It's a piece of cake!!

Was talking to my awesome father in law...(yes by the way I DO have the most awesome father in law ever) and we were talking about races and how I have a 5K race this coming Monday...he says, "After doing a half marathon a few weeks ago this should be a piece of cake for you." Funny how just not quite two years ago I did my first 5K race and I remember when I crossed that finish line how I felt like I was going to die! Now after training and doing a half marathon, he's right.... a 5K isn't so bad anymore. Just goes to show that if you stick with something sometimes those little feats don't seem so bad anymore and how you just want to do just a little bit more and get better.

So this past Saturday I did the Coshocton Relay for Life 5K with my friend Jess Gress. Hubby thought that the 5K was going to take place on the fairgrounds race track...not sure where he had gotten his information, but it was NOT on the race track...which was fine with me...until I found out that the route was going to take us up AND down a major hill in our area. Luckily it was going up towards the beginning and down towards the end of the race. This of course was not a major or chip timed sort of race...I think if we were lucky there were maybe 35-40 runners and walkers for this race. Not a big one at all...in fact probably the smallest I'd been to. So surprisingly the route was not bad, despite the hill...I think a lot of my hill training for the half helped me in that area. Luckily  part of the route was part of the school route that I run all the time so it was familiar and I knew the area...not to mention the downhill helped push me the final bit. Overall, again despite the hill, according to whoever was keeping the time, this was my best 5K yet with a time of 27:08!! So I am super happy about that.

My running has been a bit sporadic since the half. May is always a super busy month for me and this year is no exception. I haven't been as consistent as the past, but I'm ok with that. Was glad to get in few runs this week even if they weren't as long as I would have liked. I'm hoping now that school is finally over and summer break is upon us that maybe I can get back to some sort of routine with my running.

This weekend I am traveling to Tallmadge, Ohio to run the Tallmadge Memorial 5K with my aunt. We have been wanting to do a race together for a while so this is finally it! I'm excited to get to run with family and another plus is there's a pancake breakfast at the end :) Hoping the weather is nice. Ohio is a fickle sort and it seems that summer and winter have been here this week. Last night and tonight we have a frost warning...really?? Had to cover my plants last night...hoping they make it...my poor basil got nipped a little bit last night...sad face :(

Now that school is out I have been trying to get caught up on my podcasts. One of the many running ones I listen to is the Runner Girls Podcast. I was listening to their April 9th episode called Jumping In the Ditch and they always pick a Runner Girl of the Week...on this particular episode imagine my surprise when they picked me as their Runner Girl of the Week!! How exciting!! They picked me because of my training for my first half. So cool!! So if you are looking for a running podcast to listen to with some down to earth, keeping it real girls...check them out!

Well that's all for this week...will give you a race recap...and hopefully pictures from my Tallmadge 5K next week.

So what are your running plans for this weekend??

Have a great Memorial Day....and thank you to all those veterans and those that still serve our country...YOU ROCK!!

So what happens now???

So it's pretty much almost 2 weeks after my incredible experience with my first half marathon. Though I'm still basking in the thought of the fact that I actually accomplished it and marked that off my happy bucket list, it's time to move forward and people have been asking me..."What's next??"

To be honest I've been asking the same of myself...what now?? After all that training and build up of getting to the half and now that it's over, what is in store now?? Well first of all, and many have asked...I am NOT doing a full marathon anytime soon. I admire those who can pull off that distance and kudos to each one of them..seriously! Honestly I see no marathon in my immediate future..definitely not this year. I'll be honest, training for the half took a lot of time and commitment and the fact that I have three boys that are going to be leaving my nest sooner than I'd like I'm not sure I want to nor have the time to dedicate to training for a full marathon. Maybe someday...and I know I'm not getting any younger, but I've come to a peace that if I do decide to someday, I'll do it, if not...I'm perfectly ok with that too. The marathon is a huge feat, not to be taken lightly...as I learned to respect the distance of the half marathon. I'm not totally ruling out a marathon someday, just not in my immediate future at the moment...and anyway I am perfectly happy with the distance of the half right now and I want to have a few more of those under my belt before I attempt twice the distance. So there...dispelling that rumor.

Right now I have been enjoying just running to just run...no training schedule, no commitment where I HAVE to run 10 miles today...I can run as long as I want, as fast as I want...no worries...and I have loved it immensely! I noticed my runs have gotten progressively better since my half...and I haven't been running as long or as often. It's so much nicer since the pressure is off. And it's nice to say I just don't want to run today. I decided I would give myself 2 weeks of "luxury and rest" and that is about up. After this I plan on just gearing up for a few 5K's and then the Indian Mud Run in June. I'm thinking of gearing up my workouts for the next month and doing a little less running since the mud run incorporates a little muscle for some of the obstacles. We shall see how that goes...cause I love being outdoors and working out usually means being inside. Again we shall see.

So I have a 5K to run tomorrow at the Coshocton Relay for Life and then on Memorial Day I am running the Tallmadge Memorial 5K with my Aunt....we've been wanting to do a race together for a while so this is finally our chance! Can't wait! Then I am still kicking around the Kingwood Center 5K since the hubby has family up there we thought it would be a great time to visit. Then again at the end of June is the Indian Mud Run. Then in July a bunch of us girls are heading to Columbus for The Color Run....should be a blast. Can't wait for that one!! Then in August I'll probably do the MDA Firefighters 5K and then August 17th I'll be doing the Feed the Need 5k/10k...I'll probably do the 10K since I'll be gearing up and be in the thick of my half marathon training for the Rock and Roll Half in Cleveland.

