Has it really been almost 2 years since I've blogged? I know, I'm not shocked about it either. But really, who cares? No one reads this except my mom anyway, HI MOM!!
It's been a crazy 2 years. Life happened, I became a SERIOUS Advocare distributor. Like so serious, that my husband is no longer coaching and we help a team of over 250 people. We've completely changed our lives. I took a 9 month hiatus from running thanks to Crossfit. Apparently, I CANNOT deadlift 175 no matter how much I think I can. And the result of trying is a herniated disc that I am still dealing with. It's getting better, and I am slowly easing back into the running world. So, no better time then now to pick back up my running blog.
I am currently doing Couch to 10K and plan on running a 10K sometime this spring. By the fall, I hope to be able to complete another half-marathon (that would make #5) and by January 2015, I will run my first FULL marathon. Not sure yet if it will be Houston or Sugar Land, but I WILL be running that 26.2!
I will keep you posted on my training!!
Monday, January 6, 2014
Monday, March 12, 2012
Why do I blog?
Sometimes I ask myself this question. Why? Why do I create these blogs that just end up causing me more guilt for being yet something else that I am neglecting? I'm not sure why I do it, but here I am. Then the guilt starts tugging on me and I feel like I need to post something. But what do I post? Do I tell you how I feel like I set myself up for failure when I set a goal of running 1000 miles in a year. It is March 12 and I've only run 114. Seriously? 114!?! I only ran 32 miles in February, and here we are almost halfway done with March and I've run 16 miles. Part of me feels like I should just give up now, throw in the towel and go back to eating cupcakes and ice cream and running every once in a while. But that does me no good.
I mean, I do run 4-5 times a week, just not as far as I should. Or at least not as far as a person who is trying to run 1000 miles in a year should. So here I am, once again feeling guilty. I will confess, I'm almost done with the 24 day challenge and I fell off the wagon and had half of a chocolate malt. The HORROR!!! But work is crazy and life is crazy so sometimes you have to indulge. I will continue on, and tomorrow is another day.
This weekend is The Warrior Dash, I am super stoked!! Not only because this is something I have always wanted to do, but also because this is the first time the hubs and I are doing a race together. He's made me promise not to leave him behind. LOL!! Little does he know, I'm not leaving him because he is going to have to give me a boost over that wall.
And then next week I run the 3rd half marathon of my running career. My goal for this one is just to beat my time from last race, so as long as I come in at 2:12 or better I will be happy with myself.
So, I guess that is why I blog. Now that I have gotten all of that out I am feeling much better. Tomorrow I will run at least 3 miles and then 2 on Wednesday, 3 on Thursday and Warrior Dash on Saturday. I will make my goal, and if I don't get to 1000 miles this year. At least I will have 12 really cool t-shirts to prove I tried.
I mean, I do run 4-5 times a week, just not as far as I should. Or at least not as far as a person who is trying to run 1000 miles in a year should. So here I am, once again feeling guilty. I will confess, I'm almost done with the 24 day challenge and I fell off the wagon and had half of a chocolate malt. The HORROR!!! But work is crazy and life is crazy so sometimes you have to indulge. I will continue on, and tomorrow is another day.
This weekend is The Warrior Dash, I am super stoked!! Not only because this is something I have always wanted to do, but also because this is the first time the hubs and I are doing a race together. He's made me promise not to leave him behind. LOL!! Little does he know, I'm not leaving him because he is going to have to give me a boost over that wall.
And then next week I run the 3rd half marathon of my running career. My goal for this one is just to beat my time from last race, so as long as I come in at 2:12 or better I will be happy with myself.
So, I guess that is why I blog. Now that I have gotten all of that out I am feeling much better. Tomorrow I will run at least 3 miles and then 2 on Wednesday, 3 on Thursday and Warrior Dash on Saturday. I will make my goal, and if I don't get to 1000 miles this year. At least I will have 12 really cool t-shirts to prove I tried.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Conoco Phillips Rodeo Run 2012
This past Saturday I laced up for my first ever SOLO race. Every run I have done up until this point, I ran with someone. I didn't always finish with someone, but I at least always started with a friend. Well, this weekend that wasn't the case. My dear RBF decided to be a good wife and run the 5K with her husband instead of the 10K with me. I'm not going to judge her, it was a wise decision, and probably one I might have considered myself.
