whoops

Hi. Long time no talk, huh? Well, for a short recap here you go:

My running/training pretty well mirrored my blogging leading up to the P.F. Chang's Rock n Roll Half Marathon in Phoenix. Little to none, to be exact. I think I ran maybe 6 times since my last post here. Yikes. Fortunately, I had all the elements in my favor on race day. (Yes, I was [half]crazy enough to still attempt to run a half marathon.) The weather was BEAUTIFUL, I ran in shorts and a t-shirt in January(!), I dropped from 5,600 feet altitude here in Chinle to around 1,100 feet in PHX. This one change probably was what honestly helped the most. And third, I had run 9 miles once and when I finished that I run, I KNEW that I could do 13.1. Friends, it sounds cliche and trite perhaps, but distance running is really truly 75% mental. If you can develop the mental fortitude and discipline to just keep moving, your body will learn to adapt.

I DID IT! Along with several great friends who live here on the compound, I RAN (no walking) my very first half marathon in 2:27:47! I am thrilled and humbled and totally hooked. It was a blast. I have plans laid for more races and hope to continue to share my journey with you. Even more exciting, is that my hubs has said he will run a Half with me in November! I am very much looking forward to sharing that experience with him.
There are lots of posts that I have "written" in my head for you that life has not allowed me to type and publish. So many lessons learned. I apologize for not being more diligent in both my training and in my writing. I do really enjoy sharing this with you. I have only run once since the race and it was a brutal 3 miles. I have many reasons (excuses) as to why I haven't been running or writing, but really what it boils down to is that neither has been a priority lately. I hope to change that, at least as much as is feasible as our lives gear up for another (hopefully) cross country move, back home.
I do want to shift gears and broaden the perspective a bit now that my first goal has been accomplished. I will continue to share my training and running stories with you, but I'd also like to expand this forum to include the nutritional and health journey I'm on. I have been doing lots of reading and my views on nutrition and optimum health have been shaken to the core. I am at a cross roads of sorts and need to decide the path I am going to take. If you'll have me, I'd like to return to "half crazy runner" and hopefully inform and perhaps even entertain you a little as I share glimpses into my half crazy life.


Happy Running!

technically could have been worse

Do you remember that t-shirt brand that was popular in the mid 90's "No Fear". Each shirt had a different sports themed slogan about winning and playing with NO FEAR. Well, the company hit the height of its popularity when I was in middle school and I LOVED it. I had several different shirts, but my absolute favorite (my Dad can vouch for this) was the one that simply said:

SECOND PLACE IS THE FIRST LOSER.
NO FEAR!

This pretty much sums up how I feel about all competition. Seriously. It doesn't matter whether it is soccer, or baseball or tic tac toe...I want to win. So keeping that little tidbit of personal information in mind, let me tell you a little story..............

Once upon a time, in a land far far away from anything remotely resembling civilization, there lived a girl. This girl was a good, nice girl. She loved her husband and followed him to this place, she loved her children beyond measure, she even shared the bed with her dogs.

One day, this girl got the hair-brained idea to train and run further than she had ever dreamed of. This girl liked the challenge. So as soon as the doctors gave her clearance (she had just given birth and had suffered some medical issues post partum), she began her journey. She ran. And ran. And ran.

The weather began getting cooler. The holidays began creeping up. As Thanksgiving approached some of this girl's friends suggested they all participate in the local Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving morning. She agreed.

The morning of the "Trot" arrived and the girl logged on to the Internet to check the weather.

3 degrees.

That is what the computer told her. It was 3 degrees, and that didn't include the wind chill which was well below zero. Immediately, the girl wanted to turn around and go back to bed...but she didn't. No, she dutifully put on all the warm clothes she could find and went to the race.

It was miserably cold. The race didn't exactly start on time (not that that mattered too much) and by the time it did the poor girl's feet were frozen. They felt like clubs crudely stapled to her ankles.

All of the girl's grandiose ideas of finishing under the 30 minute mark froze along with the snot on her face. She kept moving. People passed her. Her friends were so far ahead, she couldn't even see them. Suddenly it occurred to this poor, frozen, nice girl to look behind her.

Gulp. One person. One. Just one rather portly person trudged behind our wayward heroin. She tried desperately to pick up the pace. Her body barely responded to the plea for speed. Thankfully the finish line came into view.

35:31. Second to LAST. 20 or so seconds ahead of the jolly jogger bringing up the rear.

