So it has been a little over a week since my fifth half marathon....I ran the Cap City Half Marathon again in Columbus. This was the third time running this half, and sadly I cannot say that the third time was a charm....sigh.
Let me digress for a moment.....to a little over a week before my half. I was running my last long run before the half...hoping for a 9 miler. Needless to say I did only a little over 8...why?? Because somehow I tripped on the sidewalk on one of the busiest streets in town. (Epic fail there!!) Badly banged up my left knee and right hand. Couldn't run on it for several days. Talk about discouraging. Needless to say it really played on me not only physically, but most of all mentally. I was only able to get a couple runs in before the half, which were nothing to write home about.
Fast forward to the day of the race. Surprisingly my knee felt good, though I wore my knee brace just in case. My hubby and my awesome sissy were there to cheer me on. I was feeling pretty good through the race at first, but something just felt off...and by the time I got about halfway through I knew I was probably going to have trouble. By mile 10 I was really feeling tired and I could tell my pace was really slowing down a lot. I had always heard about this thing called "The Wall" and I think I have danced around it a few times, but never really hit it....I am pretty sure I hit it this time and I hit it hard. By mile 11 it was pretty hot and humid, which honestly I just wasn't used to running in the heat yet....I mean after running most of this winter in 20-30 degree weather and then running in 70-80 degree weather....it wasn't good for me. Sadly, during the last 2 miles I ran/walked and finished in 2:17:44. I was really hoping to beat my last year's time pf 2:14 but it wasn't happening. And I'll be honest, I was a little hard on myself about it....though when I really thought about it it was only 3 minutes off of last year and with running/walking the last 2 miles, it really wasn't so bad.
So this year I decided to dedicate my run to those dealing with Autism and donate $10 of every mile to the Autism Society of Ohio. I also spent my half praying for those that I knew that were dealing with autism and their families, including my amazing nephew and my sister. It was a very humbling run in many ways. After my half, while I was wallowing in having a not so great run and feeling sorry for myself, God spoke to me and said, "You think this run was a struggle, think of those who have to deal with autism every single day." Again, a very humbling experience. So I have a feeling God was trying to teach me a lesson here. ;)
So I'm walking away from this half marathon as a huge learning experience. Though it wasn't great, it wasn't my worst...and I got to spend the time I was running praying for some pretty awesome and very special people....and over all that beats any PR any old day..
So this past Saturday I debated on running in a local 5K and I told myself the night before that if God woke me up in time I would do it....of course God has a sense of humor and woke me up at 7:20 that morning. So I got on my running gear and headed to the local park where they were having the race. Even got to run with some of my church family. So nice!! The awesome part was that the proceeds helped a little 7 year old boy dealing with lymphoma. I love running for things like that, especially that is benefiting a child. The course was basically the same route I usually took on my long training runs...so it was something I was used to. I finished in 27:27 which was pretty good for me. Not my best, but pretty close. I even finished 3rd female overall, which totally shocked me....did not expect that at all!! Where were those legs during my half?!?! Again I think God was showing me a lesson.
So now this is my favorite time to run...where I have no running plan, no schedule, no set mileage to run...I can just go out and run just to RUN!! Love running like that. After many weeks of running a plan it is very liberating to just be able to run for running sake.
So I have nothing really on my schedule running wise (though I have my first baby graduating here in a couple weeks....so pretty busy right now.) I have a run the last Saturday of May, then nothing until the end of June when the hubby and I will be running the Indian Mud Run together having a little friendly competition. And then the Shawshank Run the end of July in Mansfield. Didn't want to commit to too much with this being my oldest last summer with us before he goes off to college. Sniff-sniff.
Well just wanted to give you guys an update. Not sure how often I'll be on here with all that's going on this summer but I will try to check in now and then. Have a great summer!!
Monday, May 11, 2015
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Keeping me humble
Hello...I know it's been a while...but running has been kind of rough these past couple months. I swear the older I get, the more I hate Winter....don't get me wrong...it's pretty and all, but it really wrecks havoc on my running. Needless to say I have been doing a lot of running at our local sports complex's indoor track...not my favorite thing to do...after all going around in a circle is not very mentally stimulating, at least not for my ADD mind. It's those times when I put on a podcast on my iPod to kind of distract me from the fact that I'm really not going anywhere....insert long sigh here. Though we have had a little reprieve in the weather this week. Yesterday it got up to the low 50s and the sunny was shining. And you bet your sweet running shoes I got out there and enjoyed every minute of it! Today, however it was rainy so back to the KA track I went....which honestly was fine because I was doing intervals today and those are easier on a track anyway. Ended up doing 1200m with a 3 minute jog in between 6 times. Felt really good!
