Tag Archives: running

2013 Boston Marathon: Moving Forward, Hand in Hand

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It didn’t seem real, the events of Monday’s Boston Marathon. One moment I was taking a break at work, receiving mass updates from all of my friends who were running the event. Full of so much joy for all of the runners. The next instant, I was inside watching the news poor in, the images spreading across every TV channel…

How? Why? Who? The questions are endless. The reasoning will never be understood. One thing is for certain though, as many times as bad things happen… I am reminded of the compassion that humans can have for one another. The news showed so many videos where you saw people running TOWARD the chaos to help in any way possible, even if that meant putting themselves in danger.

This is why I run races. This is why I believe that people in the running community are some of the most incredible, selfless human beings you will ever encounter…. Exhausted ahletes who just tested their endurance for 26.2 miles coming to the rescue as a makeshift medical team. The reminder we needed that this is NOT what our world is coming to.

I know that we as a community, will (and already have) come together hand in hand and move FORWARD. We will all still strive to some day toe the line of The Boston Marathon. Boston will continue to celebrate Patriots Day with pride and love.

So, instead of looking back and dwelling on this tragic moment. I propose a toast.

Cheers to each and every one of you. Cheers to everyone who toed the line yesterday morning at the 117th Boston Marathon. Let us look forward with hope, love and strength. Let us always run out of love, passion and dedication, NEVER out of fear.

San Francisco Marathon Training: An Update

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In 3 months I will be running my very first marathon in one of the most beautiful cities in the USA. 10 weeks of training for the San Francisco Marathon have completely flown by. Between work and the time spent training, it’s beginning to feel like I have a part-time job on top of my full time job. Not that I think of running as a ‘job’ — just as far as time put into training goes…

Which has left very little time to sit down and write a blog post. Okay, that isn’t entirely true… I’ve had time but I’ve instead enjoyed the brief moments of relaxation or socializing. Sue me ;)

With 15 weeks left of training there are only 2 more weeks of base building before my mileage starts entering territory I’ve never been…. Quite frankly I’m getting a bit nervous about it! My body is still adjusting to running 25-30 miles (and only increasing) and working 50+ hours on my feet a week. There are days that I really don’t know if I’m remotely cut out for running 26.2 miles. But I just tell myself that the time on my feet is going to benefit me in the long run so long as I rest properly and don’t get injured.

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This is what happens when your feet are always in work or running shoes…

I’ve been playing with my training and rest days the last several weeks. Trying to find something that works for me and my schedule. The last thing I want is to have my long runs set for the day of or before I work a double shift or have to close the restaurant at 3 in the morning….(Which is typically the weekends… when normal people do their LRs ;) ) Something tells me when I start hitting those big scary numbers the last thing I’m going to want to do is work on my feet for 12 hours after. 

With a majority of my training still in front of me, I have still thoroughly enjoyed and learned a TON from these early weeks of marathon training… It’s also a huge adjustment to run in the warmer weather… I lived in Dallas for several years, but I wasn’t a distance runner at the time. Heck, I wasn’t a runner at all back then… So adjusting to the increasingly warmer and humid weather is fun. While it certainly got warm in Maryland, it was a lot more dry. After this weekend’s 90 degree and humiiiiid 10 miler I solemnly swear to never go out for more than a few miles without wearing body glide between my buttcheeks.

Life lessons you learn during marathon training, y’all.. Life lessons. ;)

 

You musn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling - Inception

I may cross the finish line on June 16 and decide that marathon running isn’t for me. However, I’m going to put every ounce of passion and energy I have into the next 15 weeks and push through all of the pain, because after the pain comes the euphoria. I’m going to train hard, have fun, and come my birthday I will be a marathoner! :)

Are you training for anything right now?

Good-Bye Austin Half Marathon, Hello Air Cast

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I haven’t wanted to talk about this.. However, it has become more clear to me that it’s time to lay it out there. Once I talk about it, I’ll start to get over it a little bit. I’ll lose the chip on my shoulder… With that being said, I’ve been trying to write this since Sunday night and I keep allowing myself to become distracted. Obviously, there is a part of me still not ready to come to terms with things.

