Color Run

Another bib added to my collection.

But let us be clear.  Do not confuse the Color Run with a race.  The Color Run is NOT a race.  I say this, because a race would be timed.  A race would have age categories with top finishers.  It somewhat reminded me of little league when everyone gets a trophy for showing up.  A little pat on the head, and a "there, there--at least you did your best".

I truly get the point.  My first "race" was a fun run like this and that is what it took to get me hooked on events. The Color Run is great for first timers or for runners who just needed a little joy and happiness in their weekend.  

But today, I wore my crabby pants.  Any other day, I wouldn't have an ounce of snark to me--but today, you get snark.

Here is my beef.  First off, the run is somewhat expensive.  I get it.  There is a little more that goes into the event and they give you cool "stuff", not to mention the colored corn starch they toss on you.  But I really think it should be timed.  I think that is part of the fun of it.  To see where you are and how you can improve. The anticipation and pride of looking up your time the next day.  Or maybe, they should have a timed option. Like, sign up for "this time" if you want to be in a timed 'heat'.  That would make this whole experience different.  

More beef, I usually do not pout about running solo.  I generally enjoy it.  I push myself pretty hard.  Just zone and go. I don't want to worry about slowing someone down or going to fast for a partner.  But I really didn't want to do this one alone.  EVERYONE was in large groups of friends and I was just awkwardly trying to find a place to stand.  Luckily, I am good at making single serving friends (actually most of my friends are single serving.  People just don't typically like me very much these days)  This time, I made a friend who was a girl!  Which was nice, because then I didn't have to concern myself with creepers. She was awesome, and I had a brief second where I thought about exchanging Facebooks with her so we could take our single serving friendship to the next level, but then I realized I was probably being the creeper in this scenario.  But on the off chance, Rebecca from Wichita--I think your cool as hell.  Maybe I will post a missed connections ad on Craigslist or something.  

Another thing that I want to snark about.  Girls that show up to this thing with their hair perfectly straightened down to the middle of their back.  There was a group of like 6 of them in front of me while I waited for the race to start. It was obvious that they were burning up and sweating like crazy from their super long straight hair.  But they refused to put it in a pony tail?  I don't even know what to say to that, other than--why are you here???

Another thing.  Zumba at the start line.  Cute idea.  I just hate Zumba so I wanted to complain about that as well.  Man I was a super grump today.

I made a good decision in arriving early.  I wanted to go in the first wave so I could get back to feed Owen, and from what I heard, if you started later--it was impossible to run the entire thing if you wanted to because the color zones got backed up so mid race you would have to stop and wait 5 minutes to get through the zone.  But I got their early and broke away from the crowd and just went.

Lastly. while the after photos are fun--turns out, I don't like colored corn starch thrown on me.--at least not when I am in a bad mood.  I made the best of it though, because I rock like that.

Performance wise, I timed myself.  I was almost a minute slower than my last run. BUT in my head, I just wanted to finish in under 29 minutes--so I did reach my goal.  I picked 29 minutes because I was being realistic about the weather, the fact that I am getting over a repository thing, and had decreased my activity aver the past two week.  Also, I went to the gym before the run--I took HEAT class. I don't really think that was a factor.  My legs were a little fatigued, but not bad.  If it was a long distance, I think it would have been an issue, but since it was only a 5k it was not a big deal.  

Sooo.....my final thoughts.  Deep down, I did have some fun.  I would do it again under a few circumstances.  1.) I had a group of friends to go with.  2.) Proper attire to change into post race 3.) A towel to towel off 

A beer wouldn't hurt either. 

All joking and snark aside.  I did truly enjoy myself and appreciated having the afternoon"off"  from SAHM/.Housewife gig.  I am grateful for run events as they take me places I would not otherwise go and have a fun experience to reflect on.  

Fitbit thinks I did almost 20,000 steps today.  That is super wrong.  I realized it was counting steps when I was sanding a table top earlier today....silly.  But I did do more than ten thousand today.

MD5K

I will be back "on track" starting tomorrow.  Today I am tired (and stuffed) from the weekend.

