Race Results...News...Running Gear Recommendations

I finished the 10K and I want to again thank all those that sponsored me with donations for the VCU Massey Cancer Center.  You all were an amazing part of my motivation and determination on that cold, rainy morning!

I had planned on a time a bit above 1 hour but came in at 55 mins, it was an amazing race with loads of street side supporters bantering inspiration and waving signs with inspiring messages.  I think the cancer survivors in training tent was the one that most inspired me to pick up my pace, what strength and fortitude they had to be brave and courageous in their fight against the cancers they are facing.

I suppose I was so inspired that I finally....FINALLY...got enough gusto (or stupidity) to sign up for my first marathon.  I so want that 26.2 sticker and am determined to earn it this year!

I am in need of finding better insoles for my shoes as they are SHOT and my feet and shins are starting to feel it!  I am looking forward to updating you on my marathon training progress and the race is in November, so here we go!!!

If you are in need of running or fitness supplies I HIGHLY recommend Road Runner Sports, they are amazing!


Got to check out...

Road Runner Sports

Praise the Lord!!

Another pain free running day. I logged 4.5 miles and no aches.  I am so timid about the pain that I noticed every muscle twinge, tweak, and flutter HA HA HA.


I plan on keeping mileage low, all runs under 5 miles,  for a week to week and a half and see how that goes.  I would LOVE to get in a good 8-10 miler before the race (Nov 12) but we shall see.  I am going to try and bike after the longer runs just to keep my ticker and lungs in shape and hope my legs will hold up!! I am taking the advice of an old friend and avid runner and trying my best to keep off paved surfaces. That has been challenging. Apparently not many people like to trail run in Richmond, despite the large number of runners and athletes in the area HA HA HA.  Finding trails is nearly impossible. I guess I will check into running the soccer fields at the athletic complex nearby. Less boring than a treadmill, but I hate the idea of doing 'laps'. Oh well, beggars I mean injureds, can be choosers right?!?


Any advice on regaining mileage post injury break?  Thanks in advance and I am still in love with running!! That little piece of me that began to die during my injury break is singing like a meadowlark! Oh how I missed running.     I just hope I like running enough to endure the cold winter, I cannot run on a treadmill for anything over 2-3 miles. I get angry and bored and I just don't like it AT ALL!!!!

Marathon Monday (with a few ?s)

Ahhhhh....I am not a fan of cold weather, but I must admit I am enjoying these milder temps on my running days!!!  Last Wednesday (thanks to my husband's sweet mother and aunt  for providing childcare) I was able to do a long run of a little over 8 miles and today I ran 5.

My questions for those who have tread more miles than I...

1. I am still having trouble getting my breathing in check. The first 2 miles I feel like I have never ran before in my life, after mile 2 I seem fine and have no more issues breathing. What is my issue?
2. The front of my calves (around my shins laterally) are getting fatigued, is this shin splints, slight dehydration? I am not too sure since really there isn't a lot of muscle there.
3. With winter approaching, I have very sensitive ears to cold. What do you wear to not overheat but stay warm and what 'ear gear' do you recommend?

Wow more questions than posting today, but thanks for any insight you guys can give!! Feel free to post here or my FB page like most do!!

Happy Running everyone!

Mud Run Mania-I SURVIVED

Yesterday morning I participated in the Merrell Down and Dirty Mud Run.

It was fun, muddy, challenging, and rewarding.

I must say, they have it down to a fine art and the organization was spot on.

They had a bag check, shower station, changing tents, a Paul Mitchell hair care booth, and food. Not to mention normal race stuff like free swag,  finishing medals, prizes, etc...

I had a blast pretending to be tough and do military style obstacles and of course the infamous mud pits.  They had three of them and I had to run the last mile with squeaky shoes, not so great HA HA!  I loved how they had military people cheering us on and they even had a booth set up to promote Operation Gratitude and you could write a letter or notecard to our active military personnel. I thought that in and of itself was awesome.  I have elevated my respect for anyone who survives boot camp, let alone, selflessly serves our country and keeps us safe!!  I can't imagine how brutal basic training is!!!!

Overall an absolute blast and it reminded me just how much I need to keep training for the half marathon. If a 5K mud run seemed challenging, good night try adding more mileage!!  I will say the hardest part was pacing without my music I felt lost.

I ran in a decent time, placing 22nd out of 86 in my female age division at a time of a little over 33 minutes, overall I placed 267th out of 837.  Here are some pics of the event.  so overall I am proud of myself!! Hey-I survived HA HA!