You know those moments that flash before your eyes in slow motion but you just can’t stop them? Well, one of those situations happened to me Saturday morning. I awoke bright and early that day to get in 4 easy-paced miles before work. I headed down MLK toward campus just like I do every weekend. Campus is practically empty on the weekend mornings, making a peaceful and beautiful route to run. I turned up my tunes and completely lost myself in my thoughts as I entered the UT Campus. I was ticking along when I suddenly got the urge to go a different direction through campus than I typically do. I find myself taking a right turn toward Robert Dedman, and up past the Football Stadium. Then the moment came. I’m chugging along and suddenly I launch my foot off the ground to notice (too late) that there was a step down on the sidewalk. The moment passes so slowly that I can feel myself realize that I’m about to do some damage on the landing. Yet, it was too late to do anything about it… I had already launched off the ground. My foot slammed into the ground funny and rolled to the outside.

Down I went.

There was an instant pain shooting up the outside of my left ankle and top of my left foot. Every single curse word in the english (and even some from the italian) dictionary came out of my mouth. There was a super nice, helpful gentleman running the opposite way and came to my rescue when he saw me go down. He asked me if I was okay. I just kind of sat there… No words came out of my mouth. He knelt down on the ground next to me, as if to see if there was any life in my eyes or something. I shook myself, literally, and told him quite frankly “I don’t know. I think so” and hopped to my feet. I couldn’t put my weight on my left foot. I started crying.. Not out of pain (which yes.. I was in pain, but not enough to cry) but because I was terrified I had ruined my chances of running SFM in June. The pain felt exactly like I remember it feeling when I was diagnosed with Peroneal Tendonitis in high school when I was a gymnast… I had to take nearly a month off and very very slowly build my training back up once I returned. AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT!

The kind gentlemen swooped me up and helped me hobble to the bus stop. It was time to swallow my pride, thank the guy, and take the metro home to dump my foot into a bucket of ice before heading to work. All day at work I was favoring my left foot as much as possible and cringing with every step. Several hours later, I yanked my shoe off as soon as clocking out….

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….Fantastic…

Sunday morning I crawled out of bed to discover it was even more stiff, and the swelling/bruising hadn’t gone down at all. I was supposed to close the bar that night, I am 20 weeks out from San Francisco Marathon, and I work 5-6 shifts a week on my feet. I wasn’t taking any chances to do serious damage and off to Urgent Care I went for X-Rays and to pray for the best. A chuckle from the doctor, something silly.. Maybe a “just lay off it for a few days and you’ll be good as new.”

Of course, we never get what we’re hoping for in the doctor’s office, now do we? Nope. The doctor came back, films in hand, chart in the other, just shaking his hand. “I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first.” I hate when they say that. Don’t give me options, just lay it on me flat.

The verdict? I will not be running the Austin Half-Marathon in February. I will however, if I take the right amount of time off, do the PT exercises, and ease back into training, be able to catch up on Marathon Training!!

I know what you’re thinking, Give me the DEEETS!
It turns out it’s a Grade II Ankle Sprain.

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I get to sport this super stylish air cast and compression brace until I’m able to put weight on my left foot while it’s straight. At which point I will start adding in dorsiflexion–plantar flexion (aka pumping my foot up and down) Which I’m not allowed to start doing until the end of the week. (insert fit of frustration, here) At which point I’ll start adding in other ankle exercises and some walking. I’m hoping within 3 weeks I’ll be able to run again and ease back into Marathon Training. At this point, I’m just thankful this happened at the beginning of Marathon training, rather than when I’m only a month or two out.

If I’m not able to run on February 7th… Just watch out world, that’s all I have to say.

I’m kind of freaking out, because yes… I know that an ankle sprain, even a grade II, isn’t exactly the end of the world or the end of marathon training. With the proper time to heal I will bounce back from this.. However, I work on my feet. I work long, and hard, exhausting hours that make my feet and ankles hurt even when I’m not injured… How does one go about healing properly while marathon training, when they have bills to pay, and those bills are paid by running around a crazy busy restaurant for 10+ hours at a time? I’ve taken this entire week off… But I can NOT afford to take any more time than that off. I just can’t afford it. I also can’t afford to be injured for more time than I already will be.

FUDGE.

Anyone out there who has been injured while working a job on their feet? How do you deal? How do you prevent yourselves from becoming more injured while still putting food on the table and a roof over your head?

Why I Run

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Wild Things RUN Free.

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It’s a metaphor for how I live my life. I have always been a runner. Now, I know what you’re thinking… I am not referring to the sport. I didn’t start running until about two years ago. Believe it or not, this blog wasn’t created as a space to talk about running… It just sort of turned into that the more and more I fell in love with the sport.

