The One Where I Sign Up For Two Half Marathons

----------------> THIS GIRL!! It's December 13th and I'm already signed up for 2 10Ks: January 5th January 12th And 2 Half Marathons: March 24th The Dallas Rock N Roll Half! May 27th The Patriot I also have already put together a training plan through June because I have another HM The Wounded Warrior June 9th (although I'm not signed up for it yet). I started with the Sports Nutritionist 2 weeks ago and I've already lost 3 pounds! I have visible signs of inches lost and my clothes are fitting well! emoticon Excited for them to be loose! I plan on losing through the holidays. Yes Yes, I will make a pie and have a slice too, but that is all. A Slice! Not days of range overages. I have a few parties to attend and I will follow the smallest plate one trip rule. Use the smallest plate size available and make only one trip. No piled up plate either. Get what you want but leave space between the servings. I'm doing better at finding what works for me in my 5 meals per day and I'm seeing results which is of course emoticon Thank you for all your well wishes and suggestions. I really appreciate it!! I've been officially released from my doctor and the physical therapist. I have approximately 2-3% range and mobility to be exactly the same again! well at least as my right hand anyway. I will have to do my exercises at home for the next 6-8 months to keep up with the muscle memory and mobility. I'll do them for sure!! Well back to the crazy pace of life....

The One Where I Meet Eve

Sooo, last week I met with Eve. In case you're interested and in the DFW Area 
nutriworksCNC.com 

She weighed me. She measured me. She made me a meal plan. She changed some of my supplements. She had me categorize foods. Yea, literally. 

What I called a protein is actually a fat. Like peanut butter. It's not a protein. If it has more fat grams than protein, it's a fat. sooo no wonder I'm fluffy.... I eat too much fat. 

I was eating too many fruits/carbs at breakfast and not enough the rest of the day. As well as not enough protein. Yes salad is good; but I need more nutrients. 

She changed up my calories and macros. 

1300 calories regardless of exercise. I should have a deficit of about 600 per day. So I really need to be working out more. 

Carbs: 146 (11%) 
Fat: 43 (3%) 
Protein: 81 (6%) 

I have to have a carb a fat and a protein at every meal. And a carb/fat or carb/protein at snacks. 

My meals are broken down like this: 

Breakfast: 333 calories 
Snack: 150 calories 
Lunch: 333 calories 
Snack: 150 calories 
Dinner: 333 calories 

I like the plan. I'm not stuffed after meals but I'm not starving. It's still difficult for me to not eat extra after a hard workout or run. 

Like today I went to two classes. A body pump style class and a spin class! WOOT! I burned over 500 calories. 

I find myself not full after my days worth of meals.... but I'm sticking to the plan. 

The goal is to get me down to 118-120 and about 20-22% body fat. I'm thinking I shouldn't have started this in December. No party foods, no alcohol, no egg nog, no cookies. Just 1300 calories, 5 meals a day. I can go over, but I won't lose as quickly. Or whittle this middle down. 

After I reach my goal I'll be able to up my calories to maintain at around 1800. 

I need ideas though for 333 calorie meals, it'll take me 3-4 months she said to meet my goal. Lunch isn't a problem... it's dinner that I'm having a hard time coming up with meals in the correct calorie range. 

The One Where I Have A Weak Butt

Soooo... I've been cleared to run. I've run a few times. I'm still scared but I do it anyway! I'm getting better and faster each time. I went to physical therapy Tuesday. It hurts. But I know it will help me along. I have some mobility but overall I have stiff, tight joints. My Thumb and where my thumb meets my wrist in particular. I'm typing a lot better and I've been driving about a week! WOOT!! 7 weeks out today, I'd say I'm making good progress! He initially said I wouldn't be ready for PT until after thanksgiving. The Therapist was impressed with how much I could move my hand/wrist. And I only have to see him 3 weeks. Oh and the best part is he looked at my hip and discussed how to improve my running! It's not my IT Band..... I actually have a weak butt! I'm not firing my glutes, I'm using other muscle groups. So I need to foam roll...he doesn't care if its trigger point or not. And I need to work my butt! Lunges, Squats....of all kinds. Trying to re-work a schedule to get my runs in and incorporate these exercises too. :) At the end of runs perhaps with more stretching too. My first race back is next week! Turkey Trot!! My first Turkey Trot- EVER! Eeeekkk!!! emoticon emoticon emoticon