So there you have it...pretty much my next few months in a nutshell. Looks like it's gonna be a busy summer :)

Have a great weekend everyone :)!!

Capital City Half Marathon Recap

How many people can say that they had an epic day...I mean a day that goes down as one of those that you'll never ever forget. Saturday was definitely that day because...

I completed my first half marathon!!!

Yes it was a truly amazing experience...one that honestly I plan to do again, despite all the hard work and pain I went through to get there...crossing that finish line was all worth it! 

So here is the recap: Luckily we were able to get a room (thanks to my awesome brother in law) pretty much right at the starting line. I mean I literally walked out the door and not even a half block and I was there. Coming down the elevator on race day and seeing all those people lining the streets...at that point it all hit me...oh my goodness...I'm running a half marathon!! This is it!! The weather couldn't have been more perfect for the Capital City Half Marathon...the weather was amazing!! And before the race started they played Sweet Caroline in honor of Boston...a very nice touch. My friend, Jess Gress and I waited in anticipation for the start of the race...we were in the next to the last corral...needless to say I knew that once they started us off I wouldn't see Jess until the end...she's much faster than I and much younger...lol. 

So one of the most inspirational things that I saw in the race were the military guys in their fatigues and huge backpacks walking/jogging the course...amazing!! I tried to high five and encourage all the ones that I saw. It truly was inspiring. Then there were those who were obviously on teams and running for a cause or a person. The one team was pushing a young man in a jogging stroller...he was having fun and made me thankful that I was even able to run...bless his heart and his team. 

I was having a good time myself. The music along the route was fun. I was playing my Christian running mix during the first part of the race and I remember the song Heart of Worship came on and I just had my hands in the air and praising God...it was an amazing moment...though I'm sure the people behind me must of thought I was whacked...lol...oh well.

So for the most part the course was great!! Relatively no hills, a few inclines but nothing major at all....and it seemed to go by quickly. The bands were fun and so amazing hearing people on the side cheering you on and just being there for support. Sure kept the adrenaline going. By mile 5 I was starting to fade a little so I took some of my energy blocks and that helped a bunch...kept me going. The water stations were placed perfectly....and done well. About mile 11 I was getting pretty tired. Even my sports beans weren't helping much...I was just ready for it to be over. I pretty much had to pray through the last 2 miles. I never did see the mile 12 marker, but when we turned the corner onto High St. and I saw the finish line about a half mile or so away I knew that I just really wanted this to be over...I was tired. So when I finally got to about 400 yards or so away from the line I just sprinted for it...gave it all that I had left. I crossed the line in 2:21:42!! I was hoping to finish between 2:20 - 2:30 so I was very pleased with my results...especially being my first half. 

So after I crossed the line I just busted into tears...I couldn't believe that I just did that...that I accomplished my goal. My hubby and boys met me shortly there after and hubby had to help me stay upright because the emotions and just being exhausted was making me a bit wobbly, but after I got some of my sports drink and a bagel in me I started to feel better. My sister and nephew got to see me at the end of the race...so glad they were there supporting me!! Thanks Jackie and Treyce! The only thing I didn't like about the race was after crossing the line they kind of corralled you and herded you into the party area....it was very congested and very hard for people to meet up with their loved ones...but other than that the whole race experience was incredible!! I will definitely be doing this again!

Overall it was an amazing EPIC day!! Thank you to all those who supported me, cheered me on and sent me well wishes....it meant the world to me!!

So enjoy these pics from the race...until then, onto the next :)

5K's, Half Marathon, and a bundle of nerves.

So this past Saturday I ran my second 5K of the season...the Ridgewood School Rabbit Run 5K. I like running in this particular area because the area is relatively pretty flat. Though I didn't do as well as my last 5K I wasn't far off from my time...only 2 seconds slower...28:24. I'll take it considering I was kind of tired and my lungs felt like they were going to explode...it was starting to get pretty warm. My youngest ran the 1 mile fun run...it's so awesome seeing my boys run :)

So this week I've been doing my first taper...and I must say it was very welcomed...though I understand now what they mean that you're mind will tell you that you need to run....though like I said I was welcoming a little down time. Though my last 2-3 weeks of training have been a little flaky, I think I'm as ready as I'm going to get. Right now I'm just dealing with the nerves...today I have just been on edge and just very nervous. This is probably one of the biggest things I have ever done...it's huge!! I'm kind of glad that the day is finally almost here though. I kind of am looking forward to a little down time and not having to worry about how long I run. My hope after my half though is to maintain some sort of base...keep running my two 3-6 mile runs and then one longer run between 6-10 miles maybe...we shall see how it goes. Though I am seriously thinking of taking it easy these next couple weeks since May is usually so busy for me anyway and just taking that little well deserved breather....then it's on to training for the Indian Mud Run in June.

I have signed up for another 5K for this month. It's the Tallmadge Memorial Day 5K...gonna run it with my Aunt. We've been wanting to do a race together for at least a year...this is the year!! Excited and so nice to spend some time with family.

So I know this is short, but I'm going to try and get that last 3 mile run in tonight...then tomorrow it off to get ready for my first half marathon....eekkk!!

Wish me luck!!