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:)