But real quick.  Ran the Mother's Day 5k today.  I had a great experience even though the kids and Ian couldn't make it to support me.  I finished 8th in my age category with over 100 in my category, so not terrible. My goal was sub 27 and I finished at 27:08 (8:44 pace). My first two miles were right around 8:21 but my third I slowed a bit. So just shy of meeting my goal.  I suppose it wouldn't be much of a goal if I easily obtain it.  Even though I am carrying a little extra weight, I am officially running quicker consistently than before I got pregnant.  Not bad 6 months post baby.  I was also pleased with the fact that I took two days off before the race--and during those two days I ate junk--ish and enjoyed in adult beverages. Probably not the best training food.  And literally 10 minutes before start time I had some super tummy problems which made me nervous to run--but I didn't wake up early and drive across town just to get sick in a portapotty and come home. 

Trying my best" oh ya this is easy smile" when I sorta was dying

Pre-run pic before leaving the house.  I  liked my Mother's Day flowers in the background

Race T-Shirt.  My favorite so far. 

Note to self:  I need an armband for my phone.  I am tired of holding it during my runs.

Trolley Run 2014

What a weekend.  I had no set plans to run the Trolley Run.  I had thought about it, but we were suppose to be out of town.  When I saw the rain chances, I realized that there was a good chance we would come home a day early--giving me the opportunity to get a race in.

We headed to the lake Friday and I was basically worthless Friday and Saturday.  I have a fitbit to prove it. We are talking 5,000 steps one day and 3,000 next.  I mostly sat around, took care of kids, drank beer, and ate junk food.  Perhaps I was feeling slightly entitled for having a pretty darn good workout week. 

Because of the rain, we headed back Saturday.  I had a few friends from the Y that were signed up for the Trolley Run and I had remembered another friend mentioning it as well.  So I texted her to see if she was going to run it--well come to find out, she had been down with the stomach flu and decided to skip it.  She offered to let me use her registration--so I jumped on that opportunity.

So Sunday morning, I got up super early--got Owen set.  And headed to the Plaza.  I decided to go solo apart from my gym buds because I needed to get there, run, and get back as fast as possible since Owen doesn't really take a bottle.

I am proud to say I got there and back without getting lost.  That alone is an accomplishment to brag about for the day.

My goal was under 36 and I finished in 36:20.......annnddd yes I had to stop and tie my shoe at one point,  it wouldnt be a race without my shoe coming untied.  When do you think I will learn? 

It was a fun race.  I would certainly run it again.  A bit crowded, but it would be one I will eventually look forward to dragging the kids too.  Fingers crossed atleast one of my kids will enjoy running as well.

After the race, I hurried home to discover Owen had slept in for the first time.  Such is life.  Sleep is overrated anways.

Boom: 26:50

This morning was another morning where stuff just wasn't going according to plan.  To put it lightly.  There was no way I was going to make it to kickboxing; meanwhile, a certain toddler was working my nerve.

So I scratched any notion of taking a class today and decided on some running and lifting.  I didn't know my exact game plan, so I decided to just wing it.  I knew I wanted to run somewhere between 3-4 miles and do a leg workout.  

Getting the treadmill set up, I decided I would do a 5K and see what kind of time I could get with pushing myself a bit.  The new treadmills at the Y are amazing.  I like to do the interactive trail runs.  Basically, you can select different trails and you see the trail on the screen in front of you and the treadmill deck automatically adjusts to hills and stuff.  It sounds cheesy but it actually feels pretty realistic.

I ended up finishing right under 27 minutes for 3.12 miles.  I know that is no crazy elite runner speed--but for me, this is an accomplishment.  I was at least a solid minute faster than that before having Owen, but it felt great to reach a new milestone.  So while I am bummed that I am not running my race this weekend, I can feel good about this week for pushing myself a bit and getting myself fired up for the season.

After I ran I did a leg workout.  

5 Sets of:

   8 Squats

   8 R leg steps ups on bosu w/ weights

   8 L leg step ups on bosu w/weights

  30 second balance squat hold on bosu

Did some abs, and stretched.  

All of that, total--I burned around 700 calories.  In one hour.  If I take a cardio class, I am happy to burn 500.  So I am really starting to buy into lifting weights.  I mean, my heart rate was in the 160's when I was squatting, so if you push yourself some--your body is going to work.

Now if I can get into the swing of doing my daily push-ups again we will be back in business.  

It Is Just a Number....