The starting line was CRAZY!! I'm not sure how many people were actually there but from where I was when the gun went off, it took me 4 minutes to actually cross the start. Since I am usually dependent on Erin's Garmin it was hard to pace myself that first mile. The adrenaline was going, the crowd was out for the parade, people were cheering, radio DJ's were shouting, and I was running. At mile 1, Runkeeper told me I was running an average pace of 8:35. A very good pace I must say, but not normal for me. I knew if I kept that up there was no way I was going to be able to finish the whole 6.2 miles. I reined it in a little and found someone to run with. I noticed 2 men running slightly ahead of me chatting, one of which was definitely up there in age and the other appeared to be in his 30s. The younger man slowed a bit and ended up next to me. I quickly said, "Now that's inspiratation," pointing to the older gentleman. He told me the man's name was Ed and he was almost 77 years old. He hadn't starting running until he retired in his 50s. I sped up a little and decided to run next to Ed for a moment. I told him how awesome he was to be doing this and he replied with, "I don't want to end up in a wheelchair prematurely, or the grave either." He then went on to tell me about a friend of his that he lost that week that was 55 and weighed 237 lbs, he passed away of a heart attack. We ran about half a mile next to each other and then he said he had to slow a little to get ready for the bridges. But those few minutes with Ed carried me for the next 5 miles.
He wasn't lying about the bridges either. There were 2 overpasses that were not very kind. The first one wasn't too bad, but the second time across it started around mile 4.5 so my legs were getting tired and the adrenaline was starting to wear off. As I started the ascent Kelly Clarkson started telling me that what "doesn't kill you, makes you stronger...what doesn't kill you makes a fighter!" I was singing right along with her and believing every word.
My official time was 1:03:15, a personal record in a 10K race. I was very pleased with my results, though I had hoped for a sub-1 hour time. Considering my training hasn't been that great, I crossed at 1:07:42. I'm the one in the black shirt and capris wearing shades.
In case you are wondering, Ed finished the run in 1:07, actually only 4 minutes slower than me. Watch Ed cross the finish line at 1:11:16
I feel like I am finally getting my groove back. I'm at 90.6 miles for the year, only 910 to go!! And I've registered for my next half-marathon, March 25 Erin and I will be running the town of Sugar Land again. Want to join us?? Sign up here
The starting line was CRAZY!! I'm not sure how many people were actually there but from where I was when the gun went off, it took me 4 minutes to actually cross the start. Since I am usually dependent on Erin's Garmin it was hard to pace myself that first mile. The adrenaline was going, the crowd was out for the parade, people were cheering, radio DJ's were shouting, and I was running. At mile 1, Runkeeper told me I was running an average pace of 8:35. A very good pace I must say, but not normal for me. I knew if I kept that up there was no way I was going to be able to finish the whole 6.2 miles. I reined it in a little and found someone to run with. I noticed 2 men running slightly ahead of me chatting, one of which was definitely up there in age and the other appeared to be in his 30s. The younger man slowed a bit and ended up next to me. I quickly said, "Now that's inspiratation," pointing to the older gentleman. He told me the man's name was Ed and he was almost 77 years old. He hadn't starting running until he retired in his 50s. I sped up a little and decided to run next to Ed for a moment. I told him how awesome he was to be doing this and he replied with, "I don't want to end up in a wheelchair prematurely, or the grave either." He then went on to tell me about a friend of his that he lost that week that was 55 and weighed 237 lbs, he passed away of a heart attack. We ran about half a mile next to each other and then he said he had to slow a little to get ready for the bridges. But those few minutes with Ed carried me for the next 5 miles.
He wasn't lying about the bridges either. There were 2 overpasses that were not very kind. The first one wasn't too bad, but the second time across it started around mile 4.5 so my legs were getting tired and the adrenaline was starting to wear off. As I started the ascent Kelly Clarkson started telling me that what "doesn't kill you, makes you stronger...what doesn't kill you makes a fighter!" I was singing right along with her and believing every word.
My official time was 1:03:15, a personal record in a 10K race. I was very pleased with my results, though I had hoped for a sub-1 hour time. Considering my training hasn't been that great, I crossed at 1:07:42. I'm the one in the black shirt and capris wearing shades.
In case you are wondering, Ed finished the run in 1:07, actually only 4 minutes slower than me. Watch Ed cross the finish line at 1:11:16
I feel like I am finally getting my groove back. I'm at 90.6 miles for the year, only 910 to go!! And I've registered for my next half-marathon, March 25 Erin and I will be running the town of Sugar Land again. Want to join us?? Sign up here
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Getting back on track
For those of you who know me, and those who have been following so far this year, you know that last year was great. I changed my eating habits, started running, and became overall healthier. Well, as they say, I fell off the wagon. I went back to my old ways of eating ice cream, cupcakes, cookies, and just over eating. It didn't help that I wasn't running as much either. Unfortunately, it started to show. It's never good when the hubs asks if I have gained weight.
