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.

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

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???  :)

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:

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.  

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!

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

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??

Half Crazy

I am so sorry it has taken me 3 days to finally sit down and write about my second half-marathon.  My family was hit hard with the stomach bug.  We are finally all feeling better and I actually have 10 minutes to sit down and talk about this great race I completed on Sunday.

After running the Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll, I told myself I would only run races that were destinations, basically as an incentive to train.  The running partners convinced me to register for one right here in my backyard, the Sugar Land half-marathon.  I must confess, it definitely was nice to sleep in my own bed the night before the race.  Plus, compared to the 30K that were in Las Vegas, the number of participants was minimal. 

We got there bright and early so we could make sure we had plenty of time to stretch and "take care of business."  The race started promptly at 7:00 am and I have to give props to the race organizers.  They were right one time.  This was definitely a well organized race.  Erin and I had a race strategy we had put together the week before during training, mile 1-10 at an 11 minute pace, 10-12 at 10:30 and then mile 12-finish as fast as we could go.  According to her Garmin, we started at around 9:30-9:45 and we felt great so we decided to continue around that pace the entire time.  I don't think we ever got above 10:30, it was great.  The weather was AMAZING, the crowds were cheering, some even handing out snacks, it was definitely a great race.  

Here we are around Mile 7:

At mile 11, we decided we would just go as fast as our legs would carry us.  Obviously, Erin's legs carried her a little faster than mine did.  She finished a full minute ahead of me, but that's okay.  I still beat my previous time and met my goal of finishing in less than 2:15.  Official time was 2:13:47!!

Now I know I am half-crazy.  I think we have decided to run another one February 19.  I figure, why not?, I'm already trained for it. :)

Total mileage count: 65.76!!!

You inspire me

Wow!  Who would know that those 3 words could hold so much power?  I have always known that 3 words could be powerful, "I love you!" "I am sorry!" "Will you marry me?"  Okay, so that last one is 4 words, but I've never known "You inspire me" could mean so much.  Until someone told me those 3 words.  ME?  The former high school mascot, runner up to class clown, and overall goofball, inspiring?  I feel I have been pretty average most of my life, hoping to one day inspire my children to do great things, I've never thought I inspired others.  Sure, I had a tough pregnancy, okay 2 tough pregnancies, but both of those ended in c-sections, you don't really have to do much when you have a c-section.  I have a friend that recently had twins, the right way, after laboring for 30 hours.  Now THAT is inspiring!!

I digress, twice this past weekend I was told by friends that I inspired them with my running.  Wow!  Not because I can run a sub-2 hour half-marathon (one day) or finish a full marathon (maybe next year) but just because I run.  Prior to January 3, 2010 I didn't run, EVER.  I was that girl that said if I had to run for my life, I would die.  I said I didn't diet because I liked food too much.  My mother and grandmother told me I was "too pretty to be overweight" (sorry mom) but I just accepted that was the way life was going to be.  I embraced my size 14 jeans and went with it, because I didn't think I could do anything about it without sacrificing everything I loved, you know, ice cream, cupcakes, cheese, and fried chicken.

Here I am with the big one, December 2010.  Notice the conveniently placed child to hide myself.  This was a common trend in photos.  That girl didn't really inspire people to do anything, except maybe cook.  :)

But this girl:

apparently, people find this version inspiring.   (that's my RBF Erin on the left)

I still don't diet because I DO really love food, especially sweets, but I make better choices and I love running more.  And trust me, if you eat nothing but junk all week and then try to run 10 miles, you will be hurting, I learned that from experience.  

It makes me feel important when people ask me how I got started, or for advice on training programs.  I hope to continue to inspire more and more moms to get out there and run.  As I always tell my friends who are just getting started, "It doesn't matter how slow you go, as long as you go."  My other favorite is, "A 15 minute mile or a 5 minute mile, it's still a mile."  

Thank you to those of you who have told me I've inspired you.  Each of you inspire me to strive toward my goal, even when the Debbie doubters tell me 1000 miles is too high, and remind me that I'm 31 not 18.  I don't care.  I will run those 1000 miles!!!

Mileage count:  47.5

The more I run, the less I want to run away

I tell myself this daily and even have it on a t-shirt (check out another mother runner) and today I am chomping at the bit to run.  Fridays are my "day off" from my mommy gig.  The big one goes to school everyday and Wednesdays and Fridays the little goes to Mother's Day Out.  For those of you who are new, I have two of the smartest and most beautiful little girls you have ever seen in your life, and yes I am partial.  But most some days, they drive me absolutely BONKERS!!!  Don't get me wrong, I love both sets of those big black eyes, but there is only so much whining you can take before you start to go a little crazy.  And today, even though it was my day off.  I still had to work the paying job, as well as my volunteer job, (both of which I love!!!), and then picked up the little one, only to find out she didn't nap today.  Welcome to meltdown city, population 1!!! 

So I run.  I run fast and I run far.  Then I have to turn around and run home.  When I get home, I am a better wife and mother.  I feel more patient after I have sweat all of the "Moooommmmmmyyyyy!" out.  The hubs isn't home yet, but once he gets here, I will lace up and take off.  I don't know how far I'll go but I'll run, and it will make me feel FABULOUS!!!  