The One Where I Get My Cast Off

Thursday last week I got my cast off after 4 weeks. Woo Hoo!! I can't explain how much I disliked being in the cast. It was painful, the swelling and throbbing was unbearable. I had more bad days than good days. Now that I'm in a brace, I'm relieved. At least when I'm in pain and there's swelling, I'm able to take it off for a bit. Next Wednesday I begin physical therapy and until then I'm doing PT at home. He has some goals for me to work on like: Open my hand all the way Close it. Make a fist with my thumb tucked Bend my wrist in all direction....well, this one is the most difficult and painful. I'm sore and swollen and stiff in the mornings. Sore and tired in the evenings. I have to warm my hand/wrist/arm up under warm water in the morning. I use the heating pad at night to keep things moving. I'm excited to see the physical therapist next week. I hope I've made some good progress by then, something that can be built upon. Bracing myself for how painful it will be but ready to drive!! Haven't driven in 5 weeks. I need to get out!! Serious cabin fever!! :) In other news I used the elliptical yesterday and think I'll be able to do that in lieu of running until I get a 100% ok to run.

The One Where I Think It's So-So

well.... i have some good days where i'm not in a lot of pain and im getting around ok. but i have others where its a struggle all day..... friday - yesterday has been hard. pain, unable to rest, get into a comfortable position. its been frustrating. i've been tempted to get the vicodin back out. yes ive called the dr, he said the pain is normal, its a sign that my nerves are healing..... i have my doubts! i get the cast off friday. im hoping i'll get a brace and begin physical therapy! im hoping for lots of progress! :) because the details surrounding my fall are a bit complicated, i've deactivated my facebook account. i'll tweet (look me up) and im on instatgram but no fb for a while.... maybe a long while.... for now working is slow.... and well doing anything is slow.... moving my elbow hurts. my shoulder/neck is sore from the sling. just going to the grocery store tires me out. i dunno...i think maybe i expect too much from my body. y'all know im not the most patient person! at least i didnt have to begin the day with icing! yay!! :) well....back to work

The One Where Things Are Bursting

Update: day 18 of 60(ish). I have a new cast, I had a fracture blister burst. My cast had to be replaced and the wound doctored. I get this cast off in 10 days. I'm hoping ill be placed in a brace and begin to do some physical therapy. I was able to sleep for the second night in a row. So.Thankful!! Hubby has gotten pretty good at dishes, laundry & chores. He made pot roast for dinner last night. . So.Blessed. I walked on the treadmill yesterday and today. It's about all the 'working out' I can do. It was nice to move a bit. I'm able to work. I'm hen pecking. It takes longer to get simple projects completed. But they are being done! My boss broke her hand a few years ago so she's understanding of my predicament. The hardest part for me is not being able to drive. I need to run errands for my kiddos science project, but I can't drive. It's beginning to be frustrating...for everyone. I guess though the hardest part is not being able to shower & wash my hair! Today I had a baby wipe bath & I was able to (for the first time) put deodorant on by myself! Small Victories!! While I"m glad to be able to walk on the treadmill, it's somewhat depressing to only burn 89 calories in 25 minutes. Oh well, more will come with time. :) Gotta Choose Joy!