I tried to do better, I really did, but it just wasn't working. Desperate times call for desperate measures. A friend of mine recently started selling Advocare and had been telling me about the 24 day challenge. She said the average person loses about 10 pounds and it basically just jumpstarts your weightloss. I figured the only thing I had to lose was the $200 and the weight. :) So I started yesterday. Here are my before photos:
I have set my goal at 15 lbs and 10 inches over all. Here is what I ate yesterday: (I was out in the field so this isn't the best example)
Breakfast: Fiber drink
water
Apple 30 minutes later
Snack: Spark
Lunch: 2 rice cakes with almond butter
Baby carrot sticks
water
Snack: Orange
Spark
Dinner: Thai shrimp over mixed baby greens and 4 omega complex tablets
I ran 2 miles on RBF's treadmill so after that I had about 7 strawberries and finished off the night with the a packet of herbal cleanse tablets.
I did not feel like I was starving by any means, and trust me, when they say CLEANSE they mean it. I was down a pound this morning, which I'm sure was just water weight but I'm happy about it. I also went the whole day without any coffee or diet coke, which I don't think I have done in over 2 years. The SPARK has just enough caffeine to keep me from getting a headache without feeling all jittery. Plus, it has a TON of amino acids and vitamins that I'm sure I need.
I am definitely already starting to feel a difference. My stomach doesn't feel as bloated or heavy and I definitely do have more energy, and when I ran last night I felt great even though it was on a treadmill and I was going SUPER slow. I will keep you all posted on how and if this works. And who knows, I may even start a new business venture. Who wants to order some ADVOCARE??? :)
I tried to do better, I really did, but it just wasn't working. Desperate times call for desperate measures. A friend of mine recently started selling Advocare and had been telling me about the 24 day challenge. She said the average person loses about 10 pounds and it basically just jumpstarts your weightloss. I figured the only thing I had to lose was the $200 and the weight. :) So I started yesterday. Here are my before photos:
Breakfast: Fiber drink
water
Apple 30 minutes later
Snack: Spark
Lunch: 2 rice cakes with almond butter
Baby carrot sticks
water
Snack: Orange
Spark
Dinner: Thai shrimp over mixed baby greens and 4 omega complex tablets
I ran 2 miles on RBF's treadmill so after that I had about 7 strawberries and finished off the night with the a packet of herbal cleanse tablets.
I did not feel like I was starving by any means, and trust me, when they say CLEANSE they mean it. I was down a pound this morning, which I'm sure was just water weight but I'm happy about it. I also went the whole day without any coffee or diet coke, which I don't think I have done in over 2 years. The SPARK has just enough caffeine to keep me from getting a headache without feeling all jittery. Plus, it has a TON of amino acids and vitamins that I'm sure I need.
I am definitely already starting to feel a difference. My stomach doesn't feel as bloated or heavy and I definitely do have more energy, and when I ran last night I felt great even though it was on a treadmill and I was going SUPER slow. I will keep you all posted on how and if this works. And who knows, I may even start a new business venture. Who wants to order some ADVOCARE??? :)
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Sciatica, stomach bugs, and laziness, oh my!!!
The past 2 weeks have been horrible. Coming off of my second half-marathon I felt like I could conquer the world. I felt like super woman!!! Then, I took a week off. I needed it, I told myself. I deserved it. All of that sounded GREAT! Then my house my stricken with the stomach virus. I couldn't walk far from the house let alone RUN.
By Tuesday I jumped back in with both feet, well, maybe not both feet. It was more like, I was sitting on the steps. I did a few short runs, once with the stroller, once with the partners. Then decided to do a 6 miler. FELT great!! It was nice to get my legs moving again. I was back to my old self. The next day RBF and I did 3 miles and while I was running the left quad started giving me some trouble. (This happens every so often and I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that I tote the 35 lb 2 year old on the left hip.)
That was a Sunday morning, by that afternoon I could hardly get off the couch. By Monday afternoon at 5:30 when the hubs got home, I banished myself to bed and didn't get out until the next morning. Of course I didn't go to the doctor, because I'm a mom and a woman and who needs the doctor when you have google and facebook. :) After much research using these two very scientific resources, I diagnosed myself with sciatica and asked my friend the marathon coach what I could do to fix it. Apparently this torture device does WONDERS:
By Tuesday I jumped back in with both feet, well, maybe not both feet. It was more like, I was sitting on the steps. I did a few short runs, once with the stroller, once with the partners. Then decided to do a 6 miler. FELT great!! It was nice to get my legs moving again. I was back to my old self. The next day RBF and I did 3 miles and while I was running the left quad started giving me some trouble. (This happens every so often and I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that I tote the 35 lb 2 year old on the left hip.)