Relief, frustration, and a small measure of shame washed over her. Bleck. Not the way she had envisioned this little event. The girl went home. Disappointed and...just disappointed. She thawed out, took a shower, and blogged about it.

The only solace she could muster was...well, technically, it could have been worse. I could have been dead last.

The next local race is on December 21. A "Jingle Bells" run. The girl went and hung the flyer on the fridge and vowed to work harder and faster. Our heroin may never win, but she sure as heck isn't coming in last or second to last EVER AGAIN.

Happy Thanksgiving.

find a way/shout out

One of my favorite quotes is, "If you really want it, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse." (I have no idea who to attribute this to, if you happen to know, please leave me a comment)

The weather here on the good ol' Rez has been less than ideal. That, coupled with the fact I had to go in to the doctor Friday and get an antibiotic for a sinus infection and have my allergy medicine adjusted, has meant that running outside in freezing rain and sustained winds over 15mph isn't really a bright idea.

Thankfully I have a very generous neighbor across the street, who just HAPPENS to have been a personal trainer in another life and owns a veritable home gym, treadmill included. So yesterday when going out doors for my long run wasn't an option because we were under a winter storm warning I hit the treadmill instead.

For 8 miles.

I am so thankful to have found a way to get the miles in. I had originally decided to ride my bike trainer and at least get in a hard cardio session when I remembered her offer to let me use the treadmill anytime. So a couple of texts and a hour later I was bouncing along as I watched some TV.

Torture. That is what running 8 miles on a treadmill is tantamount to. Torture. The TV helped, but I cannot help but STARE at the little red numbers on the distance read-out that are moving WAY too slow. I tried covering it with my towel, but the towel kept slipping off and I twice had to do a pseudo-ninja leap off to one side as the towel hit the belt and went zipping by.

Wouldn't that have been spectacular? To find myself splattered against my neighbors wall in all my sweaty glory after shooting off the back of a treadmill? Awesome visual, I know. Thankfully I avoided said embarrassment this time.

Anyway, 92 long minutes later (beat last week's 8 miler by 1 minute!) I had 8 miles behind me and was a sweaty mess dying to get outside into the freezing temps to cool off. I had forgotten what it is like to sweat like that since it has pretty much been cool/cold since I started on this journey. It felt good.

So let me encourage you for a minute, if I may. Whatever you are working towards, whatever goal you have set for yourself, FIND A WAY. If it means being a little creative or asking others for help. Do it. It is worth it. I promise. When you come out the other side knowing you found a way and didn't make any excuses you can claim a victory, even if it is a small one.

Speaking of VICTORIES and finding a way, not an excuse, I need to congratulate one of my dearest friends HEATHER! She ran her very first half marathon yesterday and ROCKED it!! (I will post her time after I check with her and make sure that is alright.) I am so stinkin' proud and happy for her. If you are keeping track, Heather is the friend who I ran my first 5K with a couple of years back. She had wanted to run with us in Phoenix, but because of her husband's new and exciting work adventure, it wasn't going to work out. So, she kicked butt and got ready EARLY and ran the Route 66 Half in Tulsa this past weekend! WAY TO GO HEATHER!! (And Heather, May 1, 2011 OKC Memorial Half...you and me girlfriend!)

No excuses people. Not if you REALLY want it. Happy (frigid) Running.

respect.

I owe you all a very sincere apology.

Truly. I am sorry.

I realized as I ran 8 miles yesterday (for the first time!) that I have not respected the distance I am trying to run or those who run it and especially those who run much much further. Asking ones body to run for 13.1 miles, much less 26.2, and having ones body comply is an amazing testament to the One who created us. Those 8 miles HURT. Well miles 5-7 hurt the most, to be specific.

I certainly did not mean to disrespect the feat I am attempting by my audacious goal of breaking 2 hours, but I fear I have. It is hard. Really. Hard.

Careful, however, not to take this apology as my surrender. No. I am still going to run every workout, push every muscle to work harder and faster. I'm just going to respect the distance a little more.

I will be honored, humbled and proud to finish my half marathon regardless of what the clock reads because, really, if you have ever asked your body to push beyond what you think it is capable of you have already achieved something spectacular.

So to my running friends and family, fast or slow. I salute you and stand in awe because running...running is as hard as it is rewarding.

Happy running!

setbacks.

This week has been a frustrating running week. I graciously accepted the baby's cold and have been fighting it all week, hoping it doesn't turn into my annual sinus infection.