I even almost won a pair of Merrells doing the most pull ups for a female...

Let me just say...I looked CLEAN compared to most people.  I heard if you put on lotion it helped the mud run off easier, guess it worked!

The final mud pit...it was dirty fun!

Pretty dirty mud art...love it

The slippery walls, complete with Dawn for extra slippage

Almost won a pair of kicks...so close!

WAHOO!!! 

What have I gotten myself into?

 Ok so I lost my mind, but in my 'logic' I decided I needed to up the anty on my half marathon training. How, you ask? By running in the  Merrell Down & Dirty Mud Run Series here in Richmond.

I am kind of siked and realize I haven't exactly been training for something like this and really don't have long to prepare.  To be honest, besides the knowledge of getting extremely dirty, which is why I am trying to find my old, delapadated trail running shoes to wear, I really don't know what to expect!!

I know there will be trail running and a cargo climb, a mud crawl, but really that is it.  Should I know more? Do I want to know more? Neither of which am I too sure about.  Perhaps going in somewhat blinded will be to my favor.

Have any of you done one? I know I need to bring additional clothing/shoes to change into, but what other pertinent (non-scary) info can you give me?

Thanks for your support...I, at the moment, am siked and off to run and weight lift today.

Marathon Monday Heat Wave

Goodness it has been hard to run.  Near and over 100 degree temps have made even the thought of running daunting.  I have had to do shorter runs on our treadmill which aren't a whole lot better since my sweet-frugal husband keeps the office/workout room set on 90 degrees.  I get his point, we are never up there besides fetching something we wirelessly printed or to work out and he likes to 'sweat-it-out' sauna style.

He doesn't run far so he doesn't get the agony it leaves me with HA HA.  I did manage a 4.5 miler Wedneday and a 5 miler yesterday on the treadmill but I need and want to do a long run.  I have had dreams of aqua running but having no pool, no access, and no aquatic running equipment leaves that dream flat.

What do you do to beat the heat but get a good cardio workout?

Marathon Monday...or lack thereof

Vacation was fun, short lived, as all vacations are.  Sorry about the lack of a Friday post. I was submerged in 5 loads of laundry and making the infamous vacation-return-grocery list.  A quick update on my running...

Well I did my long run on vacation but failed to do my midweek short run and am having a hard time getting back on track *sigh*

HELP, seriously, someone make me run before I just turn into a waste of space.  Accountability is waning.  I hope to report next week that I am back on target.

Another note, I bought a C9 tee shirt from Target and I am hoping it will feel better than my old as mold cotton tees I have been running in.

Have a great week and keep moving and stay motivated (unlike me HA HA)

*****ETA***** just writing this post this morning has inspired me, thanks readers, I am off to run at least 4 miles!

Marathon Monday

To cross train or not to cross train, that is the question...

well not really.  If you are training for any running event it is good to incorporate other muscles into the preparation. Everyone's training regimen will differ based on skill, likes and dislikes, and availability of resources.


My training schedule is a bit lax I suppose but it works for me. 

Sunday: rest
Monday: short quick 1 mile run with stretching and exercises from PT
Tuesday: stationary bike ride (my bike set up on a trainer)
Wednesday: 4-5 mile run, each week adding 10% more distance than week prior
Thursday: stretching and exercises from PT, along with strength training
Friday: stretching
Saturday: 7-8 mile run, each week adding 10% more distance than week prior

Personally I would love to swim but have no pool or local facilities within financial reasoning to use.  I get bored with routine so I am looking for new things to try and do on my non-run days.  What are some fun exercises you do?

I have tried yoga but apparently I just don't have the patience or balance to do the positions.  These are those times I wish competitive eating counted as an exercise HA HA!

I have found that it really isn't all that hard to maintain your training while traveling if it is something you think about and plan for ahead of time. That being said...we will see how I do at the beach :o)

Marathon Monday (on a Wednesday) & Simple smoothie

Sorry about the delay in posts this week...After a few requests for one, I have a new option button at the bottom of each blog post where you can print the post out.  The button will open up a new window (or tab) and have a print friendly version of that page you can print or save to your computer as a pdf file!!!  Thanks a bunch for your readership!!!!
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Here is an update on the half marathon training.  A few weeks ago I started experiencing knee pain on the inside of my right leg.  So I rested and took Advil.  I tried to run a week later and at the 3 mile mark it started again.  Took a few more days off and decided to have my husband watch me run on the treadmill.  He saw right away I was running with my knees hitting each other.

