A blog about my journey of training to run a 1/2 marathon with Team In Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and beyond.

Monday, May 30, 2011

$#%@%#^$&%*^(*(&)(*&^$#%@$^%^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 3 and 4 of the B.A. Challenge have come and gone. Day 3 was lunges. My pick and a silly, silly pick it was. We both totally wussed, I mean, maxed out at low numbers. A had 10 reps and I skated by with 20. So even though technically the victor went to me, I didn't really earn it. However, in our defense, A brought up the brilliant nugget of truth that we shouldn't have done lunges the day after the ab thingys. Killer. Day 4 was A's pick and she chose shoulder press. I totally won this one, not just in reps but because I used my kids as weights. : ) Bonus points. We made it a family affair. A did very well and is giving me quite the run for my money. Day 5 is my pick. Ab crunches and I'm already regretting it.

As for my running, I'm a little behind on my miles. I did something in yoga the other day and my hammy and my calf haven't felt right since, so I have been doing really low miles.  I am finally feeling normal and am starting back to longer miles tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Further, sidenote: Since today is Memorial Day and I have had the privilege of knowing so many servicemen and women (family & friends), I am asking that everyone take a moment and thank a veteran. Thank them for the selfless sacrifices that they and their families have made. Thank you!

Even Further sidenote: I issued a challenge to my readers that if we could hit 1000viewers, the first to comment would get a surprise. Well, we have surpassed 1000 viewers and the winners will be receiving their prize in the mail soon.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Well Played!

Day 2 of A & C's B.A. Challenge has come and gone. The exercise: Wall pushups! My pick. I was shooting for 100. I got 60 finished and then got distracted by life. I did manage to get a little run in, but I seemed to have done something to my calf muscle on my left leg. I keep getting the worst charlie horses in it and it hurts when I flex my foot. Fantastic! I have to give this round to A, who completed 80 pushups and did 3 miles. You are rockin' girl!!!
Day 3. The exercise: pilates ab thingy majiggys. A's pick. You're going down, A!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

New Curveball

I have a beautiful, brilliant friend who says that I have inspired her to start training for her first race. So she has been training using the Couch Potatoe to 5K program and doing fab. However, she had the audacity to issue me a challenge yesterday.  We will take turns selecting "The exercise of the day". We will then do as many reps of that exercise as possible in a 24 hour period. The one with the most reps wins the day and bragging rights. So to up the audacity factor, I have named the challenge AND developed a spreadsheet to track our progress. Welcome to Day 1 of A&C's Big Ass Challenge. (We are both big girls with even bigger senses of humor, so I went with a cheeky name. She loved it.)
Day 1. The exercise: the dreaded squat. A's pick (I hate her a little now). A's total: 30. My total: 45. Winner: ME!!
Day 2, my pick: the wall pushup. We'll see who comes out on top this time. Check in tomorrow for the results!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

I'm not meant to P90x

I have been trying my darnest to start the p90x program in preparation for the Dirty 30 race, but things keep changing up on me. I was going to start it the week after the marathon. You all know how that went. So I said the next week and my baby girl got really sick, then I got really sick. Well, yesterday I actually went and picked up the dvds with every intention of starting last night. What happened? Um, tornadoes, tornadoes everywhere. I live in Moore, Tornado Alley, the heart center of tornadoville. So when tornadoes come, we get out. Lucky, there was no major damage to us or our home. Unfortunately, that can't be said of everyone. My thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the storms. so needless to say, I did not start last night. I am going to yoga tonight and will start the program tomorrow. I have been to a couple of yoga classes the last week and a half and it is so good for my spirit. So I am making a conscience decision to nuture it tonight before I wreck my body tomorrow. : ) All be safe. Much Love!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

10K...O'd

Today was the See Spot Run 10K in Guthrie, OK. I didn't finish. I'm mad, embarrassed, upset, frustrated, and sick. I woke up this morning not feeling quite right. I couldn't put my finger on it, just "not right". Well, lesson learned here. When your body is telling you that something isn't right, it probably is. I had pains and pops, but I am used to sounding like a bowl of Rice Krispies when I first start running. It usually works itslef out by mile 3 or 4. But today....well, today just wasn't in the cards for me. I pulled the plug after 8K. I know, I know. I only had 2K left, and I am now kicking myself about it now. But just a few hours ago, I was certain that I was done and I was. I am still having my ankle problems, but that has yet to stop me. It wasn't until I started feeling weak and nauseated that I really noticed that something was wrong. Then right after the 8K marker, I started shaking. I had to keep going until I saw race crew, but they were kind enough to get me something to drink and get me back to the start. I HATE that I didn't get to finish, but they suggested that I stop. I was going to keep pushing until the lady told me that I didn't "look right". That was enough for me. So I have been KO'd by a 10K and I am already plotting my revenge.

Side note: I have an amazing friend in K. She is my drill sergeant and my cheerleader all-in-one. I don't know what I am going to do when she's gone. I love you, K! : )

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Didn't think it was possible....