You know...many times I have run the track at Kids America and have been humbled and reminded how lucky I am that I'm able to do what I do. Usually on Tuesday's the Hopewell group is there, which in itself is humbling to watch them walk around the track together. Right there is enough to make one feel lucky. But today Hopewell wasn't there, but there was an older gentleman with a cane that was walking the track...very slowly. Honestly, I pretty much finished my 6 lap interval by the time he lapped it once. I kept an eye on him. He did a few laps and then sat down for a little bit and started going around again. Made me really think about how lucky I am that I can run and how awesome it was that this man, who could very easily just tell himself it was too hard and just sit at home in a chair all day, but he was determined and didn't give up...he kept going, no matter how fast or slow he was moving....he just did it regardless. I so admire people like that, and I so hope that when I get to that age that I have the gumption to never give up and just keep going regardless as well. Like I say, whether it's a 6 minute mile or an 18 minute mile, a mile is still a mile....keep going!!
So I don't think I mentioned this yet but at the first of the year I signed up for Run The Edge's "Run 2,015 Miles in 2015" Challenge. I partnered with another young lady online and we are splitting the miles together. January's miles were actually pretty decent and I hit my goal. February not so much...I was short by about 15 miles because I was down for a solid week with that nasty flu that's been going around. It literally knocked me on my butt. That's what happens when you stop taking your vitamins and supplements....it was a definite reminder that I need to stay on those. Don't want to go through that again any time soon!!
So now that it's March, Half Marathon training is in full swing. Again I am running the Capital City Half Marathon the first Saturday in May. This will be my fourth half marathon. I'm excited to get back out there and run long...there is just something therapeutic about it...until you get to mile 11, then that's a totally different story...lol. I'm also signed up to do the Indian Mud Run again the end of June...and the hubby is doing it with me (gasp!!!), then in July I am running the Shawshank Hustle 4 Miler with my aunt. There are a couple of 5K/10K's that I do also during the summer, but no info yet on those...but then in September I am hopefully going to start fulfilling my running bucket list. I'm hoping if everything works out ok that I will be running the Great Smoky Mountain Half Marathon in September. My goal is to run in as many of the National State Parks as possible....so hopefully, God willing, this will be the first of hopefully many State Park runs. So excited!! Then to end the year I'm planning on running the Hot Chocolate 15K with family in November. A pretty exciting year indeed...and I'm looking forward to it!
So here's to hoping that Spring is officially right around the corner and that there will soon be many happy miles run outside :)
Have a great month everyone!!
You know...many times I have run the track at Kids America and have been humbled and reminded how lucky I am that I'm able to do what I do. Usually on Tuesday's the Hopewell group is there, which in itself is humbling to watch them walk around the track together. Right there is enough to make one feel lucky. But today Hopewell wasn't there, but there was an older gentleman with a cane that was walking the track...very slowly. Honestly, I pretty much finished my 6 lap interval by the time he lapped it once. I kept an eye on him. He did a few laps and then sat down for a little bit and started going around again. Made me really think about how lucky I am that I can run and how awesome it was that this man, who could very easily just tell himself it was too hard and just sit at home in a chair all day, but he was determined and didn't give up...he kept going, no matter how fast or slow he was moving....he just did it regardless. I so admire people like that, and I so hope that when I get to that age that I have the gumption to never give up and just keep going regardless as well. Like I say, whether it's a 6 minute mile or an 18 minute mile, a mile is still a mile....keep going!!
So I don't think I mentioned this yet but at the first of the year I signed up for Run The Edge's "Run 2,015 Miles in 2015" Challenge. I partnered with another young lady online and we are splitting the miles together. January's miles were actually pretty decent and I hit my goal. February not so much...I was short by about 15 miles because I was down for a solid week with that nasty flu that's been going around. It literally knocked me on my butt. That's what happens when you stop taking your vitamins and supplements....it was a definite reminder that I need to stay on those. Don't want to go through that again any time soon!!
