Reflection: "Through the ups and downs of running, I have found new perspective in life. The suffering and success has made me a stronger, happier person." -Christine Casady

Running.

A year ago if you told me I would run the Run for the Diamonds in 2013, I would've laughed in your face and rolled my eyes. 9 miles? I could hardly run a minute without my legs and lungs burning. It is amazing what the body is capable of.

For any resolutioners wanting to take up running I applaud you. You're going to love it. You'll love it IF you stick with it. Personally, it took me about 6 months to really start enjoying running. The first 3-4 months were the hardest. Mind you, I was in the 200s when I started so everything was prone to injury. I battled with tight calf muscles and minor pulls. I still do. I'm just smarter about it and know how to treat it. My biggest issue right now is my left ankle/achilles. The main cause is my weight, but I'm working on that.

In April I finished my first 5k. You would've thought I won it I was so proud of myself, and so was my dad. Another 5k and lots of summer training, I attempted a 10k. Again I finished and felt immensely proud of myself. And gorged on watermelon. Seriously, watermelon is the best summer snack after a run. Makes running in the icky humidity worth it.

After my 10k, I was resolved to try and run Berwick. My dad was a little apprehensive about it, but I assured him I'd be okay. A few races later and it was already November! And yet again I finished that race. The race I thought I could never run. I was glowing as I ate ALL THE TURKEY.

I'm running my first half marathon in April. My co-manager and her sister will probably run it with me, which is nice because 13.1 miles is a long way to go alone. And it's a women only race. So no daddy with me this time. I'll see if he and Meg want to do the co-ed 5k while they wait for me. And of course, Joe will be playing games while he waits.

The biggest surprise to myself and everyone is the fact that I'm going to run a full marathon this year. I've always wanted to run the Steamtown marathon. I was sitting on the couch reading my marathon book that my co-manager bought me for Christmas and found that I had finished the half marathon training program and actually went a tad beyond it. So the obvious thing to do would be to start the novice marathon training program, right? And if I'm going to train for one I might as well run one!

Let me tell you I think it is my mother's worst nightmare, lol. She did not sound pleased when I broke that news. She's afraid I'll hurt myself or die from sudden cardiac death syndrome (which is 7 times more likely when you're overweight like me!). When I tell my father (or my mother probably did already), he's going to tell me to wait. Nope. I'm stubborn. I'm already halfway through week 1 of training. I'm 25 years old. If not now, when? As long as I get this weight off by October, I should be at the top of my game. And it's not like I'm aiming to finish at the top of the pack. I just want to FINISH. I want to see how far I can push myself. I want to see all the beautiful scenery in NEPA (yes, there is some). I want to meet the wall and then go beyond it. I want to be a marathoner.

I don't know why I took to running or want to be a marathoner. I guess I want to do something extraordinary. My career didn't turn out like I wanted it to, but it does allow me a flexible schedule to get some training in. I love working nights so I can get out in the morning to run. Running is my thing. I'm not the fastest by any means, but I love doing something I thought I could never do. Running has given me more confidence in myself (plus size and all) and also a new perspective on life. It forces me to slow down and look at the world around me. I appreciate nature. I love running past butterflies in the spring and watching the turtles at the lake in the fall. And yes, snow is gorgeous even though my legs are freezing and burn like crazy when I warm up post running.

Running is my drug and I can think of nothing better to be addicted to.

So goodbye 2013. Thank you for treating me so well. Hello 2014! I hope to achieve some amazing things with you!

2013: The Year I Became a Runner

2013: This year will always mean so much to me.

It was the year I overcame anxiety.
It was the year I accomplished *some* weight loss goals.
It was the year I finally went back to working full time.

It was the year I became a runner.

To be honest, I still don't feel or look like a runner. I gained a good amount of that 30 pounds I lost back. Ten pounds to be exact. But I can run over 10 miles now. TEN! Not bad for someone ranging between 184-189 pounds.

I ran 10 races this year. (hmm 10 seems to be a good number for me)

(From the top left): iron girl 5k, color me rad 5k, 10k, 5k for families, savage 7k, fit for all 5k (nicole's first 5k), 9k (even though it says wine in the woods 5k: small budget group), the color run, run for the diamonds 9 miler!!, and 6k rudolph run.  Medals are from my first 5k and from the virtual 5k for Doctor Who's 50th.

My best 5k was 33 minutes and 50-some seconds. I've run a 6k, 7k, 9k, and 9 miler plus some other 5ks and fun color runs!

2014 is the year of the marathon.

I'm doing my first half in April and I am looking forward to it.

And...I'm going to train for a full marathon in October 2014. Shhhhh. ::Knocks on wood::
I'm starting early so I can lose the weight and shake out any injuries that may pop up along the way. Today's my 1 year RUNniversary. What a great way to kick off the new running year with my first day of marathon training. :)

Congrats to all the runners in 2013 and have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Knights of Columbus Running Classic 10K Recap

On Saturday morning I had a huge NSV...

I completed my first 10K!

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When I signed up for the race it described the course as "challenging" with rolling hills. I didn't think much of it. I can handle it, right? The description didn't lie. The course was the hardest I've ever run yet.