I ran from everything my whole life. Love. Friendship. Cities. Routine. I’ve always been looking into the future, ready to jump at any moment, on the drop of a dime. Constantly trying to move forward and never allowing myself to get stuck, or what ordinary people call ‘comfortable’. When things got serious in a relationship, I would flee. Quite literally. Ask my ex-boyfriend, Dan. I literally jumped states when things felt too real. (That’s a story for another time, folks) I can count multiple occasions where I have packed up all of my belongings and moved someplace totally new in under 24 hours.

Running is what I always did. I sprinted through adolescence, all geared up to become an adult. I ran from city to city across the country. I hurtled every obstacle in my way and kept a fast pace moving forward, never allowing myself a chance to slow down and catch my breath. I even raced through my relationship with Z to try to make it to the finish line that much sooner. Why? Why can’t I sit still and allow things to come naturally?

I don’t know the answer to that, and perhaps before I can truly find my voice I need to figure that out. But, I do know that only one thing has been able to tame these feelings of fleeing across the globe, and running toward the unknown. That thing is the sport of running.

Since becoming a runner, I have grown so much as a human being. My friends and family hardly recognize me, and instead of taking offense to this… It’s a compliment. I am a truly better person. I used to spend weekends partying until the sun came up, smoking my weight in marijuana, and drinking so much that even the smell of tequila still makes me queasy. Now, I spend my weekends running long, designing training schedules with google docs, trying to PR, and even continuing my education…. Wanna know a secret?? I don’t miss that past life of mine. Not even for a second.

This is why I run.
Yes, I run because I can. I run because it makes me look good naked. I run because it keeps me thin. I run because there may come a day where I can’t. I run because everybody said I couldn’t.

But really and truly, I run because it makes me feel alive. In a way that only drastic, dramatic, life-altering changes ever has. Alive in the way that deciding, packing, and moving from Orlando, FL to Dallas, TX OVER NIGHT did. Alive in the way that taking off at 4am with one of my best friends, Lindsay, to NYC one weekend my junior year in high school did. (sorry again, mom!!) There is a thrill involved with pushing through a “I swear someone is stabbing me in my rib cage with a dull rusty spoon” side stitch. There is a thrill involved with crossing a finish line, regardless of your time. There is a thrill involved with pushing your body beyond the limits you created for yourself. Yet, I also feel washed over with a sense of calm after I run. My mind feels at peace, because I fight my biggest demons while I run. If experience is the best teacher, then we learn most when we are vulnerable and exposed. The light always looks more attractive from the shadows. I’m telling you, I will be a best selling novelist as soon as the invention to type as you think is on the market… Or will have come up with a way to save the world. Just wait. ;)

When I lace up my Brooks and hit the street, I find myself running directly into another world. A world where “I don’t know” isn’t an option. A world where I grow courage, and strength, and ferocity I didn’t know I had. Running has made me value my life, my friendships, and most importantly, has taught me how to face a challenge head on.

Discovering what is and planning what you want next; whether out of life as a whole, or just what you’re going to pick up at the grocery store — are vital. One can not survive on planning ahead, alone.  For me, these are embodied in the mindsets cultivated through yoga and running, the difference between meditating and thinking. I like the way they go together; like shoes. One for the right foot, one for the left. Together, a pair.

 

Why do you run?
Not a runner? Why are you so passionate about the things in your life? Really think about it. 

Stepping Out Of My Comfort Zone: The San Francisco Marathon

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No one ever went to the moon without stepping outside of their comfort zone. While, I certainly don’t plan on going to the moon any time soon ;) I do have big, scary, life changing goals for myself. These goals are not something that I can just wake up tomorrow and accomplish. They are goals that take hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.

I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes I let fear get in my way. Even allowed fear (equal parts fear and knowing my body) come between me and running the Austin Marathon in February. I am absolutely done with that. I am ready to look fear straight in the eye, and laugh in its face.

I WILL be running the San Francisco Marathon on June 16th (my BIRTHDAY) with so many other baller runners like Pavement Runner, Josephine, Krissy, Lauren,  (hopefully) Jane and so many many many others that I hope do not feel offended by me leaving them out!!!!!

I even started training THIS week. The day I signed up I went out for my first training run… Which granted, was 28 weeks away from the race. However, if I have learned anything from this last half-marathon training cycle it is this:

I know my body. I know what it is capable of. Some people can go out and train for 12-13 weeks for a marathon and ROCK it… I, am not yet one of those people. Someday, I hope to be able to say that I am in that group of bad ass runners. But, I am not there yet, and that’s perfectly okay. It will take me the next 6 months to get 26.2 ready. I have NO shame in that.