Mileage count 39.5

Sweatybands

While I am enjoying my taper, I wanted to tell you about a few of my favorite running necessities.  I have discovered many really cool and amazing things that I cannot live without over the past year, and I'm sure I'll find more during the 1000 mile journey, but might as well start at the top.

Let me tell you about Sweatybands.  The most amazing headband you will ever wear in your LIFE!!!  Seriously, it's like they are magic.  Their tagline is "OMG!   They don't slip!" and they ain't lyin'!  I have very thick hair and for some reason while I'm running it likes to all fall in my face, which is SUPER annoying, as I am sure you know.  I have heard of these amazing headbands a few times before, but never bought one.  Well, in October my wonderful personal trainer friend bought me one for my birthday.  I was just as skeptical as I am sure you are, but I put that fancy thing on and headed out the door.  Seriously, I never had to adjust it once.  It really didn't slip!!

And don't worry about being boring with your headgear, sweatybands has hundreds of colors and many different styles.  I have been using the thin one since October but just tried a thick one, and I love them both.  The thick one definitely keeps more of the sweat out of my face than my thin one did.  But no matter what size you use, you will LOVE it!!!!

And click on my link to the right and you can get 5% off!!  Woohoo!!!!

Restrooms and watercoolers

If you have ever been on a roadtrip for longer than 2 hours than you know the importance of a clean restroom.  My husband's family lives in Dallas and I can tell you all of the best places to stop on I-45 (Buc-cee's is #1) for a potty break.  In running, it's not much different.  My RBF (run best friend) Erin and I map our routes out based on a pitstop.  While training for our first half-marathon in December, I think the people who worked at Burger King got sick of seeing us on Sunday mornings when we stopped to potty and refill our waterbottles.  Unfortunately, Burger King closed sometime in the last month.  I'm more of a Chick-Fil-A girl so I wasn't even aware of it's closing until I realized I was going to have to find a new pitstop.

Last week we decided to try a different route and run around the golf course near our house.  Being that both of us are married to football coaches that don't have the time to play golf, we had no idea that some golf courses have water stops along the cart path.  Imagine our surprise when at mile 7 of a 10 miler last week, we found somewhere to refill our water bottles.  Oh the JOY!!!!  You have no idea how refreshing ice cold water is until you are out of it during a run.

Then this morning, there it was, right there around the 5th hole, a restroom, in all it's glory.  Unfortunately, you had to have a code to unlock it.  Damn!!  Well, lucky for Erin and me, my kids are HUGE Dora the Explorer fans and I was able to communicate enough with the grounds keeper to get the code to open the door.

Compound this with the discovery of a watercooler to refill our water bottles we found last week and this route is runner HEAVEN!!!  I'm not sure how the golfers feel about us running on their cart path, but for right now this was just what we needed to complete our 12 mile run to prepare for our next half-marathon in 2 weeks.

Now BRING ON THE TAPER!!!!

Mileage count:  36.5

Just a mom who runs

I am not an athlete, nor have I ever pretended to be.  I was the kid in elementary PE that had to tie her shoe every 10 yards during the Presidential Physical Fitness test.  The I was my high school mascot, not to be an athlete, but to be an "athletic supporter."  (warning:  I speak frequently in movie lines.)  The few times in my life that I was a member of a gym, I hopped around from machine to machine, probably never running further than half a mile on a treadmill before slowing to a walk.  You are probably asking yourself, "Why is she telling me all of this?"  Well, I'm telling you this because on January 3, 2011 something miraculous happened, I became a runner.  I laced up my running shoes and hit the pavement.  A friend challenged me to run a 5K with her so I made it my resolution.  So on that Monday morning I dressed in the 1 pair of running shorts that I owned, laced up the $50 pair of tennis shoes I had bought myself, a cute pair by the way, I was still doubtful I was going to be serious about the running thing, kissed the husband and girls goodbye and headed out "for a run."  I walked for 21 minutes before SLOWLY jogging for 9 minutes, but for the first time in my life I RAN!  It felt amazing, not because I was out of breath or sweaty, but because I ran and I didn't die.

Fast forward to today, January 14, 2012.  I now consider myself a full-blown runner.  I have completed 5 5K's, 1 10K, and a half-marathon.  I logged over 400 miles in 2011, thanks for keeping track runkeeper.  I have discovered I can do things I never knew I would be able to do.  I have spent more on a pair of running shoes than I have on any other shoes I've ever owned in my life.  And I have loved every minute of it.  Finally, I have something that is mine and I can do on my own.

At midnight New Year's Eve 2012, I toasted my running partner Kathy and told her my goal for the year was 1000 miles in 2012.  To help obtain that goal, I will be running 1 race a month.  Some will be 5K's (3.1 miles) some will be half-marathons (13.1 miles) and I may even do a few adventure races.  Who knows?  But either way I hope all  of you will join me on this journey.  This blog will be my outlet for my training runs good and bad, my race results, and for those days I want to hang up my shoes and go back to my couch potato ways.  I hope you will enjoy my journey, and maybe even join me along the way.

And in case you are wondering, I have run 24.5 miles in January so far.

As I tell myself during a tough run, "Come on!!"