2012 Running Recap

When I started my journey into running I was misguided at best. My sister, in Maine, called and asked my parents, my other sister and me to join her in doing #12in2012. I hadn't heard if this, I wasn't a runner, I WAS lazy & out of shape. She explained that we were to run 12, 5k's throughout the year. The only running I've ever done, really, is one 5k during the local fair in our hometown because it supports the Lions Club and my dad belongs, but I did it almost every year. I decided to join and figured what the hell I've ran before I can run again. I HAD NO IDEA...

In January I ran my first mile it took over 18 minutes. However, I didn't stop. It was personal now, I had no idea I had let myself go so much. I used to be a co-manager at a gym, I taught aerobics, step, water, an abs class. By the end of January I finished my first 5k and was kinda hooked, a friend of mine posted on twitter she couldn't make it to the Indianapolis Mini Marathon(1/2) and she was selling both of her entry's. I kind of figured if I could run 3 miles I could run 13.1 miles, so my sister here (Stephanie) and I bought the entry's and started to RUN. Somehow, someway we had gone from not running to being half marathoners in a matter of 30 days. It was a hard, long and exhausting day. We didn't make our goal, but we finished!!

I have no idea how it happened but by April we were running (gulp) long runs on the weekends, 8-9-10 milers wow if someone had told me 3 months before I would've laughed. I kind of laughed when asked to do 12 5k's... By the end of August I had volunteered at a triathlon and thought that that could be fun, it's on my list:). You could not have convinced me that I would feel the NEED to run, but I did and do. I started to get grumpy if I hadn't ran in a couple of days, just a mile or two would suffice. Now this year coming up, 2013, it's my year. I'm going to run it into the ground! I'm doing #13in2013 variety races and half of them are 10k or more, including One full Marathon. My previous post deals more in that area:).

I'm ready to tackle this year, head on, I have my schedule out until May and the excitement is like that of a child on Christmas morning. Lets do this thing:)

#runon #runhappy

Running 13 in 2013

As I have blogged before, I am on a goal/mission to complete a Full Marathon in 2013. While on twitter one day I stumbled upon this fabulous "challenge" to run 13 races in 2013! At first I wasn't sure that I could/would join, there were several options but each one was the same race distances, like 13 5k's or 13 half marathons, and I knew I would be running several different distances. I checked back the next day, because I'm slightly obsessed with challenging myself, there was now a Variety option!!!!

Of course I signed up, I was pretty certain I already had about 6 races on my schedule. I put my name on the list and felt almost giddy with joy knowing that I was committed to fulfilling more of my goals next year:). I started going through my race calendar and I was already planning on 11 runs, not 6!!!! My first thought was, "WOW I really am a runner, I don't even realize how much I'm running anymore!" My second thought was, can I really do this? I only ran in about 6 races in 2012, 7 after Christmas Eve:), the training was less than easy but not quite hard. However, in 2012 I only ran 1 half marathon, 1! In 2013 I'm planning on at least 3 half marathons and my first full marathon!!! It's all about mind over matter for me so if I stay focused I know I can do this:).
Here's a list of what races I have planned or have already signed up for:

January 1 - virtual run 5k
January 31 - virtual 5k to honor Sandy Hook
February - valentines 5k
March 16 - Shamrock run 10k
April 6- Henry County Half Marathon
May 4- Indianapolis Mini Marathon
May 18- Dirty Girl 5k
June -
July 20- Color Run 5k
August - Gaston Lions Club 5k
September - Indianapolis Womens Half
October -
November - Indianapolis Monumental Full Marathon
December -

There are a couple of other virtual runs that I completed this year that I will likely do again, like @runwithjess #cupcakerun.

I'm really looking forward to rocking this year!!

#runon #runhappy #13in2013

My December Challenge

On Facebook and Twitter I'm sure you've seen them, the "join us for a mile a day, 20 Burpees a day, etc". I've seen them, I've joined a few. I tried the Runners World Run Streak: run at least a mile a day from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I failed, already. I'm okay with failing, it makes us stronger people when we learn to fail, and GET BACK UP. From the day after thanksgiving until the first of December I only ran once. During that time I thought a lot about what I wanted out of running, where I wanted to be and how I'm in control of my health and running destiny.

My personal challenge is to run at least a mile a day from December 1 through Christmas Eve, 24 days of running whether I'm alone or with a friend. If I can do this then I know that I can complete my 2013 goals that I have set out for myself. It feels like I needed to change up the requirement for me, I wasn't ready to start when everyone else was. I'm ready now and I know that I can succeed:).

