I've spouted out over and over again how important it was to me to prove that even an overweight stay-at-home mom of three can run a marathon. Well, this guy inspired ME today when a friend sent me this link on YouTube.
If you have ever had an issue with weight, or even if you have ever run... get the tissues ready!
This is what inspiration looks like:
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
A Running Group in Puyallup
So the Aflac Iron Girl was a success. I had so much fun, and although I only skimmed about 20 seconds off my 5k PR, it was a race to remember! There is something to be said about lining up to race with roughly 1,989 amazing women. We all train hard to do something for ourselves that is remarkable. Congrats to everyone who crossed the finish line and received that darling little medal!
On another note, I need a running group. I feel like the options are so limited in the south-end as far as training groups go and I would really love to have a group to meet with on the weekends. So this is my call out to anyone that might be interested! The Amica Seattle half-marathon is on November 28th and I thought we could get a clan together to meet up on the weekends for our long runs! There is beautiful scenery down here but maybe sometimes we could make some road trips to other great trails and tracks.
Wow. I feel like I am making my desperate plea on a dating website.
Anyone who wants to train for the Seattle Marathon with me must like long walks on the beach, coffee on Sunday afternoons, and shin splints.
So, if you are interested, shoot me an email and let's make it happen. I see all of you lonely souls beating the streets by yourselves. Let's be friends.
On another note, I need a running group. I feel like the options are so limited in the south-end as far as training groups go and I would really love to have a group to meet with on the weekends. So this is my call out to anyone that might be interested! The Amica Seattle half-marathon is on November 28th and I thought we could get a clan together to meet up on the weekends for our long runs! There is beautiful scenery down here but maybe sometimes we could make some road trips to other great trails and tracks.
Wow. I feel like I am making my desperate plea on a dating website.
Anyone who wants to train for the Seattle Marathon with me must like long walks on the beach, coffee on Sunday afternoons, and shin splints.
So, if you are interested, shoot me an email and let's make it happen. I see all of you lonely souls beating the streets by yourselves. Let's be friends.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The Aflac Iron Girl
It's 9:50pm the night before my first 5k race since my epic half-marathon last June. I'm not very nervous, though I should be. I failed to train very much at all this summer so my endurance has really gone down the pooper. I guess the Rock and Roll taught me something, however. If we aren't having fun while we are running these races, why the hell are we doing it?
I'm obviously not in the running to win the race (although my 6 and 3 year old girls may beg to differ), so why do I have any reason to worry? I am just going to wake up far too early, lace up my running shoes, run like hell, then strut around with my medal on. If you ask me, THIS is living the dream.
The only thing about tomorrow that makes me a little bit nervous is that none of my friends or family can make it to see me cross the finish. Well, one of my friends will be there, but she is running the 10k. Chances are I will be waiting around for a while to cheer her on while she crosses the finish line. I just hope the overwhelming sense of accomplishment will cancel out the feelings of being a race-finisher/bad ass that is hangin' solo. Oh wait! I just remembered I get a stuffed duck in my goody bag. Feelings of abandonment: dissolved.
For the record, I am doing the AFLAC Iron Girl around Green Lake. I know that a good portion of you running folk regularly train around Green Lake, and being a 'south-ender' I haven't had the opportunity to yet. I'll let you all know how it goes!
I'm obviously not in the running to win the race (although my 6 and 3 year old girls may beg to differ), so why do I have any reason to worry? I am just going to wake up far too early, lace up my running shoes, run like hell, then strut around with my medal on. If you ask me, THIS is living the dream.
The only thing about tomorrow that makes me a little bit nervous is that none of my friends or family can make it to see me cross the finish. Well, one of my friends will be there, but she is running the 10k. Chances are I will be waiting around for a while to cheer her on while she crosses the finish line. I just hope the overwhelming sense of accomplishment will cancel out the feelings of being a race-finisher/bad ass that is hangin' solo. Oh wait! I just remembered I get a stuffed duck in my goody bag. Feelings of abandonment: dissolved.
For the record, I am doing the AFLAC Iron Girl around Green Lake. I know that a good portion of you running folk regularly train around Green Lake, and being a 'south-ender' I haven't had the opportunity to yet. I'll let you all know how it goes!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
My First Run After My Hiatus
My anxiety was up a little bit for my first run after my two month break from the running. I was afraid I would disappoint myself and be starting at square one; two blocks of running.. ten blocks of walking... two blocks of running.. ten blocks of walking, and so on.