As I am slowly chipping away at the baby weight, I want to pause to remind myself....

It is just a number.

Each morning, I strip down to my birthday suit and stand barefooted on the scale.  Pound by pound the 70 plus pounds I gained is coming off.    Like most women, I have a number in my head.  A number that when I reach I will "finally" be happy.

But it is....just a number.

Some mornings, I stand on that scale and find that I am suddenly 3 lbs more than the day before.  I take survey of everything I ate the day before and it just doesn't add up.  And it affects me more than it should  I may "accidently" skip breakfast--more on purpose than I really care to admit.  Logically I understand how counterproductive this punishing act is. And I am all too aware of how this admission sounds.  This attitude is dangerous.  No I do not have an eating disorder.  But,  in the past, that number blaring up at me has had way too much power.

In my young adulthood, I have come to learned a thing or too.  And if you too have the internal struggle similar to the one I mention above, I want to offer you this.  You have to mentally fight back. When my brain starts to go "there";  you know, that gray area somewhere between a healthy management of one's health and an unhealthy obsession seasoned with self-loathing, vanity, and self-centeredness.  It is time for a reality check.  First, I remind myself that this gray area is not okay.  It is self-centered and it does not glorify nor serve God. Then I remind myself, it is just a number....

So, I am in the process of reconditioning my mind. Instead of basing all my fitness and health on the number I see on the scale, I focus on what my body can do.

There was a time I couldn't run a mile.  Now I can run several.
There was a time I couldn't do a single military push-up.  Not I can do a few.
There was a time I couldn't hold a plank for more than a few second.  Now I can hold it for longer.
There was a time I refused to do a burpee.  Now I can.

You see, I could reach my "perfect" scale number by food management alone--while not being able to accomplish any of the above.  Skinny does not equal healthy.  Skinny does not equal strong.  Skinny does not equal strength.  Skinny does not equal victory.

Loving your body for what it can do.  Is much more important than focusing on what it looks like. So I ask myself...what can my body do now?  What do I want my body to do in the future? What do I have to do to get myself there?

And the answer is always the same.  Nourish myself properly.  No overindulging and no extreme restricting either.  Balance.  Commit to fitness, daily. It takes practice and endurance.  Moving the body and moving myself closer to those goals.

It is just a number.

It doesn't tell you how far you can run.  It doesn't tell you how many push-ups you can do. It doesn't tell you how healthy your muscles, bones, and circulatory system are.  So take the number for what it is--and focus more on what your body can do.

That is all for my motivational speech today
---------------------------------------------------------------
So I want to take this opportunity to reflect on my goals.  What is it, in the short term, I want my body to do?  I lost a lot of my abilities during my pregnancy and rebuilding seems slow moving.  But I am rebuilding none-the-less.

Short-term goals for the next few months:

1. Be sure to ask God What he would like me to do with my body to serve Him? Fitness as a hobby can become very self-serving.  I want it to become God serving.  How can I use fitness to connect to other people and bring them closer to God?  
2. I want to run a half-marathon this fall.
3. I want to do 20 consecutive military push-ups.
4. I want to hold a plank for 100 seconds. 
5. I want to run for the fun of it once a week.  And I want to invite other's to do it with me.  Maybe talk about God, life, whatever.  
6. I want to not cringe everytime I hear the word "burpee". 
7. I want to swim across the lake (and back) this summer (with some floaty device, because I am not a strong swimmer)

The number on the scale, can't tell me if I have accomplished any of the above goals...because it is just a number.....

Finding Peace--Even during miscarriage & Almost loosing the first man I ever loved

1/1/2013

I am a fan of the new year.

I buy into the idea of a fresh beginning.  A new start.

I think most people are.  A "reset" if you will.  No better time then to kick off my happiness project.

