming, when I can and cycling as much as I can, when I can.

Fitness is not my life, but I sure do love it being a part of my life!

There will be times I can devote more time than others, I've learned that valuable lesson over the past two years.  I am an active woman, always have been and I'm pretty sure I always will be.....different things for different seasons of life....yep, yep!

I will add in a half marathon and *possibly* a full....but here is my loose plan for now...

Austin 10/20 - April 14, 2013

Red Poppy Ride - April 27, 2013

Spa Girl Tri - May 11, 2013

Skeese Greets Women's Tri - June 30, 2013

Step one complete, some goals are set.  Who knows what other races my friends will talk me into for next fall/winter....LOL  

Happy Training! 

The Chosen Half Marathon

JOY! That is exactly what I felt right there!

My beautiful girls!

blowing kisses to my babies!

2 of my sweet little angels! So proud!!

I have really needed some time to decompress emotionally to get my thoughts together for my "official" Post-Race post! :o) All of my Facebook family already knows by my 100 posts how it went but I wanted a detailed post to look back on.

Just came in from my first Marathon training run, 3 miles and it *hurt*. My legs were stiff, all sorts of pain in different areas but I feel good now....so strange. But it proved to me today that I am made for this running thing!

The training for this race was tough but I did it thanks to an outstanding partner, I was able to push through the physical part of it. There is a flip side to the training that I had not anticipated, the emotional side. I have worked through ALOT of stuff during this training. Realized some things that I felt really convicted of but also focused in on many of my strengths. I tend to beat myself up ALOT but there is just something about all this physical exertion that did something for me mentally...brought to the forefront of my mind just how strong I really am. How all the qualities many of my friends love me for (that I usually think of as my flaws), are truly gifts and I am thankful for all the aspects of my personality and what makes me "ME".

I search for acceptance. I try to please everyone. I want to be a good person. I like to try things new. I hope to be the person people can relate to and feel comfortable around. I want to be the best at everything I do. I live for relationship and love. These are just a few things I focused in on. I looked at what running meant to a few other ladies I've had and/or have a relationship with and tried to identify with it but realized I can't completely and that's okay. I mean even my running buddy and I have different reasons we run...we love different things about it, her-the training, me-race day! :o)

I've questioned over and over, especially when I have been in pain or when I'm waking up at 4:15 to get ready to run, why I'm doing this. Is it okay to have this as a priority or am I being selfish? This training stuff has been very hard on my heart regarding the selfish stuff. I grew up with a father always telling me I was selfish. Hey, even my mom told me once that I was selfish when I decided to move in with my dad after the divorce. Even though I know she didn't mean it in a hurtful way, she was young, scared and hurting too, but it did hurt me. I carry some major baggage from my childhood. My father was violent, my home life was chaos and discontent. I was always just trying to find my place and never did. I was hopeful that I would in college but then got kicked out of the house after graduation and that dream was crushed.

Now without pouring my entire life story on this one post and going completely off track...this is the stuff that was brought out during my race on Saturday. A friend of mine told me to leave it all out on the road so I let it come out and settle out there on those freaking hills! :o) This race was a tough one, hill after grueling hill but I didn't walk once. I took every one of them and claimed them as my own. Each hill was my "mountain" to climb over and joyously run down (and I ran down them FAST, hence the sore toes yesterday, hey I had to make up for how slow I had to go up those suckers!). As I would look at each one of them and watch people walking, I pulled something out of my heart that I wanted to leave there and I did just that. I found some healing out there on that course just like a friend of mine told me I would. I struggled with only doing the half marathon since there were some people on the team that took on the full. I deep down wanted to do the full but knew I'd never be trained enough to do it in time. I received this email regarding getting a 13.1 sticker for my car...LOL, which I did NOT get by the way:

Save it! Save it! Save it! You are about to be a marathon runner. When I ran the half I was already discontent. I stood in the half line looking at the full line to pick up packet and I knew right then that I was not a half runner but a full. You are the same! I know because I know your drive and the healing that will come in that full! Soak it all in! The half is harder than the full. Serious. You are gonna rock it!!

I celebrate all of my friends that ran the half and the full marathon on Saturday but their run has nothing to do with me. This was my race and I was successful. I had NOTHING more to give when I crossed that finish line. I set a goal of 2:30 but was really hopeful I'd finish in 2-2:15 , but those horrible hills...ugh! At least I KNOW I'll beat my PR in San Antonio which was originally going to be my first half marathon so I'm taking this one as a really, really tough training run...LOL! :o) There seemed to be so many challenges for me once I decided to do this race, right down to finding out the day before the race that I was the only one without my name on my bib, my name was assigned to a different number but someone else on our team had that number...it was just a mess! I cried my eyes out that night and was SO DOWN on myself casting the blame on me and almost didn't do the race. Kyle fixed my bib and wrote my name on it, and did a really good job I must say, and I just pushed along. My time is wrong on the race results page next to my name but is more accurate to the bib I wore which supposedly belonged to a 90 year old man that didn't really exist....so weird! :o)

So in a nutshell, course sucked but was scenic. Humidity was icky but the rain cooled me off and the wind was actually refreshing. I learned just how strong this little mind of mine is and when it tells my body to do something, I just do it! My body isn't in the best shape yet, but I know I'm on my way and progressing every time I get out there and hit that pavement. I run for me. Not because anyone else is doing it. I do it for me.

Looking forward to where this journey takes me....who knows!? More marathons, ultra races, Ironman Triathlons...the possiblities are endless! :o)

Here's to one more race under my belt!!!!!

9.77 Miles!

obviously this is NOT me, but I just LOVE this pic!

Well, I can't believe it...I DID IT!!!! 9.77miles plus a half mile warm up so "technically" I did a little over 10 miles in 2 hours 2 minutes and FELT AWESOME!!!! Had a couple of good laughs with the girls of course and LOVED LOVED LOVED my new fuel belt...worked GREAT for me!

I felt like a real runner today and it was well to put it in one word FREAKING AWESOME, okay two words, whatever. ;o)

Took the electrolyte pills, had exactly enough water (32oz) since the weather was PERFECT, started off with a Myoplex Lite Shake at 4:15am, sipped on a cup of coffee on the way and popped some Extreme Jellybeans in my mouth at 5:15 and then took my Cliff ShotBlocks at mile 5. Everything just worked like a charm today! Stretched and had some Dunkin afterwards, then came home a took an ice bath...what a way to kick off a Saturday, I feel really really good!

I was talking to Kim today when we hit mile 7 and said, "Can you believe how good we feel?". We really can do a half marathon, not just that but FOR SURE can do a full one! I felt like I could have easily done 3 more miles today...and THAT amazes me!! Now I am by NO means like the more elite runners I know BUT I know I have the potential to be that, and that right there my friends will drive me for sure! One day I won't be doing intervals but for now, I am okay with the walk breaks. My pace was still great (12.29) for the distance little old me did and I couldn't be happier right now...gotta LOVE the whole "runner's high" thing...LOL!

Sometimes I am still in disbelief that I am doing this. Different seasons in life bring different things and boy am I glad that this is the season in my life for running.....I love you pavement! And I'm thankful for my friends that get up at ungodly hours to run together, encourage each other, laugh together and are always willing to try something new!

Love you girls!
Happy Saturday!!!