So now that it's March, Half Marathon training is in full swing. Again I am running the Capital City Half Marathon the first Saturday in May. This will be my fourth half marathon. I'm excited to get back out there and run long...there is just something therapeutic about it...until you get to mile 11, then that's a totally different story...lol. I'm also signed up to do the Indian Mud Run again the end of June...and the hubby is doing it with me (gasp!!!), then in July I am running the Shawshank Hustle 4 Miler with my aunt. There are a couple of 5K/10K's that I do also during the summer, but no info yet on those...but then in September I am hopefully going to start fulfilling my running bucket list. I'm hoping if everything works out ok that I will be running the Great Smoky Mountain Half Marathon in September. My goal is to run in as many of the National State Parks as possible....so hopefully, God willing, this will be the first of hopefully many State Park runs. So excited!! Then to end the year I'm planning on running the Hot Chocolate 15K with family in November. A pretty exciting year indeed...and I'm looking forward to it!
So here's to hoping that Spring is officially right around the corner and that there will soon be many happy miles run outside :)
Have a great month everyone!!
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Keeping It Real
So if there is one thing I have learned that I appreciate and am learning to appreciate in myself and trying to do more of is keeping it real. I can't believe that I'm writing this post, but I feel that I need to just to answer and shed some light on my actual journey.
I have had several people come up to me lately and say how inspired they are by me and my running and all. I am very humbled that people would even notice let alone even take the time to make a comment. I don't think what I do is anything special or amazing...but it has been work, and work that I've chosen not to give up on.
If you will, let me digress for a moment....
The photo above is me in the summer of 2006....Colton was almost 4....and though I was able to lose most of the weight I gained from having Austin and Brennan, I had a much harder time losing the weight after Colton.
This photo is me pretty much at my heaviest in the summer of 2007. When I saw this photo I honestly was horrified. I can't tell you exactly what I weighed back then but I know it was at least in the 170s or more....more than what I weighed when I was pregnant for Colton, but I wasn't pregnant!! I was very unhappy that I let myself get like this...I'm sure many of you have been there right?!?! But let me tell you....I didn't do something about it right away....oh no....I had to sulk and wallow for a few months...probably enjoying some ice cream and chocolate along the way to drown my sorrows thinking I would never see my size 8 jeans again.
Then came the winter of 2008....that's when my loving, and very brave husband saw these workout videos...yes on an infomercial...and went out on a limb and ordered them for me. I decided to swallow my pride and I tried them...I did the first video which was only 20 minutes. With three little ones at the time under my feet, sometimes it was a struggle, but I found those 20 minutes (and yes sometimes it was really late at night)...but I sucked it up and did it. I went on to do the other videos in the series and really enjoyed them and liked the way I felt afterwards...and yes I lost some weight....not a lot...not as much as I wanted...but some. I used the workout videos for about a year or so and found they weren't really doing it for me anymore...I had kind of platued, wasn't losing any more weight and honestly was kind of getting bored with the videos. I did P90X for a little while, but found it hard to carve out the 45 minutes to an hour it took to do those workouts. About this time I was following the journey of a scrapbooking friend I met on line and she was having a similar struggle with her weight and she decided to take up running. I watched for several months as she worked herself up to her first 5K...I was amazed and inspired. So finally in August 2010 I decided to lace up my shoes and start....walking. Hey, Rome wasn't built in a day after all. I used to walk all the time when I was a kid and even into my twenties so why not get back into it??. I started slow...a few months later that walking moved up to jogging, and eventually into running. In March of 2011 I finally was able to run 3 miles straight without stopping for a walk break!! That was an exciting day I remember well! I felt so empowered that day! In August 2011 I ran my first 5K race....and I'll be honest...after that race I thought I was going to die! I came in at 31:13. However, despite the feelings of impending death...I was hooked! After running several other 5K races a young lady at church challenged me and talked me into running my first half marathon....yep, totally bypassed that 10K....went from the 5K to 13.1 miles. Let me tell you....that journey wasn't easy. Training in the winter is hard...training for any race is hard. But I stuck with it. So on a chilly morning in May of 2013 I ran my first half marathon. I came in at a time of 2:21:42....better than my predicted 2:30...yet I again felt like I was going to die at the end....and again I was hooked!! Total since August 2011 I have run many 5K races, two 10K races, and 4 half marathons...oh and 2 mud runs. I have another half scheduled for May 2015, the Indian Mud Run again in June and a 4 miler in July. I have also started to do strength training and have been doing PiYo yoga for about a year now. Overall....I feel the best I have ever felt and I'm so much happier in my skin. However....you need to know that this didn't happen overnight....I've been doing some form of exercise since 2008....it has taken me 7 years to get to where I am today. There is no magic pill...there is no magic formula. Trust me, it is hard work. There are great workouts...there are those workouts where things just aren't going right. It's a process. As far as diet...I watch somewhat what I eat. After a bout in the hospital in 2009 with my gall bladder (and no I did not choose to have it removed) I changed my diet...I don't eat a lot of dairy and gave up fried foods. Since then I haven't had any trouble with my gall bladder. I am not strict on my diet....if I want a piece of chocolate cake I'm going to eat a piece of cake...my thought is you shouldn't deprive yourself of something you want....because you'll just want it that much more and then eventually overindulge...anyone know what I mean?? So I allow myself to have what I want, in moderation of course. I eat a few more fruits and veggies and nuts than I ever used to. And if I have that chocolate cake and decide to run an extra mile or two to cover it, I do...not that I'm really that strict about it. I think the magic key to weight loss is balance, patience and not being so rigid and hard on yourself. On those days that you find that you overdid it a little on last night's lasagna...just dust yourself off and start again. The object is to never ever give up and just keep moving forward, because looking back is not an option...or at least not a good one.
