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?