The One Where I Run My First Half Marathon

The days and weeks and months leading up to this was all worth it. I think if I had run a Half Marathon prior to this one, I wouldn't have been prepared. I think I would have limped along and possibly come across the finish line injured. I trained for June 10, 2012. I trained well. I ate right. I drank water. I cross trained. I put in the time and miles. I merged together 3 Half Marathon plans to fit my run schedule. Every long run day I would call Jerome, panicked. I wasn't sure if I could cover the distance. I would go through the what ifs in my head. The furthest I had run at one point was 6-ish miles and my next run was 8. I was panicked. I didn't think I could do it. Jerome said: Shelly, it's just 22 more minutes. That's all. You can do anything for 22 minutes, right? Big Exhale. Right. My next distance was 10 miles. I ran the White Rock N Roll 10-mile race. I of course called Jerome. Freaked out. He again talked me through it. I met an RRC member for a ride down there. I ran a good race. It was hot. It was humid. It was over the crazy bridges of White Rock. But I did it!! I made good time too!! My goal was 2:00 and I crossed the finish just at the clock struck the 2 hour mark! I ran an extra long run, just to prove to myself I was ready for the distance. I could do it. 12.41 miles. I did it! Now I was ready! I could have stopped at the 10 miles and tapered but I felt I needed to get one more run in. Then it was taper week..... WOW!! I've never been in so much (imagined) pain in all my life!! Becki was so kind as to welcome me to the taper madness club!! YAY!! I'm a full fledged member now! Hmmm..... not sure if I'm happy about that! LOL Saturday before the race I went to a 5K race for the RRC. A new C25K Class was graduating. I went out to cheer them on! :) Tempted to run, but just helped direct traffic to protect the runners. I came home and did nothing. I seriously sat in the recliner and worked on a quilt. I drank water, I ate lunch, I drank water, I made dinner, I drank water, I gathered my race day things, I drank water, I watched a movie, I drank water oh! And I drank water! I checked that I had all my things again. Hat, headphones, sunglasses, fuel, fuel belt, arm band, socks, shoes, race day clothes, D-tag, bib and pins.... I was so worried I'd leave my bib at home that I pinnned it to my shirt before bed! I checked the weather again. No rain. A little wind. And hot. 75 degrees at race time plus 65% humidity. Set two alarms, took some melatonin, like I always do before a race, and went to bed. And I actually slept! This is the first time I've slept the night before a race. The alarm went off, I jumped up and got dressed. Text to Melody I was making coffee and gathering my things. She arrived, I used the facilities one more time and we were off!! WOOT!! No traffic. We drove right to the race and found parking. We walked over to the Marriott to meet up with my MRTT and SparkPeeps!! We found Jessica and Ashley and Christy! We took pictures. Christy finished her breakfast, we took more pictures and we were ready to walk down to the start!! WOOT!! This was for real!! Oh Em Gee!! I was about to be at the start line of my first Half Marathon! I was a little nervous but ready. A group of navy cadets sang the National Anthem and we were lining up! We found our pace group and waited for the horn to sound! The count down started and we were off!! Yes I was really running in my first Half! KA RA ZEE!! The horn sounded and we were off!! WOOT! The first 1/3 of a mile was on the street, over the rail road tracks and then down hill to the trail. As I headed to the trail I heard Jessica and Ashley! Waved at them, wished them a great race!! Awesome running mommas, without whom I wouldn't be in this race today! Listened to a couple of funny conversations about the water stops. Christy and I had a chuckle about it, as well as the other runners around us. Made it down to the path and to the first mile/water stop. I drank two cups of water and was on my way! The next water stop was at mile two with some shirtless buff college guys who had funny signs, attitudes, lemonade and water. I drank two cups of water. We still hadn't thinned out much when we begin to hear “on your left”! I thought it was halfers who were late to the start. Christy made a comment about this not being good on ones psyche to have these runners speeding past us! After a few of them went by we realized it was the 10Kers. They were flying!! When I got to the 5K mark I saw a familiar face... well I felt a familiar breeze going past me!! It was Tiffany from my local running club. She and I touched the 5K mark at the same time! Although she was the front runner-girl for the 10K and I still had 10 miles to go! :) I yelled out to her Way To Go Tiffany!! Get it Runner-Girl!! :) I'm never sure if she hears me; but I cheer her on anyway! She is phenomenal!! A runner-girl in black to my right kept falling out.... she'd be on the path, then get off the path to heave. That concerned me a bit because I didn't bring my water; and I was already wet/sweaty from the humidity. I was determined to not carry it for this race. I was feeling light headed; almost faint and then I remembered DUH! Fuel you crazy girl! I had my crackers but nothing else. I needed calories! Had a Honey Stinger with Ginseng and felt a lot better. And stopped panicking about water! :) We got to mile 4 and I was still feeling great. I had energy. I wasn't hurting. All my phantom pains had disappeared like magic the moment I stepped up to the start line! YAY! Christy and I stayed consistently between the 2:30 and 2:40 pace groups. One of the 2:40 pacers asked me about my shirt. The night before I put on my Moms Run This Town decals. We were chatting about that. Come to find out she lives one town over from me. She's joined my local MRTT chapter! :) We got to about mile 5 where there was another water stop and Christy was experiencing some knee pain. So we decided to take it a little slower and walk a little more through the water stops. Which was fine by me because I could use the break