I arose at 5:50 am on Saturday morning shaking my head and realized I must be a runner. Who else gets up before the sun to go run 6.2 miles on a holiday weekend for fun? Me.

I went about my normal routine getting ready and stretching. I dragged my dear husband out of bed and we set off. The weather was about 72 degrees and 80% humidity when we arrived. I felt gross but I was too excited and nervous to care much. The race was hosted on the grounds of a monastery and it was absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed stretching and watching the sun rise over the hills that I was about to take on. I wish I took pictures!

Before I knew it I kissed my husband goodbye, and went to line up with the other runners. One of the monks read us a prayer before we set out, which, to this day, is my favorite prayer that follows me throughout my life:

"May the Lord bless you, and keep you;
May the Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."

The gun sounded and we were off! There were about 350 people overall with the 10K and 5K starting at the same time. We ran down to the beginning of the monastery grounds and bid the 5K runners luck as they turned left and the 10K runners turned right. At first the course was rather flat with some small hills. There were jugglers running the 10K with us! I talked to the one juggler for the first 3 miles and then he fell back.

The worst of the hills really set in from mile 3 through the end. I had to take a few short walk breaks since my legs were burning. At mile 4 I was beginning to question if I could do this. The sun was up and HOT. I kept repeating to myself that I'd be at the water station in 10 minutes (even though in reality I knew it would be more like 12).

The volunteers at the last water station gave me 2 cups of water and I accepted them graciously. I soothed my parched throat and carried on. When I wanted to quit on the second to last hill, a beautiful yellow butterfly flew in front of me. I decided to run with the butterfly until it left me. I entered the grounds walking and ready to be done. I grudgingly started to run again since my pride wouldn't let me finish the race walking.

Joe was at the middle of the last hill cheering me on along with some other runners who finished earlier. I thanked them and kept trudging forward. As I was nearing the finish line, the one volunteer told me if I could to bust out some dance moves across the finish. I just laughed at him.

I came in to "Party Rock Anthem" with a big smile on my face. A volunteer handed me a race magazine with future area races, and I made a bee line for the ice chest with bottled water. I chugged half of it and dumped the other half over my head because I felt like I was on fire! I found the watermelon and was eating two slices simultaneously when the hubby appeared with a cherry sno-cone. Seriously, he's the best. I wanted to hug him, but he wouldn't have any of that. I was so sweaty.

They were doing random giveaways and I won a $15 gift card for Road ID! After I received my prize, we lined up for BBQ. I really wasn't feel great, but I grabbed a piece of chicken and a small scoop of pasta salad. Then I went back for a second and third slice of watermelon as well as another sno-cone. I was shaking so bad, I flung some chicken in the grass for the birds to enjoy. The super humidity really did a number on me. Would I do it again? Absolutely.

I learned a lot about myself in this race. I'm not a quitter. I'm pretty darn strong. Even though I'm a slow runner, I still had just as much fun as the winners. I met some really cool people. I came in with a respectable time of 1:16:26 with an average pace of 12:20. One minute faster than my practice runs. And I'm happy with that.

The past two days have been very painful. I had never run that steep of hills and that many for that long. My ankles to my calves feel like a knife is being dragged through them every time I walk. Sunday I waddled around like a penguin. Today I managed to do some cross training on the recumbent bike, some squats, lunges, push ups, yoga stuff, and planks. Then I treated myself to a bubble bath and a pedicure. I can walk normally again, but it is mildly painful.

Tomorrow I'm going to try and get out for a run in the morning. I have to restart my half marathon training. Also, I mail my entry form for the Run for the Diamonds tomorrow!! I can't believe I'm actually doing it! Nine miles seems scary now just as 6.2 did a few months ago, but I really think I can do it. Just another 5K on top of a 10K, right? The race is my stretch goal for 2013. Now it's time to buckle down and lose some weight so I can get a little faster and train hard so I can go a little farther!

Anyone race this weekend? What did you do this Labor Day weekend?

"You are going to want to give up. DON'T."

Back again!

I've been off in career search land, and I finally have time to breathe and write a post! I'm getting interviews, but so far no job offers. It's really early in the process so I'm not too worried. The right position will come around soon!

This past week I started half marathon training. Surprisingly, the first week was really, really tough. It's not the length of the training runs that is tough. Rather, it is the frequency of the training runs and the increase in mileage that was tough.

For example, the first week is three 3 mile runs and one 4 mile run. The second 3 mile run I didn't feel great at all and had to stop at 1.88 miles. I was bummed, but it was one of those times that your body demands a break... or else. I made up the mileage by running on Saturday before attending a wedding in my hubby's hometown. After the wedding, the groom asked me if I was out running that morning because he saw a girl that looked like me. It was me! Ha ha ha. I was slightly embarrassed since I don't want anyone to see me running besides my husband and my friend Nicole (who I dragged into running with me!). I set a PR though with a 10:45 min mile average! WOO! No wonder I felt so terrible and just wanted the 2.1 miles to be over with! Too fast for my blood. For now.

As I promised in my last post I'm going to do a small review of my hydration belt, Nathan Speed 2.