WHY do I have no shame in that??? Because I am strong enough of a runner and human being to know my limits. I know that I need to step out of my comfort zone, but I also know where and when my body says OK ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I need 28 weeks because quite frankly, I need more cut back weeks than a lot of runners do.

My right hip will taunt me for the rest of my life. I have learned that in the past 2 years. I trained too hard, too intensely, too long as a gymnast… As an adult I am paying the price. Am I sorry for the intensity of my training as a teenager? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Do I wish that it was easier for me as a runner, now? Absolutely. But, I have come to terms with the fact that I have done damage to my body. I have come to terms with the fact that I am not as natural of a runner as some people out there.

I work hard to run a FIVE FRIGGIN K. I work ridiiiiiiiiiculously hard to run a half-marathon. I know several people who have the the ability to wake up on a Friday and decide they are running a half marathon that Sunday. I am not, and very well may NEVER be that person.

There was a time (in fact that time was NOT that long ago at all) in which I felt SAD that I wasn’t that person.. However, I have realized in the last few months that everybody is drastically different. Everyone’s body was built drastically different. More importantly, everybody’s life has determined whether or not they can be that runner as an adult.

I have come to terms with the fact that my body may not have been built to run. But, that does not mean that I can’t run. That doesn’t mean that I can’t train it (in a healthy way) to be a runner. We have the ability to be whoever and whatever want to be.

I WANT TO BE A MARATHONER. I will be a marathoner, in 27 weeks. On June 16th, my 25th birthday, I will be a marathoner. I will have earned the title.

While some of the runners I know won’t start training for SF for another 10ish weeks, I am proud to have started last week. I am proud of the fact that I pushed my fears aside and said I CAN DO WHATEVER I PUT MY HEART AND SOUL INTO.

There is no going back for this runner. I have registered for the race. I have booked the flights. I have even made hotel arrangements. All that is left is awaiting the ability to book a rental car… (which may take until race day since THAT is when I’ll be legal for most rental cars.. darn you guys and your 25+ year laws…pffft)

Guest Post: TINKER BELL Virtual Race

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One of my first ever Blends (blog friends) Was Jennie from Running Jennie.. We were both training for our first half-marathon (which we both accomplished!!) Both fairly new to the blogosphere. Today, Jennie has a guest post for y’all!!! :)
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A year ago, if you had told me I would be training for my third half marathon while trying to raise $5,000 for charity, I would have told you that you were crazy.  I had not yet run my first half marathon and have never been a strong fundraiser.  To find myself doing both right now is shocking.  But here I am!
When I decided I wanted to run another half marathon this coming winter, I knew that I wanted to make it about something bigger than me.  I had heard a lot about Team in Training, a group that trains for endurance events like half marathons while raising money to support blood cancer research and programs.  I decided to join them.   Although I am blessed to not have a personal connection to blood cancers right now, I know many people who do have stories, and I know that there are many more people that I don’t know yet who have stories.  I am running for all those people.  There are people in the world who will never have this opportunity, for so many different reasons, and I count myself lucky that I have this chance to make a difference.

One of my fundraisers is a virtual run.  A virtual run is  a race where you sign up, pay a “race fee” (donation), and run the race on your own (or with friends!) on a date of your choosing and at a location of your choosing.  You run, jog or walk either a 5k or 10k distance on your own or with friends, outside or on a treadmill.  All proceeds of this virtual run are going to Team in Training, and participants have the opportunity to win fantastic prizes from great companies like Endorphin Warrior, KT Tape, Larabar and SPIbelt.  Participants will also receive Tinker Bell themed “bling” as a thank you for your support.

Registration is open now, and will stay open until November 23rd.  You can complete your run at any time from now until November 30th.  If you want to sign up, please check out [this post on my blog] (http://runningjennie.blogspot.ca/2012/10/tink-in-training-virtual-run-team-in.html).  That post also has all sorts of information about participant goodies, the prizes and more!

I hope you all can join us for this virtual run to raise money for Team in Training.  For more information about Team in Training, you can visit [their website] (http://www.teamintraining.com) and for information on my fundraising progress or to make a donation, visit my [personal fundraising page ] (http://www.tinkintraining.com).  Thank you for your support!

