Video Blog.. Let the torture begin...

Weekly video blog..

week 1 of my half marathon training.

Surprise!!!

Okay… I’ve made you wait long enough..

My surprise announcement…

Drum roll please.

I signed up for this:

http://www.rundisney.com/princess-half-marathon/

  Well.. What was I thinking????

  I am way excited.. and nervous..

  I have  A LOT of work ahead of me..

I have wanted to do a half marathon for a few years now. But, always chickened out..

  But, a friend of mine told me to make sure I do a 10K before the half.. okay.. that helps a lot.  In my mind I’m not going from 3 miles to 13 all at once..

 So.. I am so way excited!!!

Time to get this party started!!

OKAY!!!

Time to get serious!!

I’ve been lazy long enough..

5 days a week, here we come..

Strength training and cross training, watch out.. you’re getting it, too.

This is what my kittens thought of me leaving town. 

After I got home they wouldn't get off my suitcase! 

Next goal?? Wait til tomorrow for the big announcement! ( I know, tease..)

My favorite 5K!

WOW!! What a race!!!!!!

I LOVE this race! This is the 3^rd year I have been doing this one.. Every year, it seems to get better and better..

  They throw fireworks off at the start line.. They have really good water stops including people spraying you if you wish to. it’s coned off so you won’t get lost. The after party is way cool including jungle gyms, face painting and hot air balloon rides. They feed you breakfast and give you a massage. My favorite part of the race is it’s so dramatic at the end. You turn into a park area and run right in the middle of the park.

As soon as you do, people are lined up on both sides of the finish alley cheering you in! It’s the best feeling in the world..

This picture doesn't do it justice. This is after the party and everyone leaving. When most everyone comes in, both sides are packed with people!

AND.. okay.. this is going to sound weird. BUT.. you see, you meet up with the half marathoners their last 2.5 miles of the race. They aren’t snobby. Most of them were like “good job!” as they were passing you.. I don’t know if I would have enough energy at mile 11 of a 13 mile race to say anything! As soon as I crossed the finish line this lady was waiting for me and said “I just wanted you do know how much of an inspiration you are to me! You kept me going the last few miles!” WOW! Talk about sweet!! Thru my hard work, I am helping someone else, which is just icing on the cake!

AND.. to meet up with my rockin’ friends!

AND my family came to cheer me as well!! I feel so blessed…

And tired..  The route had us go actually 3.37 miles instead of 3.10. I had my garmin and I set it right when I stepped on the mat at the start and ended it right on the mat at the finish line! I feel like an over achiever in the accomplishment department! 

Electronics....Are you an addict??

Okay.. so.. maybe my friend was right..

Not so long ago, she told me I was addicted to technology. I laughed it off and didn’t believe her..

But, in getting ready for this trip I started to charge up all my technology items I needed..

There’s the phone. Both batteries..

Ipod for my race

Garmin for my race

Garmin for the car

Video cameras.

Camera to take pictures.

**whew**

It’s taken me all day to charge all this stuff..

So.. okay.. I maybe love my technology..

And that’s okay.. 

Day after tomorrow.. RACE DAY!!

My poor legs....

How does this

Is saving my legs for this week.

My hamstrings hurt… not the type of pain that would stop me from running. They just are tight tight tight.. and I know better than to run on tight legs. That is just asking for something to snap..

I have stretched.. and iced… and slathered with biofreeze. It helps..

But I also use that white long thing called a foam roller. It’s like being in physical therapy. You know when it hurts soooooo bad at the time, but few minutes later you feel quite a bit better?? Ya, that kind of pain. Just roll your muscles on that bad boy and wow.. lots better..

It’s cheap, it helps, I’m happy.. 

3 more days til race day!!!

Okay.. So.. already my schedule was a bit altered for the week.

 I really wanted to do a hard run today, slow tomorrow, rest Wednesday medium on Thursday and rest Friday so I can race on Saturday..

 But.. today I ran with my calves tight this morning.. not the smartest move, but I ran slow..