I set a goal for myself on Friday and beat it on Saturday, I just need to know that I have what it takes to be the queen of my fitness world. As a measuring "stick" I run 2 miles every now and again (more often than not lately, I'm stuck in a distance rut). I ran my first 2 mile run back in February of this year, I completed that in 30 minutes and 24 seconds. I'm still slow, but that's all relative, right? Yesterday I completed a 2 mile run in 21 min and 09 seconds!! You see it's all relative because I think taking over 9 minutes off of your time in a little less than a year is pretty darn good, and what really matters is what I think and feel. If I feel like I'm tearin' it up at a 10.5 minute mile then so be it!! Sure eventually I would love to be faster, for now though, I'm happy breaking my own PR's and feeling pretty good about it all.

So if I "fail" again, guess what. I'm going to start over and I will keep starting over until I'm satisfied. :)

#runon
#runhappy

My 1st Turkey Trot Recap:)

So much for attempting a 10k on Thanksgiving morning, it just seemed a little daunting. My sister, Stephanie and I are very used to running with absolutely NO elevation. We're in Muncie Indiana where it's almost more than flat. This particular run took place in Henry County, New Castle Indiana where the ground is a bit more rolling.

We didn't get in as many longer than 2-3 mile runs as we had planned and the hills made me nervous. So the 5k it was, and I have to say that on this course (which would've been a loop for the 10k) I am glad that for now that was what we chose. This was a fun run so there were kids and dogs EVERYWHERE!! The first mile was a pretty good pace for us, and that one was up hill! The second mile really got to me, the first half remained uphill and the cold weather was messing with my breathing. I had to walk a couple of times the second mile and that slowed us down a little bit from our first mile time. (If Jeff Galloway can walk so can I!! :)) The last mile was mostly downhill so we picked up a little time but didn't want to pull anything so we didn't overuse the downhill portion. I ended up with a PR for my 5k and Stephanie was right at her best but she's sweet and waited on me when I walked (thanks sister). All in all I was really happy with the outcome especially when I compared the elevation of the trail we usually run to the path we ran today!

I'm excited to try and really break that PR next weekend when we run the Red Nose Run along the White River.

Along with these back to back 5k's we are going to be running a Christmas Eve 5k in Shelbyville while our sister Leah is visiting over Christmas, she's quite a bit faster than both of us so we will be starting together but likely finishing separately:) I have also decided that this Runners World Streak thing sounds like a fabulous plan and will be completing at least one mile a day until Christmas, hopefully this will help keep me on track for the winter and the holidays. The first of the year I will start training for the Indianapolis 500 Mini Marathon for the second time and will hopefully be MUCH more prepared for that than I was last year!! 😀

Here's to the holidays!! #runon #runhappy

Gobble Gobble Run:)

It's been a couple of weeks since I posted anything. My lack of motivation has seeped into my writing as well. It's strange really, I feel motivated I'm just not doing anything to act on it. I was sick with respiratory issues this week and that cut drastically into any running I had planned, considering I couldn't breathe standing still. I'm supposed to run a 10k Turkey Trot this Thursday, and 6 miles is sounding very daunting as the day draws near. This morning was chilly but beautiful and Stephanie and I were able to get almost 3.5 miles in, it felt long and our pace was slow.

The plan is to try for 5 tomorrow and see how our pace is feeling, see if a 10k seems feasible or if the shorter but just as rewarding 5k is up our alley for later this week.

Just reminding myself, I guess, that I'm in this for the long haul. I'm running to/for my health and I just have to remember that I'm still lapping the couch potatoes.
#runon #runhappy #turkeytrot

Winter Slump, in the Fall...

Two weeks ago I PR'd my 5k! And then I stopped, well I guess I didn't stop but I certainly didn't continue... I ran 1 lousy mile between October 21 and today. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew this but it didn't really register until I logged my miles today and saw the evidence (or lack thereof).

So today I'm promising myself that the weather, darkness & freezing temps here in Indiana won't stop me from running!! I have a dreadmill (treadmill) as much as I hate it I think it is going to have to become my best friend through this winter. This is a new venture for me, as I haven't run through the holidays but am looking forward to keeping myself disciplined enough to do so.

It seems like this time of year, (whether you are truly busy or not) you are busy!! The days are so very short, of course by that I mean daylight hours...it's cold and often times dreary, shopping and family dinners galore!! It's a hard time to stay focused and on task. But....
I'm worth it so I will do it.