I guess I was suprised. I haven't lost a ton of strength in my body. My muscles still felt strong and half way into the first mile, I felt confident. I remembered how much I missed this freeing feeling. I missed the feeling of being away from everyone, alone with my thoughts, my heart racing, my face burning. After that first mile, however, I remembered how hard I had to work to build up my endurance for the Rock and Roll half-marathon.
At the start of mile two, my body felt strong, but my lungs felt as though they were about to collapse. My chest was burning a little bit and I was breathing like a St.Bernard on a 100 degree day. I stopped to walk.
I had to take a 2 minute walk break and was able to turn around and jog to my car without dying. To me, this was success.
If this was the first time I had trained for a race, I would be worried. But I'm not. I know that the lungs are the first to go, and probably the quickest to recover and get back to normal. It's actually kind of exciting for me to know I have to build my conditioning and endurance back up, because now I wont get bored with just pure awesomeness, if that makes sense.
I crosstrained yesterday, so today will be my second day of one foot in front of the other. I have three miles to run tonight, and I am fairly certain I will be even more determined to finish the three without any breaks.
Until the next blog! Happy Running!
I guess I was suprised. I haven't lost a ton of strength in my body. My muscles still felt strong and half way into the first mile, I felt confident. I remembered how much I missed this freeing feeling. I missed the feeling of being away from everyone, alone with my thoughts, my heart racing, my face burning. After that first mile, however, I remembered how hard I had to work to build up my endurance for the Rock and Roll half-marathon.
At the start of mile two, my body felt strong, but my lungs felt as though they were about to collapse. My chest was burning a little bit and I was breathing like a St.Bernard on a 100 degree day. I stopped to walk.
I had to take a 2 minute walk break and was able to turn around and jog to my car without dying. To me, this was success.
If this was the first time I had trained for a race, I would be worried. But I'm not. I know that the lungs are the first to go, and probably the quickest to recover and get back to normal. It's actually kind of exciting for me to know I have to build my conditioning and endurance back up, because now I wont get bored with just pure awesomeness, if that makes sense.
I crosstrained yesterday, so today will be my second day of one foot in front of the other. I have three miles to run tonight, and I am fairly certain I will be even more determined to finish the three without any breaks.
Until the next blog! Happy Running!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
We Will Call This, Chapter Two
The Amica Seattle Half-Marathon. The time has come. When it cools down tonight, my first day back into training will commence with a short 3 mile run.
I haven't run since June 26th. You heard me right. I haven't hit the pavement that I have grown to love so much in two months. I'm not sure why. I have been really busy, but if I am being honest with myself, not too busy to squeeze in a few miles here and there. I guess I just took a break, but I am ready to face my new training schedule head-on.
I'm going to follow Hal Higdon's half-marathon training schedule again. I liked it, it was realistic and it helped me power through the 13.1 at the Rock and Roll half. I am, however, going to focus on really working on the cross and strength training this time around because
A: I want to be faster and
B: I want to have a sexier physique (if you know what I mean)
On another exciting note, I think I have sucked my husband into my little obsession. We went out and bought him some new Asics and he is going to train for the November race as well!
Get ready for a lot more blogging from this lady. Also, wish me luck. I just hope I can still run 3 miles without stopping!
I haven't run since June 26th. You heard me right. I haven't hit the pavement that I have grown to love so much in two months. I'm not sure why. I have been really busy, but if I am being honest with myself, not too busy to squeeze in a few miles here and there. I guess I just took a break, but I am ready to face my new training schedule head-on.
I'm going to follow Hal Higdon's half-marathon training schedule again. I liked it, it was realistic and it helped me power through the 13.1 at the Rock and Roll half. I am, however, going to focus on really working on the cross and strength training this time around because
A: I want to be faster and
B: I want to have a sexier physique (if you know what I mean)
On another exciting note, I think I have sucked my husband into my little obsession. We went out and bought him some new Asics and he is going to train for the November race as well!