just to regain my energy, take a fuel break, soak up the experience! About this time we see some emergency vehicle lights in the distance coming our way and were worried it was an injured or ill runner. However as the motorcycle officer got closer to us, we heard a cheer through the crowd and then thought it was the front runners! I thought wow, now that's some quick running!! It was a parapalegic competitor on his arm-cycle! He was amazing!! We cheered for him as he rode by. Not too long after that though the front runners started their way toward us! We cheered for them as they came by! And then here she came, the front runner-girl!! Christy and I and many others cheered for her yelled out Way to go Runner Girl!! Make us proud! A few of the front runners cheered us on, gave us High Five! It was awesome!! So Inspired! :) We went into another shaded area and to another water stop. We were keeping good pace, ahead of schedule 3-5 minutes and were running with the 2:40 pacers. We wound around through the turn around and WOW!! We'd made it!! Half way!! I felt great! Nothing was hurting. I had enough water and fuel. I hadn't keeled over. And was ready to take on the rest of the course. Ashley found us about this point and ran with us for a bit. It was a nice surprise to see her, although she wasn't having her best race, I was glad to see her. We made another turn and one of our pacers was on the side of the path in the grass. At first it looked to me like she'd been bitten by a bug or stung by a bee; however as we came up on her she was having what seemed to be an asthma attack. She couldn't get her breath. We stopped to help her. Lots of other runners stopped as well. Offered her water, electrolyte pills, cold paper towels for her neck. I offered to take the 2:40 pace sign and keep up with the group, Amanda said that was OK, and that she would stay with Shannon. We caught up with the group and got some really funny comments. One guy talked our ear off about how we helped him come back from an injury. Regardless to me telling him the actually pacers had to make a pit stop. He continued his story. It was comical about him still saying how much we'd helped him. Another guy said he was trying to catch up to us and when he saw the 2:40 sign he realized he was trying to catch up to the 2:30 pacers! Around the 8 mile mark, we'd been though another water stop. I was still feeling fine! I hadn't fell out. I wasn't over heated. My body was holding up. I still had 5.1 to go! But I was over half way! WOOT! Christy was still holding up! She was very encouraging and I was so happy to run with her! An Army guy passed us and shouted out to her: Keep It Up # 94! Amanda caught up to us and said a friend was helping Shannon and that she was able to walk and would finish the race! I was so glad to hear that! I was still feeing great! There were a few water sprinklers on the path and that was awesome, just what we needed. Refreshing! Christ and I kept comparing my App with her Garmin. We were off on milage but not on time. We were on track to finish a little early... maybe by a minute or two. Mile 11 water stop was the same as Mile 2. Christy has a bit of bantering with them about “showing off their guns!” I was little sore at this point, not hurting, but sore. My hand were swollen, fingers were like sausages and I could tell just about everything else was swollen too. My left shoe had gotten wet in the last sprinkler and my toes were feeling sore, blistered, and I dunno... off, not right. We went though the last water stop and then it was up the hill to the street! EEEEKKK!!! This was it!! I was about to be a half marathoner!! I was nearly in tears, but if I cried, I wouldn't be able to run! The hill was steep-ish and long. I knew Christy needed to walk before the push to finish and I could use the break. So we walked up the hill and kicked it into high gear on the street. I was less than ½ a mile from the finish. I was sore and not so much tired, but feeling ready for this moment!! We made the turn to the finish line and I saw my friends!! Jessica and some of the MRTT ladies. I saw Melody. She was taking pictures! I heard Christy tell me “we're allllMOST there!” And we were! I ran across the finish and got my medal!! WOW!! It's so awesome! I love what is says on it; We Started Together, We Finish Together. And that is how Christy and I were, the whole way together!! I heard Ryan call my name. And I saw Corbin. I found Christy and Jessica. We all had a sweaty hug. I called my sister back – my phone rang just as I crossed the finish. My awesome sister brought me Starbucks for the finish! :) We hung out for a bit. Talked to the military personnel. Ate some pancakes and fruit. Drank more water and then headed home. Shockingly I needed to find the facilities, so on the way home we made a pit stop. Then stopped at In and Out for grub, I was starving! Got home and could barely get out of the car. I was V E R Y worried. I was limping and couldn't put much pressure on my right leg. Made it in the house and ate lunch at the kitchen bar. Bad idea... the bar stools are higher than normal, then I had to get down; hubby had to help me. My ankle still really hurt. I took a shower and a nap. Totally needed both! Jessica invited me over to eat dinner that evening. My hubby and kiddo went to the in-laws. So here are the stats: 1. 11.15 2. 11.24 3. 11.00 4. 11.15 5. 11.57 6. 11.54 7. 11.42 8. 10.53 9. 11.20 10. 11.48 11. 12.25 12. 12.16 13. 11.53 App Time: 2:35.32 Chip Time: 2:40:15.4 When I signed up I set my time as 2:45! I did it!! I came in earlier than my goal time and uninjured! I was sore, but after the shower and nap and more water, I was feeling fine. No more limping. It was a great experience. I'm so glad I signed up for it and did it!! I know that it was a long time coming. Not sure I'll do another one this year since I have Capital To Coast in October. But I'll make plans for another one in the spring in cooler weather. Thank you to all of you! You have each been a BIG BIG part of this journey and I couldn't have crossed the finish line without you! (particularly Christy!!)