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Virtual Runs are becoming more & more popular! I mean, who doesn’t want to get a sweet Tinker bell bling to show that they helped the lives of cancer patients??

You can find Jennie at her blog RunningJennie.blogspot.com or via twitter at @JennieRunning

Race Strategy: Believing Is Half The Battle

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I feel sort of silly writing this post today. On the tail of a wicked Marathon weekend, where so many of my friends absolutely rocked the course and winds in DC at the Marine Corps Marathon (Yeah that’s right Caitlin… I’m lookin’ at you!) and NYC Marathon in under a week now…. My little ole Half Marathon in TWELVE FLIPPING DAYS doesn’t seem so big and bad anymore.. haha.

But, to me.. It is. To me, it is more important than my first half-marathon. Why? My first one was all about finishing. This one, is about proving I can do better. This one, is about shutting up that little voice in my head that says “I can’t” It’s about proving that my life didn’t end when my engagement did. It has just begun. I’m better, stronger, more independent and powerful than ever. This is my life, and I am in complete control of it.

Last week I was all over the place. My emotions were high in the beginning of the week, and toward the end of the week I was seriously freaking out about my hip. I was a mess. Pre-race jitters a few weeks early? Who knows. But I do know one thing. That is all in the past.

I sit here confident today. I have a strategy for this race. Columbia had no strategy. My only goal was to finish and not be in last place. I accomplished both, but still ended up disappointed with the time on the clock. That isn’t going to happen this time.

My goal is to negative split, that way I can start the race at a comfortable pace that I know I can maintain for an extended period of time.. Once I hit the 10k mark I plan to drop the hammer. This way, I don’t push my lactic acid threshold too early in the race and can kick it into overdrive during the second half. I hope to stick near the pace group until toward the end of the race and then leave them in the dust. ;)

I learned during my first half-marathon that essentially, it’s a 10 mile run with a 5k race at the end. Once I get to that final 5k I hope to be feeling good enough to start picking off the runners ahead of me.  Using runners up ahead as targets. Increase the effort slightly to gain ground on the competition & to keep from slowing from my goal pace.

Not to the point where I want to hurl before I even make it to mile 12, but enough to push myself. See what exactly I’m really made of. We’ll never know what we’re capable of achieving unless we step outside our comfort zone.

However, once I hit the 13 mile marker, it is GAME OVER. Sure at this point I’ll have been running for over 2 hours and I’ll want to just lay down on the side of the road and call it a day… but, at this point what is another minute or two? I plan on running my little heart out and running so hard my legs want to fall off. Granted, I’m sure they already will at this point.. But again.. that last .1 is nothing compared to what was just accomplished.

Essentially my strategy is to start out slow and steady and gradually increase my pace until the last few miles where I plan to put it all on the table and see what I’m really made of. Will this actually happen? Who knows. If there is one thing I have learned with running, it’s that you never really know whats going to happen on race day until you cross the start line.

However, I have put in the training. I have logged the miles, rested the hip (in fact I’m actually debating running the full 10 miles on my training plan this weekend. I want a fresh hip and giving it extra time to stop throwing a temper tantrum might be the smartest decision.. We’ll see later this week) and the RNR San Antonio course is pretty flat…

I see no reason I shouldn’t be able to blow my goals out of the water.
Believing is half the battle.

The Fiery Tale of a Long Run

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I had a very serious post all ready to go for today.. However, that post will have to wait. Who wants a post about the plan of attack for PRing my half-marathon in two weeks when I can tell you a tale that is sure to leave you giggling your butt off instead?

That’s what I thought…

This tale starts off like most other weekend mornings. I got up and dressed for my long run, only to discover Texas was going to pretend to be WNY for the day and drop to almost freezing temperatures. Okay, so more like 40 degrees… But it really is astonishing how quickly you can get used to 80+ degree weather… Naturally I went back inside and ruffled through my piles of unorganized clothing to find my Oakley Running Pants… My most favoritest pants in the world… & back out the door I was to pound out 9 miles.

I’m running along a trail in the hill country and suddenly I feel a sting on my knee. I didn’t think much of it.. Kept chugging along.

Oh hello there hill country. I love you, you’re my new best friend. That is all.