Get ready for a lot more blogging from this lady. Also, wish me luck. I just hope I can still run 3 miles without stopping!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Don't Worry, I'm Still A Runner
I haven't updated much since I finished my first half marathon so here it is, an update. I have been sort of on a running hiatus since the race, but not intentionally. My leg was pretty sore after finishing on June 26th, then I got some strange illness that has caused me to cough for almost a month and have a voice that sounds much like a 75 year old chain-smoking man. I have done some yoga and light aerobic activities, but I am ready to hit that pavement again. I guess I might have needed to take a little bit of time off to not experience running burn out.
I was thinking about following Hal Higdon's Spring Training program before I start my official training all over again. It seems like it will make me a little bit faster, and my body a little bit sexier. Does anyone have any great tips for in-between race training?
I also have a small chunk of exciting news! I have been talking to Fitness Magazine and they are talking about doing an itty bitty piece about me in their "I did it" feature. I don't want to jinx anything, but I just got off the phone with the nice lady from the magazine a few minutes ago! It's all very exciting!
I'll keep you all posted on everything!
I was thinking about following Hal Higdon's Spring Training program before I start my official training all over again. It seems like it will make me a little bit faster, and my body a little bit sexier. Does anyone have any great tips for in-between race training?
I also have a small chunk of exciting news! I have been talking to Fitness Magazine and they are talking about doing an itty bitty piece about me in their "I did it" feature. I don't want to jinx anything, but I just got off the phone with the nice lady from the magazine a few minutes ago! It's all very exciting!
I'll keep you all posted on everything!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Runnng in Hot Weather
There are about two months of the year (if we are lucky) in Washington in which we get fantastic weather. And by fantastic, I mean so warm you start to wish nudity was more widely accepted. It's the second week of July now, and we are finally in the midst of this heat. I have only trained in the winter and spring and I am really eager to get out there and pound that pavement again. I also don't want to die of heat stroke or just melt right into the road. This has actally kept me from running all week. I think I have gained 17 pounds in 4 days.
Anyway, I started researching a little bit to figure out how to run in the summer and not die. I have discovered the following tips:
1. Drink water. Lots of water. And not just before a long run. Drink all day everyday. Think of yourself as a sponge when the weather is hot and humid. You don't want to dry out and become all crusty and smelly, do you?
2. Electrolytes. From what I understand, if you are running in the heat, these are an important part of not dying. Gatorade, Powerade.. you know the drill.
3. Run early in the morning and late in the evening, when the temperature is cooler. This one just makes sense. Why would you really want to run at like 2 in the afternoon in 96 degree weather? You may be suicidal and you may need some counseling. That is just my professional opinion.
4. Show as much of your naked skin as you can, without offending someone or going to jail. Don't sacrifice being cool because you are self conscious about a body part. Who really cares? And always remember, cotton is rotten.
5. Wear your sunscreen! Unless you are gearing up for a lobster look-a-like competition, slap on some SPF 30. You would think this is common sense, but people love their tans (and apparently their wrinkly, prematurely aging skin). We also have enough to deal with with all of the chaffing. Can you imagine a chaffing sunburn? No thanks.
Well, this is all I have learned about running in the sun. I am going to test out my knowledge tonight. If anyone has any other tips to add, please feel free to do so!
Happy sweaty, sticky running!
Anyway, I started researching a little bit to figure out how to run in the summer and not die. I have discovered the following tips:
1. Drink water. Lots of water. And not just before a long run. Drink all day everyday. Think of yourself as a sponge when the weather is hot and humid. You don't want to dry out and become all crusty and smelly, do you?
2. Electrolytes. From what I understand, if you are running in the heat, these are an important part of not dying. Gatorade, Powerade.. you know the drill.
3. Run early in the morning and late in the evening, when the temperature is cooler. This one just makes sense. Why would you really want to run at like 2 in the afternoon in 96 degree weather? You may be suicidal and you may need some counseling. That is just my professional opinion.
4. Show as much of your naked skin as you can, without offending someone or going to jail. Don't sacrifice being cool because you are self conscious about a body part. Who really cares? And always remember, cotton is rotten.
5. Wear your sunscreen! Unless you are gearing up for a lobster look-a-like competition, slap on some SPF 30. You would think this is common sense, but people love their tans (and apparently their wrinkly, prematurely aging skin). We also have enough to deal with with all of the chaffing. Can you imagine a chaffing sunburn? No thanks.
Well, this is all I have learned about running in the sun. I am going to test out my knowledge tonight. If anyone has any other tips to add, please feel free to do so!
Happy sweaty, sticky running!
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