The One Where I Take The Watch Out For Deer Sign Seriously

Soooo It's been a while since I blogged. May is really busy for me with the end of the school year, things to do, things to wrap up, PTA duties to be accomplished and completed. 

Since my 10-mile race I have run 10 times, all different distances. 
7.39 miles 1.28.03 
10.12 miles 1.51.08 
and on Memorial Day 

12.41 miles 2.28.46 

Most of my other runs have been with running club members, especially the long runs, but my longest distance, I ran on my own, by myself, while on vacation, just me and the road. 

I was unsure of the route. I'd used MMR prior to leaving for vacay to get a sense of where I could run at and how I would get these 12 miles in without having to make the same 1.5 mile loop. Honestly I was pretty freaked out about it.... How/Where would I fuel, get water, run.... 

Before we left for vacay I was in a full on panic!! I was feeling like I wouldn't get this run in and I was feeling unprepared for the half. 

I got up about 6:30, I got all my stuff together and came up with a water/fuel stop plan. I text to my friends running The Patriot in my hometown. I ate my Honey Stinger Waffle. I got my waters ready. My fuel ready. 

I headed out. At first my legs felt like lead. I was sore and I just didn't want to run this distance. I needed to get it done but y'all know how I am with the 'what ifs" even when I run at home. Now here I am in the back woods of Beavers Bend!! The "lions and tigers and bears, oh my" theme was playing in my head. 