I didn't think that it was possible, but I hurt worse today than I did yesterday. I, however, seem to be hiding it better since I have been told several times today that I am walking normal again (Yesterday was not pretty). : ) And it's really just the blisters. Horrible, irritating blisters. They mock me with every step I take, the sadistic little turds. But as much as I hurt and whine, I am sooooooooooooooooooooo ready to do it again. Is that sick?! My hubby thinks so, my friend K says yes, but.... has convinced me to do another one in September. So, still shooting for 9 races this year and it's looking like 2 of those will be half-marathons. Some 5Ks to increase my PR and some just for fun like the Dirty 30, and a few just because they are near and dear to my heart causes. I have completely lost my mind. Utterly and undeniably went batcrap crazy. But I think I like it. This is getting scary.
Peace, love, and BandAids!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Post Race Day 1

It's starting to sink in that I finished my first 1/2 marathon yesterday. I would do a little celebration dance if I didn't feel like I had just been hit by a truck. My entire body hurts. My fingers hurt from being so cold and curled up for so long. My knees hurts because they are old. My butt hurts from running up all the freaking hills that I didn't know existed on that course. My back hurts from running hunched over, trying to block the rain. But as much as my knees, calves, shoulders, and back hurts, nothing hurts as bad as the ginormo blisters that I have on the bottom of my feet. My feet were sooooooo pruny that now that they have dried out, they are blistered. But then I look at my pretty medal and my signs that my family made and  I stop whining and smile. At least until I have to move again. : ) I am walking around as much as possible today, trying to work it out. I have done hot patches and ice. I have done stretches. But I am taking it easy for a day or two before I try to run again. Even then it will be little miles for a while. As soon as I get full feeling back in my legs, I will do that celebration dance.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Done!

It started out as a beautiful day with clear skies and a warm breeze. At least that's what I would have liked for it to have been. Instead, it was cold, with lightning and LOTS of rain and wind. 4:30am comes early no matter what time you go to bed and I couldn't sleep last night. So for me it came really, really early. But I got up, got dressed, kissed my husband, and went to spend a miserable morning getting hammered with wind and rain until I was soaked to the bone.  Downtown is very disorienting in the dark, but the sight of the dark rain-soaked skies up against the lighted chairs of the Oklahoma City Memorial was breathtaking. So that image was motivation #1 for the morning. We were rain delayed by 30 minutes, so I lost any warmth I had built up. I got colder and colder as I stood in the shute where they had us corralled (like cattle, oddly enough). The thousands of people around me should have provided some body heat, right?! But no, it was freaking cold out there. Motivation #2 came with the 168 seconds of silence that we observed in memory of those lost. There was a very poignant and tangible energy in the air. The only thing that you could hear was the raindrops falling around and on you. It was amazing! The race begins. The first 2 miles are the hardest for me. It takes at least 2-3 miles for my body to adjust to what I'm doing to it. It was cold, raining, and my ankle hurt. And I was starting to become overwhelmed with a sense of sheer panic at mile 4. I wanted to stop and cry. I was breathing funny and I didn't want to do this anymore. I had just spend the last 3 miles getting pelted in the face with rain and  was soaked completely through. I said (and I'm pretty sure that it was out loud), "Dear God, I don't think that I can do this today!". Motivation #3 Here We Go Again by OK GO came on my Ipod. And it made me laugh! I felt a strong calm come over me. My breathing steadied and I ran my best mile of the race at a 13minute pace. My miles slowed but I felt good. I was still well under my 15 minute pace. Mile 7 the rain reduced to a sprinkle and I started to warm up. I felt great and run my 2nd best mile at 13.55 minutes pace. Mile 9 the skies opened up and poured down onto us. I was drenched and miserable...AGAIN. Mile 11 came and brought with it "THE WALL". I had spent every last once of energy I had on tap. I struggled and struggled. Mile 12, I was done, spent, kaput, fine, finished, no longer capable. Then an angel sent me the perfect song to make my legs work that last 1.1 mile, My Body by Young the Giant. That was Motivation #4. Thanks, Jamison! As I entered the last leg, there was one of coaches telling me how great I was doing and walked me to the least 1/4 mile of the race. Then she told me to run. I tried, I really did, but I was doing well to get one foot in front of the other. Then Motivation #5 hollered at me. Literally! My beautiful, wonderful, amazing husband hollered at me as he ran onto the course. I had to make him leave the course but he followed me all the way to the Finish Line, which I ran across. There stood Motivation #6,7,8. My amazing family had made me some great signs and was cheering (and of course my mom was crying : ) ).  They had braved the weather and suffered just so they could support me. I am blessed! I was so tired and shaking. Not shivering, shaking. I collected my medal, my gear, my marathon pin, a powerade and left. I wish that I could have stayed and enjoyed the festivies more and I wish that I could have taken more pics, but the weather just made me want to get the crap out of there. But I finished! I FINISHED! I stripped as I walked through my frontdoor. Josh ran my a hot bath and made me some choclate milk. I hate milk, but that was the best chocolate milk that I have ever had. I love my husband! I still don't feel warm and I'm pretty sure that I will not be able to walk tomorrow, but I FINISHED! Now I let me body heal for a week. Then....dun,dun,dun...I begin training for the Dirty 30! It's gonna be wild! Peace, love, and naps!