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Mine is black.

Pros and Cons time!!

Pros:
- Comfortable. Didn't cut into me or leave marks.
- Doesn't slide around. I wear mine around my hip bones and my bottom belly helps hold everything in place. I've always been a girl with a little extra so I don't know how it would fit on a flat tummy girl. 
- The water bottles don't drip or impede my running in any way. I wear mine with the bottles on my back and have no problems pulling them out and placing them back while running.
-  Great storage. I carry my keys, mace, running fuel, and can squeeze in my Ipod nano.
- Available in different sizes to fit all bodies. 

Cons:
- Not a fan of the rubber nozzles on the water bottles. I understand that it is made tougher so it doesn't leak but I'm not crazy about it. The one nozzle twisted, got caught and wouldn't close all the way. I managed to wiggle it back into place.
- Doesn't fit large smart phones. I have a large smart phone I use to track my training so I clip it to the belt instead. Also, I use a thick case since I'm accident prone making the phone bigger. 
- Water bottle fell out of the belt, but only once. I was passing a walker on the path through the grass and I tend to bounce more in grass than on pavement. The water bottle wasn't secured well after I had just taken a drink a few minutes before and popped out. I haven't had any problems since then though. 

Overall: I really like this belt. I'd recommend it for any runner (beginners or otherwise) that are in need of an easy, comfortable way to keep water and fuel on hand for longer training runs.

Next, I'm going to review my SPIBelt! I like to take this lightweight belt on short runs since I have to drive to good running locations around town and need somewhere to put my keys.

Have you hit walls in your training and how did you get through them? What's your preferred way to carry water/fuel on long runs?

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."- T.S. Elliot

I'm horrible with posting lately, but life has been crazy! 

Crazy good.

Today I managed to get myself lost during my long run. I was a tad delirious from dehydration and exhaustion and could not figure out how to get back using google maps and my GPS. Thankfully, my knight-in-shining-armor came to rescue me to take me back to my car. Before I realized I was lost I ran 6.2 miles in 1 hour 17 minutes, which is about a 12:29 minute mile on average. So I ran a 10K today!!

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With all the struggles I had in the beginning with my legs I'm surprised I'm progressing so fast with mileage. I'm not out to set any records. I'm just out because I enjoy it. There's nothing like running through nature and having 2 butterflies chase you. Although it is not so fun when large geese start chasing you! Ah, the perks of running amongst the shrubbery!

Now that I'm running 5+ miles on my long run, I've started experimenting with different fueling methods. Last week I tried GU gel in blackberry. I was not a fan of the mouth feel and it was not a pleasant experience. The gel felt slimy and it didn't sit well in my stomach for about a mile. 

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Today I tried Clif shot bloks in strawberry. I was a fan! They had a better mouth feel and reminded me of big fruit snacks. I took them 45 minutes in and the bloks kept me going through 6.2 miles with a good amount of energy to spare (until I walked around in circles lost for 2 miles afterwards, ha ha). No major stomach upsets. A winner!

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The job hunt is going well and I interviewed for a position I really want. The interview was great and now I'm just crossing my fingers that I progress to the second interview. 

Overall life has been busy lately hence the lack of blog posts. I really want the blog to start having a focus so I think I'm going to start doing reviews of running gear for awhile. Next post will be about my running belt! 

Have you ever gotten lost while running? Did you need rescuing?

The Blogcation and Indoor vs. Outdoor Running

I've been MIA for a bit. My days are filled with running and afternoons/evenings are filled with job applications. Also, I went home over the weekend to visit my family. I've been eating horribly and because of that gained a few pounds, but I still kept up with my exercise schedule so it's all good.

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Today was a "long" run for me of 4 miles. I was able to do it in under 47 minutes! Woo! Since the humidity is at 90%+ and temps are in the high 90s this week, I'm doing all my runs on the treadmill. Boo. I find it hard to stay motivated on the treadmill beyond 2 miles and found myself lip-syncing to chase away the boredom of it all.

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Any distance over 5K requires pie to heal.

I used to be so in love with the treadmill. I mean, the treadmill is easier on the joint than pavement/concrete and is in a safer environment. After running outside for a week, I fell in love with disconnecting from my Ipod and enjoyed the scenery. I love connecting with fellow runners and running past many adorable breeds of dogs out for their morning walk. Sure running outside is much harder than on the treadmill, but it is worth the extra soreness at the end of the day.

On Saturday I'm participating in a virtual 5K! I'm hoping for a 35-36 min time. If anyone needs a 5K to run this weekend, check it out! The best part? It's FREE!! Complete it on a track, treadmill, or outside. You know you want to do it so get out there!!

Saturday afternoon my awesome friend Nicole from NYC is coming in for the day to visit. I'm beyond excited to have some girl time and catch up with her. We've both had some major life changes over the past year and it'll be nice to chat it out. My favorite change in myself is deciding to go back to work. Also getting back on medication for anxiety was the best decision I've made this year. Thankfully I have a great a great doctor who found a great prescription that works well for me. I'm the most "me" I've been in 3 YEARS. Oh and running helps! ^_^

My body aches so I'm going to get up and move around a bit. Surprisingly my upper body is more sore than my legs and such. Interesting.