So in my journey I have been able to lose almost 40 lbs. and keep it off for the last 7 years. Again it didn't fall off overnight...it was little by little. So please, don't be discouraged at losing only a pound or two...or maybe for not losing any. Be happy that you are trying to better yourself, no matter what the result. Any exercise is better than no exercise I always say. And a good food choice is always better than a bad one. But most of all...just be good to yourself...hug yourself and let yourself know it's ok no matter what...don't make it difficult and just enjoy the journey. That's what I did and I am so much happier for it.
Again thanks to those who have come up and said such nice things to me lately. And I hope you enjoyed this little snippet of my journey. It hasn't been always easy, but it sure does beat where I was....after all...wallowing isn't much fun even if there is chocolate :)
Have a great week everyone!!
I have had several people come up to me lately and say how inspired they are by me and my running and all. I am very humbled that people would even notice let alone even take the time to make a comment. I don't think what I do is anything special or amazing...but it has been work, and work that I've chosen not to give up on.
If you will, let me digress for a moment....
The photo above is me in the summer of 2006....Colton was almost 4....and though I was able to lose most of the weight I gained from having Austin and Brennan, I had a much harder time losing the weight after Colton.
This photo is me pretty much at my heaviest in the summer of 2007. When I saw this photo I honestly was horrified. I can't tell you exactly what I weighed back then but I know it was at least in the 170s or more....more than what I weighed when I was pregnant for Colton, but I wasn't pregnant!! I was very unhappy that I let myself get like this...I'm sure many of you have been there right?!?! But let me tell you....I didn't do something about it right away....oh no....I had to sulk and wallow for a few months...probably enjoying some ice cream and chocolate along the way to drown my sorrows thinking I would never see my size 8 jeans again.
So in my journey I have been able to lose almost 40 lbs. and keep it off for the last 7 years. Again it didn't fall off overnight...it was little by little. So please, don't be discouraged at losing only a pound or two...or maybe for not losing any. Be happy that you are trying to better yourself, no matter what the result. Any exercise is better than no exercise I always say. And a good food choice is always better than a bad one. But most of all...just be good to yourself...hug yourself and let yourself know it's ok no matter what...don't make it difficult and just enjoy the journey. That's what I did and I am so much happier for it.
Again thanks to those who have come up and said such nice things to me lately. And I hope you enjoyed this little snippet of my journey. It hasn't been always easy, but it sure does beat where I was....after all...wallowing isn't much fun even if there is chocolate :)
Have a great week everyone!!
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
It's Beginning To Feel A Lot Like Winter!!
Happy New Year everyone!! Hoping 2015 has been good to you so far! As I reflect on the year that has past and look forward to 2015, 2014 was a good year...running wise anyway. Overall it was good. Some of my running highlights were running 2 half marathons, running the Hot Chocolate 15K and running part of that with my aunt and my niece. I also did the Indian Mud Run and several 5Ks as well.