As discussed, this month I am focusing on bringing more peace into my life.  I couldn't have choose a more appropriate theme.  The past few days have been a roller coaster ride of emotions.  My grandfather is having some major health issues that landed him in ICU and a medically induced coma.  This has shaken my world.  I know some day, I will have to face loosing my grandparents and even my parents.  It is the whole, circle of life stuff we were taught from Lion King, right?  But not yet.  I am not ready.  I need more time.   This is the first man that taught me it is okay and safe to love a man.   Dad's walking out on daughters can have catastrophic affects.  But I had a loving, honorable grandfather that showed me that real men have honor (and step father too, I was one VERY VERY lucky young lady growing up).  Real men take care of their responsibility.  Real men don't walk out.  Real men take naps in their lazy boys with their granddaughters asleep on their lap.  Real men teach their grand babies really awesome stuff like how to work a computer and how to speak Spanish (even though I am still far from fluent)--but the lesson being NEVER stop learning.  Real men cook 5 grand kids lunch, and can't keep up when said grand kids are eating fried potatoes faster than he could cook them.  Real men serve rocky road ice cream at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.  I have received enough love from the man I call my grandpa, to last me a life time.  And I am not ready to give him back to God.  I want to listen to his stories more.  I want to help him when he now has questions on technology.  I want my daughter to know his love, so when I speak fondly of my childhood and memories of him, she knows.

So when I hear stuff like hemorrhaging; critical; main line; transfusions;coma---I ugly faced sobbed.  I seriously thought there was no chance.  Now I hear there is a chance.  We have progress and hope.  But the woods are still thick.  And there are a lot of unknowns.  But if love can bring people back from the edge of death--I have enough of it for my grandpa that he may just be immortal.  But life doesn't work that way.   So we wait.

Peace.  Through this, God blessed me with peace.  Rewind just a second.  I think people throw statements like that around too often.  The use the word "blessed" too often and take it too lightly.  I don't use this term lightly.  So please know, when I share this--I mean this with all my heart.  God gave me peace and comfort that could only come from Him.

The very same day things got ugly with my grandpa, I started to miscarry.  The two are not related what so ever.  And I had a good week and a half heads up that this was something I was probably going to be facing.  So I had come to peace with this not being a viable pregnancy long before the bleeding began.  But it was just emotionally overwhelming.  I lay in bed that morning, my heart in so much pain I had no will to move.  When God's overwhelming comfort and peace came over me.  I ripped myself from bed, threw on a pad--and moved forward.  That day, God moved a mountain.

I do not believe God made me miscarry.  I don't believe "everything happens for a reason".  We have free will so life happens.  15-30% of pregnancies end this way.  Not because God hand selects women to feel this profound lost, but because the biology sometimes simply fails.  Nature is merciful and when something goes wrong, the pregnancy terminates.  God did not choose this for me.  It just happened.  But He does comfort me when I ask.  He does give me peace.  And when He asked for me to rejoice always, he meant even now.  So even now, as my heart hurts for my grandfather who is in pain.  Even now, when I am bleeding out what could have been my second child.  Morbid maybe, but I felt like it would have been a boy.  He would have been due right around my brother's birthday.  I am not sure if that means I will have a little soul in heaven waiting for his Mom or not.  I am not sure how this stuff works and at what "point" in pregnancy a soul is designated "to" me.  But I can't dwell on these things. Instead I have to rejoice in the lord always.  I will try not to be anxious for anything and continue to turn to God in prayer and thanksgiving.  Because God is faithful--and God provided me with Peace....and it is only day 1...

Please pray for my Grandpa.  I am not ready to give him up.  I know that is such a selfish wish when I know heaven awaits him.  And if I could truly comprehend heaven, I wouldn't selfishly want to keep him on this world.  But I am a human.  I am imperfect.  and I don't want to let him go yet.  And if he does go.  I pray that the child I lost today ( I am almost certain I finally passed the "tissue" today)--that he has a great-grandchild in heaven with him.  Because that thought, also brings me peace.

My First Half: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Pilgrim Pacer 11/10/2012 Distance: 13.1 Goal: Under 2 hours 15 Minutes (A little over a 10 minute pace) Which I felt was do able as I had done 10 mile runs at a 10 minute pace a few times. What was an extra 3.1 miles at that pace....ha.......ha.....HA.

This is me.  Before the race. Full of hope and confidence.

The Good: Evidently I am a fan of trail runs over "road runs".  I loved the scenery.  Something about just getting out and running around in the woods makes one feel so peaceful.  I loved the view of the lake.  The trees were beautiful.  And it wasn't cold.  I finished and I finished strong.  I never once wanted to give up and I just kept on keeping on.  Sometimes you just have to drop down to a low gear and go slow and steady to finish a race.  And this was one of those races where I had to slow down and pace myself a little slower than I would have liked.  The first 6-10 miles ish were money.  I think I could probably do very well with a 10K. But things started to get difficult the last 3 miles.....