How sore are you after a run? How many miles does it take to make you sore (2, 3, 4, 10+!)?

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Happy 4th of July!

Here's some wise words about 'Merica from one of my favorite T.V. characters:

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Nicely said Ron.

My fourth has been nice and relaxing so far. I ran 2 miles today since yesterday I was really sick. I was so exhausted anytime I would move I'd get dizzy and have to sit back down. Walking to the bathroom and back was exhausting. I didn't want to take a second rest day since I did so on Tuesday due to doctors stuff, but I just couldn't move.

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^ all day. that's all i did.^

But today I came back strong! I ran 2 miles at a 11:58 min pace!! 2 miles in 23:55! I can't believe I pushed that hard that long and smashed my records. Sure that is a slow pace for most experienced runners, but for a girl who was over 200 pounds 7 months ago that's damn impressive. And I did so up and down hills. I LOVE hills. My last 5K I didn't like so much since it was rather flat. At the end was a little hill and I loved it. The downhill speeds me up and just feels amazing. I'm weird.

After that awesome run, I started back in with Insanity where I left off at Max Interval Plyo. I managed to work through and crush the workout. It is amazing how much stronger I've gotten and how much pain I can endure. I think my pain tolerance increasing is one side effect of Insanity that I didn't expect. Love it!

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So what was the motivation for the workout comeback? Spirit of the Marathon. Joe and I watched it last night and I LOVED IT! I got choked up when the daughter of the one running was talking about running with her dad. The 9 miler in November is my "marathon" this year. I hope I can do it. I'll finish even if I have to crawl across that finish line!

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I hope everyone has a fantastic fourth! Now off to make burgers, nomz!

What did you do to celebrate the 4th? Any races?

Birthday binges, Running records, and Insanity madness!

My birthday weekend with the parents was amazing. The cake they got me was vanilla with strawberry filling and whipped cream frosting. I ate 2 big slices of that cake. I wish I had taken a picture of it, but I was more interested in scarfing it down than taking pictures. 

I LOVE Hyperbole and a Half!

On Sunday morning I awoke to smells of bacon and french toast. My mom made caramel baked french toast with sliced almonds. The top slice was crunchy and caramel soaked and the bottom piece resembled bread pudding in taste and texture. It was the most amazing breakfast I've ever had. And the best part is it was free! Again no pictures, I just proceeded to feed my face. 

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^ This is what went down all weekend.

Today I decided to check the damage on the scale. I look down and I lost .2 pounds. Huh. I'll take it. "Official" weigh in isn't until Friday so I'm hoping for even more movement on the scale.

YAY!

Some running success today! I ran 2.5 miles at a 12 min pace! I hated every minute of it especially since this is my "hills" day but I did it! I couldn't feel my legs when I was done. It was weird. Then I proceeded to take my 4th Insanity Fit Test. I busted all kinds of records there too! I'll post all the results when I finish in 2 weeks. After the fit test was max interval circuit. All in all I exercised for 2 hours and 5 minutes burning a serious 1300 calories. I'm currently super sore and not very interested in moving much. 

So I have a big life change happening right now! No it's not a child (everyone always thinks that/ asks that now that I'm married). I decided to go back to work and start my career in communications (FINALLY!). For the past 2 years I've lived in a rural town with very little choices for my field. Now that I live smack between two major cities I am overwhelmed by all the opportunities out there! I've applied to 4 positions so far and there is one position I really want. Dream job territory. We'll see what happens.

Since I'm working on tons of job applications, resumes and cover letters, I'll be posting much less. Once I get a job I'll be happy to post once a week until I get used to the new schedule. Until then, I'm working on my running and Insanity as much as humanly possible. Also trying to figure out ways to scale back the exercise to fit a job but still lose weight and stay in shape AND train for my long races in November. 

Being active is exhausting sometimes. 

How do you incorporate exercise with work? Do you prefer morning workouts or evening workouts? 

"Every year on your birthday, you get a chance to start new." - Sammy Hagar

Happy Birthday to ME!

I'm officially a quarter of a century old and I am now firmly in my mid-twenties. So how do we celebrate this momentous occasion? FOOD! My awesome husband is taking me out for some fondue tonight. NOMZ! I've been doing well this week so I feel comfortable letting my hair down a little food wise for one meal. 

I was hoping to hit 30 pounds lost today but no luck there. I'm firmly stuck at 29 pounds lost. My body is doing the "HOLD ALL THE WEIGHT!" thing it did when I started insanity and then I dropped 7 pounds out of nowhere. So I'll wait it out. Trying to lose weight has definitely taught me the virtue of patience!

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So, I had a small revelation yesterday. I think I'll be ready to do my goal race (Run for the Diamonds) on Thanksgiving. Eleven days before that race, I run my first 10K so I should have plenty of time to recover and run the race I've been dreaming of for 20 years. It's going to be REALLY hard. The course is up and down the mountains = MEGA HILLS. And the course is NINE miles + MEGA HILLS. Yikes! I'm stubborn and I'm going to do it. I am going to need a lot of Gatorade and those energy gels to get through it but I want it to happen. Registration doesn't open until September so I have some more time to mull it over and see how I continue to progress with training. Fingers crossed!