Okay so back to the story. I keep running thinking nothing of the sting. It went away and figured maybe some shrub pricked me on the trail. lalala listening to my tunes and then BAM. sting again in the same spot. What the heck?! I pull up my pant leg. There’s a stinkin little fire ant. Ahh, yes.. I’m really in Texas now. I pick the little jerk off and keep truckin’ along. A little bite by a pesky fire ant isn’t going to stop me.

I keep on running and a few miles later I am further into the trail and suddenly I feel a sting on my ankle, immediately followed by a sting on my ASS!

All bets are off at this point. Thank goodness I was in the middle of a trail in the hill country, but to be honest it wouldn’t have mattered if I was in Time Square. I YANKED my pants off and pull the ants off my butt cheek. Shake out my pants, inspect them to make sure there aren’t any more little jerks roaming around in there…. Start to pull them back on…..

and then hear giggling in the distance.

Seriously?! I look up and there are two boys who can’t be a day over 12 laughing and having a good ole time at my expense. At this point I yank my pants on horrified and dart off into the trail. As I’m running along I realize just how ridiculous this all was and start cracking up. To the point where I’m in tears, and my sides hurt and I had to come to a complete stop, and all I can do is shake my head and laugh. Yeah, those boys got a good look at me in my undies. Big whoop. I was a gymnast and dancer growing up, I was still wearing more than I did at my gymnastics meets.

You just can’t make this stuff up!

Yeah, that is my toosh. I’m sure I’m begging for creepers by posting that, but honestly.. I had to share it. This story is so ridiculous I feel it needed proof. LOL however, although the ant biting my butt is hilarious and all, the bite on my knee is way worse…

So, you’re welcome!! I hope I made your Monday full of giggles. Anytime you get a case of the Monday’s just think of me frantically yanking my pants on while immature boys are giggling in the distance.

THIS IS MY LIFE GUYS!! :P

What’s the funniest story from one of your runs? Come on.. we all have at least ONE.

Sometimes Being Honest Is Hard

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Training for my second half-marathon has been completely, 100% different than training for Iron Girl Columbia. For multiple reasons, of course. Yes, this was a lot less “scary” because at this point I know I can run the distance. 13.1 is a large number, for sure, but I’ve done it already. So I know that my body is capable of hitting the mileage. That in itself has made this training cycle completely different. A LOT less stressful.

However, as much as I hate to admit this, I do feel I need to put it out there. Maybe talking about it will make the ache go away? Sometimes I get really sad that my support system is gone. YES, I have tons of friends who cheer me on. I have YOU GUYS who rock my friggin world and believe in me more than I believe in myself… I have my step-mom who will even be running Rock n Roll San Antonio with me..

But, there is something about having someone who doesn’t quite understand running and thinks you’re just absolutely insane for going out there day in and day out. Someone who shares in the tears when you cross the finish line, accomplishing your biggest dreams. Someone who moves to different parts on the course just so you can see their face when the going gets rough.

I started running FOR ME. To prove something to myself. I don’t NEED anyone else in order to push myself harder and harder each and every day. My mind is my biggest critic, and for that reason alone, I challenge myself to run faster, harder, longer. But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t motivating, and that doesn’t mean it didn’t make my heart flutter having someone out there cheering ME on. Someone out there whose only concern in the world was seeing ME cross the finish line.

During training for Columbia I would get asked daily “how did your run go?” “how many miles did you do?” No matter if my answer was, I ran 1 mile in 450 minutes (ok, so that never happened) he would still tell me I was doing great and that he was proud of me. That was a great push.. Having someone who truly thought that no matter how fast or slow I was, that I was incredible just for trying. He would never dream of running 13.1 miles.. So I was his little crazy insane runner. He would shake his head any time I ran more than like… 3 miles. He would be at the finish line of my 5ks and ask how it went and I’d say “it was horrible. I ran SO SLOW.” His response was always “shoot I’d still be on mile one” which would make me laugh, every time.

I try not to dwell on these memories. I realize that I made a decision, and it was the best decision I could have made for myself given the cards I was dealt. Does that make me stop caring? Absolutely not. Does that make my heart stop hurting? Yea-Friggin-Right. Does that make this training cycle any less lonely? PFFFFFFFFFFFT.

It will be an odd feeling not having someone wrap me in their embrace after I cross the finish line, not having him call me crazy and make fun of me. ;) But… It will be a step in the right direction. A form of closure, perhaps.. To realize, it really is over and that I’m moving forward with my life, making the best and healthiest decisions I can.