So I'm making out my schedule tonight, the dreadmill will become my friend and I will reserve Saturday mornings for my long runs!!! #runon #runhappy

Virtual Racing and Coaching

This weekend I ran in my first Virtual Race. For those who don't know, these are races that are set up by different people/groups anyone can sign up, you run the set distance, time yourself and submit the time to an e-mail/website/Facebook account.
Sometimes there are prizes, almost always you can purchase bling;)
This particular run was a 5k, the Cupcake Classic to be exact, run a 5k eat a cupcake! Really what's better??
First I had recently updated my Map My Run app on my iPhone and discovered there is now a coaching option!?!? I figured what better time to try this option out than a timed race.
We took off and due to the cold, I think, we were going at way to fast a pace for us. Slowed down a bit and that fancy little "coach" kept me on track for the time I had entered that I wanted to finish in!
I beat my 5k time by a little over a full minute, this after not being able to convince my mind to do so on my own. I guess I just needed that little robotic voice to tell me to move my *ss.
So aside from missing the thrill of being around hundreds to thousands of people for a race, I think I'm a fan. I will be doing a Winter Runnerland virtual 5k in January. I'm looking forward to breaking my PR again:)
Plus, the bling is cute!
Run on:)

New Shoes:)

It was time. I had put over 300 miles on my Brooks, time to look into new shoes to transition into. I had been hearing about these "minimalist" shoes and did some research, they seemed to make sense.
I went to my favorite runners store and while the helpful young man looked up my info I told him I had been thinking of transitioning to the minimalist. He talked them up being a fan of them himself, which helped convince me they were worth a try.
It seemed like I had placed tiny clouds on my feet, Brooks Pure Flow is what they actually were. I ran the little track and although they felt different, they felt wonderful!!
Well I bought those fluffy little shoes right up and went home to put them on immediately. I wanted to test walk them for a couple of hours before running in them. So after walking around it was time for the true test, I went out and ran a quick 2 miles. New shoes are always different, these were no exception. It was like muscles I had never used we're woken up and as tight as they felt while running I never felt sore afterwards. I think I'm in love.
I Have very happy feet and am looking forward to the move into my New Shoes and logging many miles.
Run on:)

MudMan Recap

I did it! I finished the Muncie MudMan, and it was hard. It was a blast but to be honest I probably only ran about half of the time. But I would totally do it again!!
There were over 15 obstacles, aside from the rain and 45 degree temperature already working against the runners. We started off with a short run through some knee high grass, into a pit of mud that almost sucked my shoes off. Next we traveled into what used to be a small creek/drainage ditch but was now kind of a raging creek/small river type thing that came up to my thighs!! (This went on for about a hundred yards.) I was frozen and terrified I was going to slip on some fallen wet leaves or branches and break or sprain something...
Into the woods, up a hill made of pure mud with no foot holds, yep pulled ourselves up by a rope:). There were some fun obstacles that made me really appreciate our armed forces and police officers, S.W.A.T. Training grounds... Thank You for all you do!!!
At a couple of points I really thought I might quit, but I really wanted that medal, I love my racing bling:) So I finished, and I got my bling! And I am so very proud of myself:)
Run on:)

Runners Bucket List

Okay, so I've been running for not quite a year now and I've decided that I LOVE it!! Running allows me to set aside the most stressful of days and just relax. I don't have to go far, I don't have to go fast, I just HAVE to GO.
I have decided that due to this new love that I have, I would create a Running Bucket List. It's quickly filling up, and each time I think I've convinced myself I have enough it grows. It started simply enough with just running a few 5k's, and as you've read shortly after starting to run I got a yearning to run the Indianapolis Mini Marathon, so I did. Well if you're a runner you know that's just not enough, so my list grows. I'm signing up for next years Mini, of course to better my time, and then I'm thinking at least one more maybe two half marathons next summer. Then there is the strange need that I feel to do a Sprint Triathlon, and I'm no swimmer. But that's not all, newly added to my Runners Bucket List are two other runs that make me excited and queasy at the same time, a full Marathon (yep 26.2 miles) and a Ragnar relay.
I'm slowly marking things off and I'm sure that the more I mark off the more I will add.
So that's that, my Runners Bucket List, I hope, no I know I can do it. I just have to stay focused and dedicated. I have a fabulous support team in my husband and kids, the pride I will feel in accomplishing any of these races will be great, so I'm off.
Run on:)