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Insanity is going well. I'm 2 days into week 2 of the second month, and I am already seeing a different in my endurance and strength. My arms are getting much more taut and shapely. I'm losing more in my waist and hips, and I can fit in my 11/12 jeans I got a month ago that were a tad bit too tight to button. Win!

Last post I promised to post my recipe for Chocolate Strawberry Protein Smoothie! I looked at a lot of different websites and combined what I liked from all of them to come up with this. The Smoothie is definitely for chocolate lovers. You can sub the strawberries with almost any fruit. I want to try it with bananas next!

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Chocolate Strawberry Protein Smoothie:

- 1 cup of chocolate soy milk (or almond, coconut, rice, whatever-you-prefer milk! I like soy & coconut.)

- 3/4 cup of frozen or fresh strawberries or fruit of choice (I made it both ways but frozen makes a thicker consistency.)

- ~1 cup baby spinach (I just grabbed a big handful)

- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (Optimum Nutrition is my fav!)

- Ice for desired thickness

OPTIONAL: add 1/2 tsp-1 tsp of instant coffee to bring out the chocolate flavor and put some pep in your step! 

Blend and Enjoy!

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There is truly nothing better than chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate! You can also omit the protein powder and use a teaspoon of cocoa powder instead. 

I'm tempted to go and make myself one now!

What is your favorite smoothie recipe?

“A bruise is a lesson...and each lesson makes us better.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

This week is the week of PAIN.

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I knew going into the second month of Insanity that I would be sore, but I never expected to be this sore. What is most impressive to myself is that I'm working through it even though I really, really, really don't want to.

The DOMS (delayed on-set muscle soreness) is as bad as it was when I first started exercising over 6 months ago. Yesterday was really sore legs. Today is really sore arms and shoulders. If it doesn't challenge you it doesn't change you, right?

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=)

Today's Insanity workout was Max Cardio Conditioning. I don't know if it was because this was an off day from running or that the workout was only 47 minutes, but I actually had some semblance of "fun." Max Cardio wasn't nearly as bad as Plyo or Interval Circuit. Now next week it starts to be combined with cardio abs so we'll see if that feeling lasts!

People's reactions to the fact that I do Insanity are funny. Most people just don't believe me or think I'm crazy. That's fine. I like doing something that most people won't even try.The biggest tip for surviving Insanity is to take an extra rest break or two (or three!) when you need it. There has been a few times I pushed a little too much and either started dry heaving or had those little black "pass out dots" appear. Unless you faint, puke, or die keep going!

Running since the race has been interesting. I've been pushing hard to get comfortable at running 12:30 minute mile. I did 2 miles at that pace and was in the land of side stitches. Maybe in a month things will be easier? I sure hope so.

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For now with running,  I'm going to start focusing on increasing distance and endurance over speed. The big event of this year is the 10K in November. I went race shopping crazy today and signed up for two races in September. The first race is September 22nd and is a 7K. The second race I thought was a 5 miler but it is actually a 5k is September 28th. I'm super excited for both but nervous because they are smaller races so you can't hide in the crowd as much! No matter what happens I'm going to own each and every mile! Side stitches or not!

In the far future I want to do a 10 miler and then a half marathon (my ultimate goal!). It is going to be a long, hard road to get to each goal race, but I'm learning to embrace pain. Sore muscles and pulled muscles are just part of this lifestyle. At first I was very freaked out by the little aches and pains. Now I'm starting to realize that there are going to be days/weeks of pain, but there will also be those days/weeks of feeling strong, awesome, and powerful. Right now is a week of pain. This too shall pass.

I'm debating on getting up super early on Saturday and going to the lake for an easy jog. I've been waking up every morning at 6 am feeling wide awake and usually fall back to sleep until 8. With it getting hotter during the early afternoon, I need to do early morning runs. I run HORRIBLY in the heat. Anything above 70 degrees makes me feel awful. I cannot wait for fall and winter! I've never said that in my life, but I feel better when it's cold. Summer is my self-proclaimed off season for races. I'd like to do some races with my friends but July and August are completely off limits. Unless the race is in Canada or the very northern US states.

I'm exhausted! Time for a dark chocolate strawberry smoothie! I'll share the recipe next post.

Do you like running in the heat or the cold? Why?

Color Me Rad Recap & Insanity Month 2, Day 1

The weekend was a BLAST!

On Saturday morning, we headed out to Philly to meet up and hang out with my friend who I've known since I was in preschool. It has been over 2 years since I last saw her, but you'd never know it! It makes me sad that I can't see her more often, but that's what road trips and races are for! Through her, I met a TON of new people and amazing runners. With all the excitement from the weekend, I was out like a light by 10 pm on Sunday night after resisting sleep for as long as I could.

Now for the race!

Pre-run cleanliness!
I'm the one with the black shin sleeves and hat.