It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.
(Also virtual high-five to whoever can tell me where the quote comes from WITHOUT GOOGLING IT)

10 Running Questions Everyone Wants to Know!

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I’ve seen these questions floating around the blogosphere for a few weeks now. When I saw one of my favorite blends Jennie post them on her blog the other day I was finally sold to post them on mine! I do get a lot of e-mails in regards to some of these questions, so I figured this would be a great and fun way to answer them! Plus, I didn’t really have anything else planned for the blog today (woops, BAD BLOGGER BAD!) so what better time than now?!

10 Running Questions for Every Blogging Runner:

1) Best Run Ever?
Do races count? Honestly, my best run was the 2012 Cherry Blossom 10 Miler in Washington, DC on April 1st. It most certainly wasn’t my best time… However, it was still my best run. Why? Well, it was my first ever double digit run, and though it was pretty dang slow, I felt strong through the entire run. I finished slower than most people would be proud of, but I still beat MY goal time and I launched the beginning of my distance running life as I know it today!

2) Three words that describe your running?
Challenging. Empowering. Painful. Running is hard for me. I was a gymnast for over 13 years so I damaged this body of mine. I pounded it into the ground and over bars day in and day out for the majority of my life. Leaving me with cranky, painful and over-extending joints, wearing cartilage, etc. But, every single run whether it be a great run or the worst run of my life, and ever run in between teaches me something. Running has helped me grow in ways I never dreamed possible.

3) You go-to running outfit?
This is a no-brainer. I’m sort of an Oakley Women snob… ;) Oakley Align Bra, Comet Shorts, Shine Support Tank, PRO Compression socks, and Brooks Pure Connects on the feet!

i LOVE OAKLEY

4) Quirky habit while running?
I sing and dance. Loudly, obnoxiously. I have often gotten the side glance during training runs and races. I just smile and sing AT THEM. Come on y’all… Join my fun! ;)

5) Morning, Mid-day, Evening? 
If I have it my way, evening! Especially now that I live in Austin. In order to beat the heat I would have to get up at like 4am… AND HOMIE DON’T PLAY THAT! ;) Plus, that is absolutely, positively nothing more peaceful than running during sunset! So beautiful. So calming.

6) I won’t run outside when it’s? 
Blizzarding. Cold is fine, blizzard like conditions, not so much! Though, I guess I don’t have that issue anymore. I WILL RUN ALLLLLL THE DAYZ. No not really. Hail storms are not my friend either. That happens frequently in the great state of Tey-has.

7) I felt most like a bad ass mother runner when…
I registered for my first full marathon. That was a big step. Committing to training for a 26.2! Two years after I started my running journey.. Not to the date or anything, but relatively speaking. 6 months after crossing the finish line of my first half-marathon! It is a huge step for me. I’m slow, running more than 5 miles hurts, every time. But damn it feels good to be a gangster! ;)

8) Worst injury; and how you got over it
Definitely my pelvic tilt.. Which lead to a slight tear in the muscle behind my right hip. It was painful as H-E-DOUBLE-HOCKEY-STICKS. Truthfully, I still get pain in my right hip and I seriously wonder if I always will.. However, it is nothing compared to the screaming pain I was in when it happened. After some trips to the chiropractor, 2 months off running, strength training, and tons of yoga… It is better. The tilt is a work in progress. I have to basically re-teach my muscles how to position themselves. The Dr. recommended an orthotic but I’ve heard some horror stories about those just making you compensate on the other side… No bueno. What I’m doing has worked and my hip gets really tight after longer runs, but other than that it’s A-Okay! I was cleared to train as hard as I deem fit by the doctor so yay! :)

9) Next Race is…
Rock n Roll San Antonio Half Marathon on November 11th!! I’m really excited for this race. I’ll be running it with my step-mother. We ran the Great Taco Run 10k together, but this is different for some reason. haha. It will also be my first race AS A TEXAN. ;)

10) Potential running goal for 2013?
Oh there is no potential about it. I WILL be running my first full marathon! However, for potential goals… I want to try to get into the Nike Womens (half)Marathon in San Francisco! A notoriously tough course, but gorgeous and famous for so many reasons. If I DO NOT get in, I want to try to do one of the Disney Races. I’m thinking Wine & Dine…

So there it is y’all!!! This was actually a lot of fun to fill out! A lot of bloggers have been tagging people, but I’m not going to do that. Instead, I’m just going to say that anyone who feels up to the task of taking a jog down memory lane, go ahead and make a post with these 10 questions! :)