So off to a sports medicine doctor to make sure nothing was torn, ripped, broken and got the 'all clear'. I had my running gait analyzed by a physical therapist.

HOW EYE OPENING!  I would highly recommend you have this done if you want to begin training for running or are having issues with pain.  We discovered that my right leg was turning inward and then flipping around.  The physical therapist was at first baffled why it was just my right leg, but I knew exactly why.  I have been running 12-15 miles a week on a bike lane that has a step drainage drop-off, so my right leg is always "uphill" compared to my left.  In essence I had trained my right leg to compensate for the slope and work harder to get my foot over the slope so my knee was having strain being forced inward with every step.

I now have new insoles for slight overpronation and I am going with the flow of traffic (which I loathe and I am terrified of being hit) but I was able to run 6.7 miles yesterday pretty pain free which felt awesome.

So back onto training as usual this week and I hope that my long run this week will get back to 8 miles and resume increasing the distance by 10% each week following.

I wasn't happy about spending 2 days in a sports med office and paying 2 co-pays but it is looking like it may have been well worth it since I have found a new love in running.

Still looking for the ideal method of staying hydrated, the waist pack was a no go.  I am leaning towards a small hydro-back pack but am waiting since I was told they are going to go on sale soon.


Being a newbie to running I appreciate any tips, tricks, advice and hope that I can inspire at least one other to get out there and run!


After run snack recipe:

I use a bullet blender (no I do not typically buy into infomercials but we have been suckered into buying a 'Bullet Blender' and a set of knives but honestly they have been both well worth every dime and then some and so far the blender is 5 years old, the knives 8 almost 9...makes me wonder if more infomercial stuff is worth it...nah)

I digress....

• 1 single serve yogurt (any kind/brand will work-dairy, soy, greek, flavored, fat free, etc...)
• 1/2 cup to 1 cup fresh fruit (can be just one or mixed fruits-fresh or frozen)
• 1/4 cup V-8 fruit juice

1. Place all ingredients in the bullet cup, blender, or food processor
2. Mix.
3. Pour into a glass
4. Add a big straw, preferably one that is big and brightly colored- it is way more fun

It is one of my daughter's favorite snacks and my favorite post run cool down snack.

Marathon Monday

Well I am training, marathon style, well half marathon style. My goal is to run my first 1/2 marathon by 30, which I will be turning in December. I wanted accountability so...

Last weekend I got up to 7 miles and realized I need some new shoes and a method of hydration. I am not a previously long distance runner so this stuff is so new to me.

I got a new pair of kicks (New Balance 890) and camelbak handheld in tow I ran 8 miles this weekend...YAY

What I learned with new kicks and a new hydration system

1. New kicks work different muscles....I am so sore in the weirdest places in my calves & shins
2. Handheld bottles even with straps and whatnot is too much for long runs. Next weekend I try the 'fanny' pak (not looking forward to having something strapped to me)
3. It stinks not having a cut out in your foot bed for the Nike Ipod sensor in NB shoes

I have been noticing how hungry I am and I just crave carbs afterwards so I am going to work on a bread recipe...Jalapeño Cheese Bread and will get back to you soon on the results. The first loaf I made tasted bad.  I discovered the flour was freezer burnt, wishing I would have noticed that prior too!

By the way...  GIVEAWAY ends this Friday as it has gone on too long!!

Workout: when, where, how?

OK....working out isn't fun for, let's just say MOST people.  I have read a ton of articles regarding perking up your routine or starting one.  They all have a common denominator, find what you love and do it. After finding myself wheezing going up the stairs at the ripe old age of 29, I am on a mission to start doing better about regular exercise. I was doing great. Running a few days a week and doing a cardio video 30 Day Shred on days of incliment weather.

I love competition, so I tried running. I set a goal to run in a 5K and the following year I stated I would run in two.  I have met both goals but failed to set another so here I sit, literally, on my duff.  It is cold, my treadmill is in storage and I am left with wondering what to do to get back into shape without having to go outdoors.  Currently I do 100 jumping jacks from time to time, incorporating them into a regular routine has failed me.  I have decided that before I can get online I must have completed two things: devotion and some form of exercise.

That is my new goal, one that as long as I own a computer and therefore the temptation to get online I have motivation to do something.  I know what you are asking, and yes, I did my devotion and jumping jacks this morning. Thanks for worrying about my cardiac health HA HA

For you cooped up winter folks, here is a link to the recommend Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred, mine is sadly in storage. I found it at Target for ten dollars and it is a great, quick workout that must come with sore tushy warning.