The day was overcast, light drizzle on and off, and rather muggy and warm. I felt decent and had time to warm up and stretch well. There were so many people all over ranging in athleticism. We were packed in at the starting line like cattle and finally got to the open road after a few minutes. The group I was racing with was much faster than I was (about a 9-10 minute mile pace, maybe less) and I lost them after 10 minutes. I decided to just go as fast as I could and play catch the people in front of me. I had side stitches the ENTIRE race. I could really feel that I was pushing it, but due to the race not being timed and no one had a watch, I really couldn't tell what my pace was. I finished really fast but the course may not have been exactly a 5K.

The powdered color stations were horrible and I was happy that I had a handkerchief to cover my mouth with. Two of the color stations were liquid color sprayers, which I liked better but it stained my skin a lot worse than the powder. The finish line was a giant blinding burst of purple powder as I hacked and sputtered and tried not to slam into other runners who couldn't see either. I made it through the wilderness of purple haze and picked up a color packet to throw at my friends. We had a lot of fun with that.

After the race, we color bombed each other, we participated in the giant color release. That was so cool even though my lungs are probably technicolor. And the pictures that my hubby got are awesome!

OoOo pretty!

When we had enough color, we all clambered back to the car, put a tarp on the back seat and tried out best not to get color on the car. Traffic was horrible and we seriously considered running back to the apartment. Instead, the police opened up traffic to go two ways on a one way street and we were out of there! We were all glad to get a shower since we felt like we crushed up sidewalk chalk and rolled in it. I scrubbed as much color off as I could but the purple, blue, pink, and orange that got wet from the rain and my sweat stained my skin. I wasn't happy about that, but I was too tired and hungry to really care what the outside world thought of my new colors.

For brunch, we went to this awesome restaurant that offered crazy amounts of beer and sangria that looked amazing. I was sad since I'm not really allowed to drink anymore due to the new medication I'm on. And I LOVE sangria. So I ordered myself some brioche french toast with fruit and ate EVERYTHING. Everyone probably thought I was odd since I didn't participate in any discussions. I just closed down and dug into my brunch. There was only the food and that was all I cared about. I didn't realize that I did that at the time, but my husband pointed it out to me later. When my body wants to eat, it eats and nothing else matters. All I remember thinking was I'm tired...so tired...I'm hungry...Where's the food...I really want a sangria, damn meds...food is here...EAT ALL THE FOOD!

Due to the traffic and craziness on the way home, I didn't get to nap like I planned. Instead I spent the 2 hours being a backseat driver and yelling at my husband to slow down. I was a cranky pants. At a rest stop I decided I was hungry again and got a chicken quesadilla. BAD DECISION. I woke up early this morning and spent 2 hours expelling it from my body. I cannot eat fast food of any kind whatsoever. I thought I would be safe with that. Apparently not. I got a quesadilla in the mexican airport and nothing bad like that happened! But that was before I started eating well, eating out less often, and making my own food. My body wants no part of fast food trash anymore. If it makes me that sick now, I can only imagine what it was doing to me before when I could down 2000+ calories in one meal of my fast food of choice.

I woke up today around 9 (after getting back to sleep once my stomach had stopped revolting) and just felt exhausted. Part of the exhaustion was from the race and travel, and part of it was from the early morning surprise. I managed to convince myself to just do Insanity and that running could wait until Wednesday. Besides, Insanity keeps me in amazing cardiovascular shape so I wasn't concerned.

Today was the start of month 2 and my third Fit Test. I went all out on the fit test and beat all of my second test records. I'm learning that I'm extremely competitive and pushed through what I thought was my limit a few times. After the fit test was Max Interval Circuit. When the video started, I saw that it was 60 minutes long, and after pushing myself hard for 25 minutes I wanted to cry. I got about halfway through the workout and my body was exhausted! I paused it and grabbed the electrolyte fizz tablet that I got at my first 5K and popped it in a big glass of water. I took a gulp of of fizzy water at every water break and it really helped me get some energy back. At times I would just collapse, but I made it to cool down and was so very happy to stretch out.

Currently, I feel like every muscle in my body is lead and I know tomorrow I will be experiencing some DOMS for sure. I'm ready for bed and just wanted to get this post written, since tomorrow I will be in considerable pain due to the dentist. I'm happy in a way since after these fillings I'll be done and just have to protect my teeth from now on. Hopefully. It's still not fun and it is going to be painful, but in 24 hours it'll all be over and I'll be very relieved. Wish me luck and effective Novocaine!

Scale Victory and Second Race Excitement

"Running has taught me to be patient, to trust the process, that anything worth doing is worth training for and doing well. It has made me a better wife, co-worker, friend, nurse, sister, daughter, and person in general."  ~Andi Ball, Runner's World Challenger of the Week 

Thought you'd get away without a quote? NEVER! 

I'm beyond excited for the race on Sunday! I have just about everything set aside so now all I have to do is pack. Tomorrow we'll be clambering in a car for a short drive and enjoying the day with one of my awesome friends I haven't seen in so long. We go way back to grade school. I can't wait!!