And my garmin completely went bye bye.. seriously.. the battery didn’t give me much notice..

So, I ran the complete 3 miles completely blind today.. augh.. not again.. I really must be a control freak..lol

So, I ran slow and had fun.. But my calves are still way tight.

So, not the happiest about this plan, but I’m doing a rest day tomorrow and work out Wednesday and Thursday and rest Friday..

This is exactly how I feel right about now..

My friend that is doing the race with me.. crazy boy...

Gotta have something to make me laugh.. Absolute craziness!! Lol

RACE WEEK!!

Whoohoo!! Race week!

Celebrating FREEDOM Day!!

   I must admit, the traditions here in my small town is quite unique. It has such a small town feel.
  The 4th here starts at 6AM with the fireman sets off dynamite blasts. That wakes everyone up for breakfast where they(fireman) treat us to a huge breakfast with all the trimmings. After the food settles a little is the traditional parade.

 After the parade is kids games at the park with money scramble and watermelon bust. At night is topped off with fireworks.

   This is a special year because some of my nieces and nephews are home. My brother treated us to a dutch oven chicken and potatoes. WOW! YYUUUMMEEYYY. I'm gonna have to run this off...

   For the next week..
   I am so thankful we have the freedoms we have here. I am so thankful for my amazing family that is so kind, sweet, nice and loving.
   Thanks for an amazing day!!!
    Now.. about that run.. lol.. Wish me luck!!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!

Picture of my lovely town.

Hope everyone has a safe and fun filled 4th!!

No more running la te da

Amazing!!!! I still can’t believe this happened!!

I went from this:

 

Really not looking forward to my run this morning.. augh.. speed work… don’t like.. don’t wanna..

Yes.. I was whining.

I left my house and met this very sweet lady. She was quite fit.

I explained to her that I run. She said she couldn’t run. But I said my run is her walk.. trust me.. I’m slow..

Then I said I run 3 miles. She looked at me like “you’re kidding, right?”

We set out. She went with me for the complete 3 miles. What a lovely lady.. and she wants to walk every week with me.

She pushed me.. wow.. It was awesome!!! And shaved 6 minutes off my time!!

Came back looking like this:

Why is it that a good run makes you look… happy?? 

New Goal in sight.

I’m done with building my mileage for now…  I’m always looking for the next new way to progress, to get better at running.  Someone once told me that I “don’t let grass grow under my feet.”

So, my conversation with myself goes something like this:

“so. Now what??”

“ I don’t know… work on speed?”

“augh.. I don’t want to work on speed.. that’s painful!”

Working on speed entails goodbye goofing off… not completely, but I can’t goof off every workout..

Like I have been.. for the last week.

It means I actually have to get out there and try..  dang.. progression is sometimes not fun…

Speed is my least favorite thing to work on.. I let myself walk on building miles. Not very much, but I do…

So.. I guess here we go.

On the bright side, there’s a saying “the faster you run, the faster you get done.”

That works for me! 

Amazing run for a Monday!

Amazing run this morning! I came home actually saying “I’m in love!”

I got up tired.. darn “Drop Dead Diva” TV show, but went out anyway. Had some minor tweeks, you know those days where it’s the little things. Didn't put my clothes away from washing Saturday so had to fish out my running clothes. My shoes were too tight, had to fix that. Calves extra tights, had to stretch more.

BUT.. I took it easy. Sang and saw many people that I love and adore on my run. It’s one of the joys of running in a small town. No skunk to smell of, no dogs to chase me. I literally felt like I was goofing off. Yes, I was running, but it’s like I just let my body do what it wanted to do.. Mile 1 and I was feeling awesome! At mile 2.5 I finally decided to get serious and kick it up and actually put some effort into it. Came home in the best move ever!!

I am having AC issues. It’s so stinking hot here lately it’s 90 degrees in my house! It looks like the AC that the landlord is providing doesn't work. So, we’ll try to get that taken care of today.. maybe.. I’m tired of being so stinking hot! Crossing fingers and praying!