The Bad:  I didn't meet my goal.  It was windy has hell.  We are talking 15-25 mph straight on.  It felt like I was running with a resistance band pulling me backward..the entire time.    This was definitely a new challenge for me.  The first mile I had a side cramp that eventually subsided.  My spandex bottoms were actually a little too big on me, so I was concerned about flashing my sexy panties to the nice people behind me, but after awhile you just don't care anymore.  I don't want to use any of this as an excuse to why I didn't meet my goal.  I didn't meet my goal because I didn't train hard enough.  Period end of story.  But am I still proud?  Hell ya.

The Ugly:  I have a heart rate monitor I wear when I run for multiple reasons.  One of which is that I like to see what type of calories I am burning, and the other is to obviously see where my heart rate is. Usually, when I am running distance runs at about a 6 mph speed my heart rate hovers around 149-155.  For whatever reason my heart rate started and stayed in the 170's-179.  I am not sure if it was the wind resistance, the hills, or what.  The other thing, which I did to myself....the day before I consumed less calories than I burned in the race.  You do the math.  that was not a very smooth move on my part.  Basic running rules tells you , fuel your body.  Period.  That is very basic and I blew that. Plus, I don't hydrate well (ever) and didn't bring a mid run snack to keep my energy up.  Lesson learned.  And lastly, I was warned.  Every runner that I told I was running the Pilgrim Pacer gave me a crazy look and asked me if I knew about the hills.  Which I did, but I think I was over estimating my abilities.  They.are.brutal.  About the last 3 miles are all up hill and the last 1/2 mile is just one steep hill that makes you want to die.  One poor girl behind me lost it and started sobbing.  My heart broke for her--but it motivated me to move a little faster because, being a woman, something like that starts to get in my head.  Oh and my phone died around mile 10.  So no music.  That sucked too.  

So there you have it.  That was my first 1/2 marathon experience.  Overall, I am proud.  I earned my 13.1 sticker on the back of my car.  And now a new season begins as I will look forward to new goals.  I have my sights on the KC 1/2 marathon next year.  That gives me a while to get my head on and train correctly this time.  My goal for that is under 2 hours.  

Last excuse to make me feel better.  I paced myself with this one woman who looked like she knew what she was doing.  At the end of the race she approached me and asked if my legs were cramping (hell yes) and she said she could tell by my form towards the end of the race.  We got to talking and she has done SEVERAL 1/2 marathons and full marathons and she said today, and this race was the hardest she had ever encountered--so to not beat myself up over not meeting my goal.  That helped a little but it still stings a little.  

Finishing, yes--that is a smile on my face.  

Zoo Run Here I Come...

I loved...loved...loved the kc zoo run.  It was a blast.  The quickest feeling 4 miles.  There was so much to see and it just made the run very enjoyable.  So when Ian and I were planning our family get a way to Omaha, I couldn't help but hope for a zoo run there too.  It just so happened that there IS a zoo run on the exact day we planned on going!  It was ment to be.

I am officially registered.  I put it off and missed the date for the free t-shirt, but I am registered and will even be able to get my official time.  This one is a 5 miler which I am thinking is a good thing because I am sure there will be some vacation eating I will need to run off. 

We have a bunch of really cool stuff planned and I am so looking forward to getting away for a bit and having someone else make my bed for me (my favorite thing about a hotel...that and the fresh towels). 

Unfortunately my training schedule is shot for the next two weeks but I will do what I can when I can.  I thought I would get up early and run today but I put sweat pants over my ninja compression pants thus my sweat pants continued to try to slide down my legs. I didn't feel like running 6 miles with my hand holding up my pants.   

I am super thankful for my cold weather gear though.  I got some Under Armor tactical gear that really does the trick.  A girl at the gym told me I look like a professional runner.  I thought I looked like a ninja but ill take it.
However, sweat pants over the compression pants....doesn't work.  Lesson learned.   