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I had a great scale victory today! I lost 2 pounds in a week. TWO! I'm down to 176.8 now. I am beyond shocked. I haven't been really strict and I've been eating chocolate (skinny cow cookies and cream bars...SO GOOD). Only 1.8 pounds to go until I have lost 30 pounds! It has been A LOT of hard work, but it was 100% worth it!

According to some of the Insanity reviews I've been reading, you really start losing during the second month so it's right on time. I just finished off recovery week (hah! It was still hard.) and will start month 2 on Monday. It'll be rough and I might still be sore from the race, but I got to do what I got to do. Tuesday is the second dentist appointment for the rest of the fillings I need. I'm ready to get it over with, but I know I'll be doing nothing but laying around and putting a warm compress on my sore jaw. It'll also be a small mileage week due to recovering, but the following week I'll be back to 10K training. 

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Today I did a short run of a little more than a mile and a half, but I ran at a 12 minute mile during the whole thing. At first it was a bit tough, but my body really started getting into the groove about halfway through. I've been working on the treadmill to work on my running form so I can stay away from calf injuries. I've been trying to change my foot to a mid foot strike instead of a forefoot strike. Running with the mid foot strike seems to work best with my legs and knees. 

Overall, I'm just amazed that I'll be running my second 5K this Sunday. I've always stood on the sidelines of my dad's races thinking to myself, "Okay, this year I'll get in shape and do this." But the year came and went with no progress. It wasn't until I hit absolute rock bottom that I found the courage and determination to actually commit to running. I won't really feel like a true runner until I run a half marathon. My mother thinks that I'm absolutely insane for wanting to be a distance runner like my dad. I've done the research and I know that even though it may be stressful for my body, in the long run it is better for my body than not. And with a family history of bad knees and heart disease, I need all the help I can get to stay healthy for as long as possible.

I want to wish my father a HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! He is my hero and the reason I race. On Sunday I'll be running this race for him. I hope that one day in the future he'll be on the sidelines cheering for me as I cross the finish line of my first marathon. I know that would make him so happy (and a bit concerned since he knows how hard marathons are). I love you dad!

Like father, like daughter...

"I want to get more comfortable being uncomfortable. I want to get more confident being uncertain. I don't want to shrink back just because something isn't easy. I want to push back, and make more room in the area between I can't and I can. Maybe that spot is called I will." ~Kristin Armstrong, Mile Markers blog, Runner's World.com

I signed up for runnersworld.com quote of the day and I am loving it! I have a thing for motivational quotes if you couldn't tell.

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Anyway, today's run was FANTASTIC. After dealing with side stitches during each of my last two runs, I finally was free of them during today's run. I felt light, airy and really motivated. I rocked out to every song on my Ipod, and I'm sure the people who walked past the gym thought I was nuts since I like to lip synch. I didn't care. It has been a while since running felt that good, that easy, that free. I decided since I was having such a good time I'd see if I could run a 5K. I finished the 5K and then some. I am extremely happy since I was really getting nervous about the race. 

Now I'm excited for the race! I'm sad my Dad won't be running this race with me, but I'll be racing with some pretty cool catz so it's all good. Bring on the color!!

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This week in Insanity is "recovery" week. Uh huh. I put the DVD in expecting Shaun T to have a yoga mat and a recovery shake. Nope. I was thoroughly disappointed. Yes, it was easier than most of the routines from month one, but it still leaves you breathless and burning! I was worried that my calorie burn would be low, ha ha ha. I'd say it's about 50 calories lower than my usual burn. I'm excited to be at this point, period. I never thought I could take on this challenge. The body is an amazing thing. 

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My legs are doing okay today. I really love my foam roller. The foam roller is going to be my BFF for however long my body will let me run. If you're having issues with muscle strains, do yourself a favor and get one. Foam rolling can be really uncomfortable, but it helps more than it may hurt. Mostly it just feels weird. 

I'm trying to figure out what to get my Dad for Father's Day. I think I'm going to print out one of the pictures of us from my first race and frame it. I want to put on the frame, " #1 Dad" on the top and "Thank You" on the bottom. I really think he'd like that and it's from the heart. Something along those lines. Sounds like tomorrow is going to be a crafty day! 

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Amen. My Dad is the reason I run.

What are you doing for Father's Day? Any races coming up?

"Trust your gut. You are your own best coach."- Ryan Hall, U.S. Marathoner

That quote in my header is true. You are your own best coach. I'm learning that every day I continue pushing myself to become a runner.

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I'm learning to love the roller!!

Since getting the foam roller, I'm learning how to work through my calf problems. My calves are the next obstacle to overcome in this journey to become a runner. Some people have knee issues, some people have tight hamstrings, but this is my Achilles heel (and my achilles tendons are decently tight too). Instead of crying over it, I'm doing every self massage, every foam roller technique, and lots of icing and hot baths to continue training, healing, and strengthening my weaknesses.

I decided to do a 2 mile run today (it was actually 2.27 to my surprise). I had a side stitch during 25 of the 30 minutes because I'm still getting back into the groove after a week and a half break. The past two runs have been really painful, but I push through because I'm not going to break now. I've come too far, pushed too hard, and achieved too much to let pain rule my life. My pace is slower than I'd like at 13:19, but I know in a few weeks I'll get back to where I was.