Tuesday's run went relatively well but on Thursday I had to cut my five miler short (ran 3.77) and didn't come anywhere close to the needed splits. Then on Friday I didn't even make it out to run because I felt so lousy.

Today (Saturday) is an off day and then tomorrow is the long run for the week.

8 miles. Eeek.

I am beginning to feel better during the days, but am still super congested and wake up with a sore throat every morning. I am going to run 8 miles tomorrow. Period. No matter how slow, no matter how many goal splits I miss.

I am so disappointed that I couldn't finish that five miler earlier this week. I've decided that's it. No more quitting. Stubborn is my strategy. Genius, I know.

(And for the record, yes I know. 'You've been sick! Rest is what you need. It's okay.' Blah, Blah Blah. I know I did the right thing my cutting one run short and skipping the other. I did need the rest. That makes it no less frustrating.)

Setbacks.

How do you handle them? What are your strategies for getting around/thru those inevitable setbacks in life? Are they frustrating or a welcome break? Are they a necessary evil for later improvement? 

ready. set. RUN!

This is it. 10 weeks to go and we are set to begin the RunnersWorld Break 2:00 or Bust plan.

Monday's are typically rest or cross training days so this morning I did some abdominal work and a couple of sets with hand weights, concentrating on arms and shoulders.

It is always quite sobering to pick weights up after a protracted absence. Not to mention the fact that my abs were sliced through so as to surgically remove a baby 4 months ago...

Sobering, yes, but motivating also.

Tomorrow the first run is on the schedule, and the goal is to run 4 miles all at a 10:30 pace. I think with a concentrated effort this is totally within reason. I am currently hanging around in the 10:40-11:00 minute a mile pace, and that is usually with friends while chatting. I think if I can shut my big mouth, I can do 10:30. I guess we will find out in the morning.

Another big focus these next 10 weeks is nutrition. Time to get back on the wagon I suppose and cut out the junk. Again. In some weird way I think this plan will make it easier to do so because it is MUCH more involved. I will not have nearly as many rest/off days in which to feel like I can indulge.

I'm also shifting my focus in another, related area. So let me be perfectly honest for a second. I want/need to lose some weight and tone up. Big. Time. And, although my overall goal has been to finish the half and "don't die" I have also been fairly wrapped up in the "run to lose weight" idea. Yes, I do hope to lose weight while I run, but now I REALLY want to break 2 hours. So that is what I am trying to focus my workouts on.

Get faster. Get more fit. Break 2. Just Do it. (Thanks for that last one Phil Knight. :) )

I am also taking a more serious approach to the training in general. A couple of people close to me have noted that I am perhaps having a "little" too much fun running with friends and if I really am serious about doing this then I need to do less talking and more running. Like one of these people told me, "if you can talk, then you aren't running hard enough." Of course, she's a little hard core, but I think she's got a point too. I still enjoy the company of my Rez Running Buddies, that hasn't changed. Hopefully most of our runs will still be together, but maybe I will do more listening and less yapping!

I guess that means I can just do more talking here and less on the road.

Happy Running.

thorn ball of death

Yeah, so my "easy street" week has officially turned into a giant bust. I was going to run yesterday (Thursday) but on Wednesday afternoon I stepped on (what Addison called) a Monster goat-head thus leaving, to this moment (Friday morning), a red swollen and painful place on the middle of the bottom of my left foot. Awesome.

For those of you fortunate enough to NOT know what a goat-head is, it is a thorn ball of death. All of the weeds here are noxious...much like everything else here, if you ask me...

Anyway, so these little buggers are roaming around everywhere trying to wedge themselves painfully into any live being. This is why NO ONE goes out side EVER without shoes...except for genius me.

A friend stopped by unexpectedly and her daughter is nervous around big dogs so I rushed them out the back. FAIL. I was wearing socks but that didn't stop my foot from finding a HUGE goat-head. I pulled it out, but apparently part of it broke off in my foot. I haven't stopped whining since. :)

I will say that it hurts less this morning than it did yesterday, but now I am on such a time crunch to get ready for GIRLS WEEKEND (yay!) that I don't think I will find time to run anyway. Ugh.

I'm not going to lie, this sets off mild panic in me. I do NOT want to lose sight of my goal! I have to keep running! And not only that, next week is my first BIG week. Seriously. Yes, I wanted to be well rested going into next week, but this is bordering on ridiculous.

*deep breath*

Okay, venting session is now concluding. Until Monday friends. Look for a post early next week detailing the first week's runs.