Goals, Addictions and Aspirations

The more I run, the more I want to run. I feel better, not only physically but emotionally too. I'm a happy momma when I get my endorphin kick;) I have "races" planned for the remainder of this year, several 5k's, nothing long. One pretty scary one for me, a mudrun that makes me nervous with lots of obstacles. I'm rambling, last night during a short 3 miles I came to the realization that I WANT to do a full Marathon, for me, just to do it. I don't want to be fast, I just want to finish. It makes sense to me to get a couple more 1/2 Marathons under my belt, since I've only done one. So my grand plan is to do next years Indianapolis Mini Marathon (2nd time), the half here in good ole Muncie, a sprint triathlon and then start training for the BIG one. I think I can do it and I'm excited!!! Can't wait to start some crazy training:).
Run on:)

Running on Empty

For about the past week I have been recovering from a flu-like sickness that left me feeling achy and spent. I don't have time to be sick, I have 5 races in the next 4 months and I'd like to better my PB at each one!
One month until the Muncie MudMan and I can't run. Feeling better on Thursday I tried a short 2 mile jaunt with my friend (who's is also suffering from sickness), we survived, barely. That was the slowest 2 miles I had run since almost the beginning!! So a couple more days off and I tried a Saturday trail run, it was like I was running on empty, no energy, no stamina. Not one to give up my friend and I went out again today and we chopped a minute off of our mile average since Thursday!!! Lungs are coming back, deeper breaths allowed and you know what? I felt pretty good!! My legs really wanted to to faster, my lungs have not been in agreement.
Something I've been working on personally is knowing that I am not running against anyone but myself out there. MY only competition is me, myself and I. I don't run for anyone else anyway, just me, that's why sometimes I do run on empty to remind me that I can do this! I can be who I think I am.
Run on...

A Desire to Keep Running

I'm not sure about anyone else but I need a goal, something in front of me to push me to continue. Simply saying I need to do it doesn't always work, I need a goal line, a finish (a ticker tape parade would be great;)). So I've signed up for my first MudRun, 5k of mud and obstacles. I don't think I will fully know or realize what that means until after the fact. I've run in rain, snow and sleet; so what's a little mud, right?!?!
I like knowing that I have to finish something, that I've signed up to do this and there may actually be PEOPLE watching. It makes me push just a little bit harder and strive for just a little bit more. I know what a PB is, I ran track in middle school, the lingo is not lost on me. However, it never really meant anything to me until lately. I want a better time, I don't need a medal. I just want, no I NEED, a better time. I'm not the fastest, don't need to be I'm not 20 anymore, but I do need to beat ME.
I have a desire to keep running, a will that wasn't there before. I hope it's always there:)
Run On!

Motivation?

Tonight I finished my run with a sense of disappointment; it was slow and I was tired when I started, I just kept making excuses. Long day at work, no sleep last night, already ate dinner, it humid outside, you can see they kept piling up until I felt like I needed a rope to climb over the hill of negativity I had dropped myself over. I mean, I ran didn't I. I was tired, but I went and I did it, the hardest step is the one out the door, right?
I needed to remind myself that less than a year ago, only 8 months ago, I never would've taken that first step to become a runner I never thought This would be me. I was 33 when I STARTED running, I feel better now than I did at 26. So a bad run is just that, somedays are slower than others. (and somedays you just want to stay in bed!)
To be able to say I did it, that's why I do it. It's for me, no one else. It's simple really, if you put it in perspective. I run because I can, I enjoy it, I know some people run simply to be fit they don't like anything about it. That's not me, I couldn't do it if I didn't like to run.
I've talked myself out of the disappointment I felt, I have a sense of accomplishment. Look how far I've come.:)

Injured runner

My first "blog" is about my silly injury. I was going along great finished my last 5k with a pb time and was feeling really good about where I was in my running life. Then it happened, I was "showing off" for my 4 1/2 year old, who just started gymnastics, I thought she would like to see a round off...well as soon as I landed I knew I had done it. I felt a jar in my shin and I knew it was no good.  Upon resting for 3 days I attempted to run my regular 3 mile evening run and less than 1/2 a mile in i was feeling a hotness and pain in my shin that shouldn't be there!  Turning around I walked back to the car, moping and complaining about my lack of thought when attempting a round off after at least 17 years...Yesterday I went out with my sister, after 4 days of icing and rest and ran 3.8 miles, they were slow and after mile 3 kind of painful but I think, for the most part, I'm feeling much better and am on the mend!  Next race will be Muncies Soles to Souls 10k...