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I'm facing my second 5K at less than 100%. I may walk during part of it, especially if my calves start acting up. I'm taking my foam roller and will stretch beforehand to make sure I'll stay as loose as possible. After reading a ton of articles on working through different running issues, I've found that you're not always going to be 100% for every race. Learning how to run through this and having a bad race is going to be good for me. I'm learning more about myself running through 2 miles of pain than if every run was easy and effortless. All runners have days when running is a chore, and it makes you appreciate those days where you feel like you are floating. I've had too many good days. Now comes the time to separate the women from the girls.

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And I'm not a little girl anymore.

Besides getting back to running, I finally finished my first month of Insanity today. The feeling of accomplishment at the end of the workout was amazing. I actually did it! I actually made it to the halfway point of the program! Next week is recovery week and I am looking forward to that! I only have 3 more runs until the race and some extra stretching is more than welcome to make sure the muscles are primed and ready to rock!

Even though things have not been ideal so far, I'm excited to have accomplished so much. Running my second 5K in a week, getting halfway through Insanity, and getting my weight in the high 170s are three goals I'm very proud of. There's still plenty of work to do, but at least progress is being made!

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Yep, that's the pill I take too.

What accomplishments are you proud of so far? What hurdles have you overcome in order to reach your goals?

“In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” - A. Camus

Foam rollers are a wonderful gift to all athletes and wanna-be-athletes like myself.

I love you foam roller.
Mine is smaller for travel and such.

I received this wonderful gift to myself yesterday afternoon. It was an odd sensation rolling out my calves and legs in general. Foam rolling is constant pressure on your muscles until they loosen up. The fun comes when you have horrible knots and strains (like me!). I wouldn't say it hurts, per say, I'd just say it is uncomfortable. And you have to remember to breathe. The release and recovery is worth all the "pain."

I got to run 1.5 miles today. Yes, it was a slow run, but it was a run all the same. Without Insanity to keep my cardiovascular system in shape, I really felt the lack of conditioning over the past week and a half. I had a  side stitch for most of time, but managed to get the entire distance in. Gangnam Style helped me push through the pain and keep going when I wanted to quit. Of course at the end I wanted an extra 5 minutes, but I knew better than to overdo it. My right calf isn't exactly healed yet, but I just couldn't wait. I may rest tomorrow just to make sure the right calf continues to heal before the next 5K.

Also, I got to pick back up with Insanity! I did the Cardio Recovery, which was a lot of stretching and strength work. Just what the doctor ordered!

So now we wait and watch and hopefully recondition. The Color Run isn't timed so I won't have an exact measure of how I did. I'm glad it isn't timed since I'm not as conditioned as I was for my first 5K. I am looking forward to seeing my long lost high school friend and getting covered in color!

Fingers crossed the leg keeps on healing!

The Calf Injury Saga & Pity Party

I was all dressed up and ready to go.

"Finally!" I thought, "Today is finally the day I get to return to running! There's a small pain in my other calf, but some self massage will clear it up. No worries!"

The massage didn't help. Now my calf is really hurting.

"No problems, I'll jog around the apartment and it'll loosen up!"

Five minutes of jogging later, pain is shooting up my calf and frustration is slowly building.

"This can't possibly be. I haven't done ANYTHING that would possibly pull this muscle! Except my body keeps getting really tense at night. No, just some more jogging."

Five minutes of jogging later and the pain is still there.

*Start of pity party*

"Why me! Why why why! All I want to do is run. That's all I think about. It's all I want to do and yet my body won't let me do it! Who pulls their leg in their sleep?!"

*Insert crying here*

My cat was confused at the noise I was making.
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My body is not being very nice to me lately. I still (technically) have today and tomorrow to rest for it to be a whole 7 days off since my injury. I really should rest the whole week. I hate resting.

My insomnia is back. After 3 days of crazy amounts of sleep (9-12 hours), it's baaaaack! I'm going to try and stick to a strict bed time routine to get my internal clock reset. This 3am-11am sleep schedule I find myself on is not working out.

So through all this body dysfunction, I'm still managing to lose some weight. I "cheat" weighed myself this morning and was down to 179.6 (I was 180.2 last week). My official weigh in day is usually Friday so I'm excited for it. I'd love it to be 179.2 so I will have officially lost a pound, but any loss is a good loss at this point.

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I threw myself a pity party today and even though I know there are way worse situations to be in, it really helped. The pity party was therapeutic in a way. Now I feel all zen-like and accepting of the world. All the frustration just kept building and building until it finally erupted today. In college, my Psych 101 professor taught us that the physical act of crying actually helps relieve sadness and is a good anti-depressant. Whether that study was true or not, it seems to help me. I'm an over emotional, theatrical kind of person so repressing strong feelings doesn't work for me, especially sadness. I know I look and sound like a spoiled five-year-old child, but after the 5-10 minutes of "tantrum" everything is okay with the world again. Or I could be going through the stages of grief. Or both.

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Thankfully whatever it is happened fast.

Now I'm just figuring out what to do next.  More healing! And maybe some lunch.

Here's hoping Friday is the day!!