So as we head into 2015, I don't know what it's doing in your neck of the woods, but here in Ohio winter has finally arrived. And though I appreciate the beauty of Winter...I am not a fan of it. It wrecks havoc on the running schedule. Now I can tolerate running in the colder temps...ran the other day in 17 degree weather (with the wind chill of -3) and though it wasn't the most pleasant, I got it done. However....today I finally had to bite the bullet and move my runs to the indoor track at Kids America. And no offense to Kids America...they have a nice track...very clean...and usually at the time I go it's hardly crowded at all...but honestly.....even with the track being empty....there is just something incredibly mind numbing about running in a circle...kind of like running on a treadmill....which is just as bad...running and going NOWHERE!!! I think that is the part that I have a problem with...feeling like you're going nowhere...ugh....kind of like life some days right??? Can I get a witness here?? Sigh....so as I sit here with my hot coffee counting down the days on my calendar until Spring gets here, I am thinking about running season and what plans I have for running in 2015. So far the only things I have definitely on my calendar of course is the Capital City Half Marathon in Columbus in May and of course the local obstacle race the Indian Mud Run which I actually talked my hubby into doing with me this year...woohoo!! The only other race so far that I have my eye on is the Shawshank Hustle which will be held in Mansfield in July. I love the movie and I guess the course goes past many of the places they filmed to movie...so sounds like fun :) .....Oh and to start off the new year, I did sign up to do the Run The Edge 2,015 Miles in 2015. Now I'm not doing all 2,015 miles myself. I signed up with another runner and we are splitting the miles between us...so yes I have plans to do just a little over 1,000 miles in 2015. It's going to be a slight stretch considering I only did about 940 miles in 2014...so it is possible...just going to be a challenge to get those extra miles in....and you know I'm not one to shy away from a challenge ;)
So that's it for now...I know, not much but.......every year since 2011 I have chosen a word as my "Word of the Year"....and as I pondered about what my word for this year would be, I finally came to rest on the word "LESS". This year I just feel the need to purge, organize and declutter my life. To do more with less...to have less things bogging me down...to enjoy more people and less things. To spend more time with God and less time with things that don't matter. This year is going to be a year of change for our family...my oldest will be going off to college in the fall...I want to spend as much time with him this year before he leaves the nest. If that means less time doing races, then so be it....races will come and go...family is what matters. So on that note....happy 2015 and we shall see what the year brings us!!
So as we head into 2015, I don't know what it's doing in your neck of the woods, but here in Ohio winter has finally arrived. And though I appreciate the beauty of Winter...I am not a fan of it. It wrecks havoc on the running schedule. Now I can tolerate running in the colder temps...ran the other day in 17 degree weather (with the wind chill of -3) and though it wasn't the most pleasant, I got it done. However....today I finally had to bite the bullet and move my runs to the indoor track at Kids America. And no offense to Kids America...they have a nice track...very clean...and usually at the time I go it's hardly crowded at all...but honestly.....even with the track being empty....there is just something incredibly mind numbing about running in a circle...kind of like running on a treadmill....which is just as bad...running and going NOWHERE!!! I think that is the part that I have a problem with...feeling like you're going nowhere...ugh....kind of like life some days right??? Can I get a witness here?? Sigh....so as I sit here with my hot coffee counting down the days on my calendar until Spring gets here, I am thinking about running season and what plans I have for running in 2015. So far the only things I have definitely on my calendar of course is the Capital City Half Marathon in Columbus in May and of course the local obstacle race the Indian Mud Run which I actually talked my hubby into doing with me this year...woohoo!! The only other race so far that I have my eye on is the Shawshank Hustle which will be held in Mansfield in July. I love the movie and I guess the course goes past many of the places they filmed to movie...so sounds like fun :) .....Oh and to start off the new year, I did sign up to do the Run The Edge 2,015 Miles in 2015. Now I'm not doing all 2,015 miles myself. I signed up with another runner and we are splitting the miles between us...so yes I have plans to do just a little over 1,000 miles in 2015. It's going to be a slight stretch considering I only did about 940 miles in 2014...so it is possible...just going to be a challenge to get those extra miles in....and you know I'm not one to shy away from a challenge ;)
So that's it for now...I know, not much but.......every year since 2011 I have chosen a word as my "Word of the Year"....and as I pondered about what my word for this year would be, I finally came to rest on the word "LESS". This year I just feel the need to purge, organize and declutter my life. To do more with less...to have less things bogging me down...to enjoy more people and less things. To spend more time with God and less time with things that don't matter. This year is going to be a year of change for our family...my oldest will be going off to college in the fall...I want to spend as much time with him this year before he leaves the nest. If that means less time doing races, then so be it....races will come and go...family is what matters. So on that note....happy 2015 and we shall see what the year brings us!!
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