Tiblow Trot 2012

*Here is the breakdown:

Distance: 5 Miles
Difficulty: "This is a challenging, accurately measured 5-mile course that includes major hills. "
Weather Conditions: 70's, 70% humidity, light rain
Finishing Time: 50:33 (goal was less than 60 minutes)
Number of Untied Shoes: 3

Last night, I thought to myself how I was not looking forward to this run.  Last week didn't go how I wanted and my last week of training had been kinda, meh.  The entire week I had a bit of a bad attitude, and wasn't expecting much.

I couldn't sleep last night, so I woke up tired as ever.  I ended up stopping at the gas station for a "5 Hour Energy".  I had never had one before, and figured I would give it a shot to help me survive.  I don't know if it was that or the event that woke me up, but by the time I was hitting the starting line--I felt awake and ready to go (but no nasty side effects).

My cousin and I stuck together throughout the entire race.  That was helpful because it pushed me to stay the course when I would have otherwise wimped out to a slower speed.

The first 1.5 miles is basically flat.  It was easy to start out at a nice cruising speed.  We clipped along at a 10 minute mile pace that felt good.  Easy.  The first hill was probably one of the worst, I think we lost the most amount of time on that hill, but evidently made up time later in the course.

What is totally messing with my head is the fact that last week, the 5K was a little tough for me.  I finished at about the same pace I ran a hilly 5 miles in.  Maybe I put too much pressure on myself last week, but I was dying by the time I reached the finish line.  Today, felt good.  Solid.  I was pleased with the effort.  I didn't over do it where it would loose the enjoyment, but worked hard enough that I accomplished something.

Once we got in the middle of the hills, there was no going back.  We were maintaining an awesome speed and there was no way either of us were going to let that slip away.  It was solid.

My next race isn't suppose to be until September but I am already wanting to sneak in another something something before that.

Pictures and official time coming soon.

Rivalry Run 2012--30:02

First off, just a heads up that I updated both the "Races" page and the "Pictures" page.  Check it out.

I never realized how beautiful Kansas City, Mo is until today.  It was an absolutely beautiful morning for a 5K.  It was a beautiful drive, watching the sunrise and shine on all the architecture works around the city.  I don't frequent the area much, and I am glad this experience is expanding my horizons.

I got there early, because I wan't sure about parking.  I ended up finding a parking lot just a few hundred yards from the starting line and figured it was worth the 5 bucks to park there.  In future races, I have decided it is not necessary to get there so early.  I don't care for the standing around and awkward conversations with strangers.  

The race started at 8 a.m. on the dot.  I appreciate punctuality.  I decided to hang to the back of the crowd and hope that mob would stretch out a bit by the time I hit the start line so I could then weave between people easier.  Seemed like this strategy worked well for me.  

After about 4:00 minute I had already gone .5 miles (so on pace for an 8 minute mile).  And of course, I notice my shoe came untied.  I decided that I was already ahead of schedule and 2.6 miles was a long time to run with an untied shoe.  So I slipped over to the side and tried to tie it quickly and catch up.  No harm-no foul.  I settled back into my pace (around 9 minute miles), and a half mile down the road, my OTHER shoe came untied.  At this point, I was super annoyed with myself because I do this every time I run and I should know better by now.  Overall, I ended up stopping to tie my shoe 3 times.  I didn't realize just how frustrated I would be with this fact until I got my time card.

And so the race continued.  The first stretch was mostly down hill.  Subtly--it was nice and very easy.  Then at about the 1 mile mark was a steady uphill climb.  My pace dropped at that point.  It is mentally hard to see people stop and walk, yet maintain my same pace.  I was able to push through.  I knew I had lost a bit of time from the shoe ordeal and then lost time going up the hill.  By the time I was down to the last .75 to .8 mile, I knew I was going to be sub 32 but I was really really pushing my sub 30 goal.

When I hit the 3 mile marker (.1 left), my brain started to shut down.  For some reason, I wanted to stop and walk so bad.  I slowed my pace down to the slowest it had been all race.  Then when I realized I still had a shot at my goal, I tried to sprint out the last little bit (never a good idea, I know..injury..blah blah blah).  I honestly thought I had made it.  According to my GPS and stop watch it was 3.17 miles at a 9:37 pace, which would have been 29:57--but my official chip time was 30:02.  TWO seconds.  TWO stupid seconds.  

Next time, I am going to double check my shoes.