That was a Sunday morning, by that afternoon I could hardly get off the couch. By Monday afternoon at 5:30 when the hubs got home, I banished myself to bed and didn't get out until the next morning. Of course I didn't go to the doctor, because I'm a mom and a woman and who needs the doctor when you have google and facebook. :) After much research using these two very scientific resources, I diagnosed myself with sciatica and asked my friend the marathon coach what I could do to fix it. Apparently this torture device does WONDERS:
It's called The Grid Trigger Point foam roller and it is amazing. I spent the next few days rolling on this thing anytime I could. I finally started feeling some relief. Oh, and a few doses of aleve a day really helped too. I'm sure I could have pushed through and ran a mile or 2 this weekend to get myself going, but after not really running for the past 3 weeks, I am out of practice and therefore LAZY!!
BUT, as Scarlett once told us, "Tomorrow is another day!" And tomorrow I get back on the wagon. I have a 10K this Saturday and I am ready to do it!! It may not be my best time ever but I will do it!!
I will not allow myself to be discouraged about my goal. The past few weeks are in the past and now I move forward.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
My favorite running tunes
I am a southern girl, born and raised. I was country when country wasn't cool, but when it comes to running, I have to drop it like it's hot! :) A few friends have recently asked me what are my favorite songs to run to, so I figured I would share. This is my most recent half-marathon playlist. I took the advice of Another Mother Runner and decided to tailor my playlist to the race and actually really enjoyed it. I started with a few slow songs to keep me on pace but then had DJ Khaled and Eminem yelling at me by mile 10. I think it worked great!! I still like to shuffle my songs during training runs, but come race day you have to work up to your Guns & Roses.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Someone Like You ADELE
Lighters Bad Meets Evil & Bruno Mars
Set Fire to the Rain ADELE
Unbelieveable EMF
Holding Out for a Hero Bonnie Tyler Fo
Fly Nicki Minaj & Rihanna
Without You (feat. Usher) David Guetta & Usher
What the Hell Avril Lavigne
Hey Mama Mat Kearney
Pumped Up Kicks Foster the People
The Time (Dirty Bit) The Black Eyed Peas
Piece of Me Britney Spears
Rolling In the Deep ADELE
Grenade Bruno Mars
Born This Way Lady GaGa
Saved Chad Strader
Dog Days Are Over Florence + The Machine Lungs
Gimme More Britney Spears
Pump It The Black Eyed Peas
Stereo Hearts (feat. Adam Levine) Gym Class Heroes
Sexy Chick (feat. Akon) David Guetta & Akon
The Edge of Glory Lady GaGa
Look At Me Now (feat. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes) Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne
You Make Me Feel... (feat. Sabi) Cobra Starship & Sabi
Under Pressure (with Queen) David Bowie
Lose Yourself Eminem
Party Rock Anthem (feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock) LMFAO
More Usher
Coming Home (feat. Skylar Grey) Diddy - Dirty Money & Skylar Grey
Down With the Sickness Disturbed The Sickness
All I Do Is Win (feat. T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg & Rick Ross) DJ Khaled
Father of Mine Everclear
Welcome to the Jungle Guns N' Roses
Forget You Cee Lo Green
Blister In the Sun Violent Femmes
Tonight, Tonight Hot Chelle Rae
F**kin' Perfect P!nk
Tipsy (Radio Mix) J-Kwon
Raise Your Glass P!nk
Stronger Kanye West
Yoü and I Lady GaGa
Down On Me (feat. 50 Cent) Jeremih & 50 Cent
Rock Your Body Justin Timberlake
Hey Ya! (Radio Mix/Club Mix) OutKast
Blow Ke$ha
Cheers (Drink to That) Rihanna
Moves Like Jagger (feat. Christina Aguilera) Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera
Meet Virginia Train
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Here we go again
Someone once told me that you should take the week after a race off from running to give your body time to recover. Well, between the stomach virus that overtook my family, planning a going away party, for a friend and just being plain tired I did that this past week. It was actually nice to be able to veg on the couch with the hubs after the girls went to bed and not have to worry about lacing up and hitting the streets. But I have to admit, I missed those miles.
I haven't been sleeping as well, I just feel overall blah. So, tomorrow it starts again. I still haven't made my decision on whether I will run the half on February 19, but they are tempting me by running on Groupon today. In the meantime, I will be running 3 miles to ease back into tomorrow and if nothing else I have registered for the Houston Rodeo Run 10K at the end of this month. That puts me 6.2 miles closer to my goal.
Would I be crazy to run another half in 2 weeks, after running one last week and then taking a week off??
I haven't been sleeping as well, I just feel overall blah. So, tomorrow it starts again. I still haven't made my decision on whether I will run the half on February 19, but they are tempting me by running on Groupon today. In the meantime, I will be running 3 miles to ease back into tomorrow and if nothing else I have registered for the Houston Rodeo Run 10K at the end of this month. That puts me 6.2 miles closer to my goal.
Would I be crazy to run another half in 2 weeks, after running one last week and then taking a week off??
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