I made it to through the first 2.5 miles and headed back to camp for water and fuel and was feeling pretty good. If I had to keep that loop I was gonna be OK. And it worked out that I left my things at camp, I didn't have to carry anything with me. :) 

Each time I got more courageous, I would run further in to new territory. Down a path or road I hadn't been on, not even in the car!! Some of our cousins were at a camp site down the way, I found them and stopped to talk to them for a bit. Then I headed back to camp and re-fueled. 

5 miles down, 7 to go. I was making good time, keeping a good pace. On my next loop I look a ways down the road and see something in the distance, I wasn't sure what it was but it wasn't moving, so I disregarded it as a box or something and kept going. As I got closer I saw that it was a deer. Then I realized there was one on my left and my right!! I'm looking at them and they are looking at me. Who was gonna play chicken first!! LOL 


Deer on the left ran over to the deer on the right, but what I couldn't see around the bend was the buck!! I came around the corner and he leapt out across the road!! KA RA ZEE!! That gave me a bit of a fright. 

I had seen deer a few other times as well, but not that close up on a run! 

I made another loop, refueled and had 3.5 miles to go!! Whaaat?? I could barely believe it. 

Now at this point I was tired, I'm not gonna kid you. I was ready for this run to be over. My in laws were waiting for me to be done. I really wanted to give in and only run 10. But when I heard the prompt in my ear...... 9.99 miles, I started to tear up. I had just run 10 miles by myself. I felt fine. I was ok. I had taken chances, run in new territory, run past/with deer and I was still here to tell about it. 

Those last few miles are my proudest. It was getting to be later in the morning and there was a lot of traffic on the road. I did quite a bit of stopping and starting to dodge the trucks, truck with boats, trucks with campers, trucks with trailers, other cars and motorcycles. It was hard to be mid-hill and stop then start back up again. 

But I did it. And I ran 12.41 miles!! I almost kept going to 13.1, but I set out to only run 12 and I was over that milage so I stopped. 

I was tired and sore but I DID IT!! 

My splits are all over the place, though. 

1 9.31 (too fast!!) 
2. 11.53 
3. 12.42 
4. 10.15 
5. 11.41 
6. 12.24 
7. 12.50 
8. 11.24 
9. 12.19 
10. 12.52 
11. 12.39 
12. 12.08 
.41 14.50 


My slower miles are uphill and let me tell you there were hills!! 

It's a run and done!! WOOT! I'm glad I persevered, I ran my milage. I did it by myself. The ladies I'm running with at Wounded Warrior are faster than me, so I will be in a different corral and essentially be by myself for the half. 

A friend that was gonna run this race that is about my pace backed out too. Both of the people I consider to by my running coaches won't be at the race. One will be out of town and the other can't make it. 

I'm not sure that my family will be there..... so in retrospect I really needed to run that 12 miles alone. I proved to myself that I have what it takes. I have the ability. 

Three years and 5 days post tailbone injury, I will run my first half!! WOOT! 

But this weekend is my 2nd annual Bloomin' 4-mile DRC Race. Last year I signed up for the DRC after the Mothers Day 1/2 that I watched my running buddies in. Jerome, Nancy, Jen and others. 

Jerome of course encouraged me to sign up for DRC and I did. My first DRC race was The Bloomin' 4-mile. It was also the first race I ran with my oldest son. It was a good day. I ran an ok race. I was still in the wrong shoes and having all the wrong shoe problems. 

This year my goal is to finish in under 45 minutes. It's a great race! My kiddo is coming and my cousin, it's her first race ever, and a friend I've talked into being a DRC member as well. 

Jerome says he'll be there too!! WOOT! :) 

It's amazing how much has changed in a year. A year ago I was scared about running this race. I was even more panicked about running the Independence Day Race in July 10K! Three days ago I ran double that distance!! 

I'm uninjured and I feel prepared to run my first half!! I'm not scared of it, I'm ready for it. I've moved beyond 98% scared 2% excited to 98% excited and 2% scared, as I look at the forecast that calls for rain. Bring it!! At least we won't be hot. :) 

The One Where It's My First 10-Mile Race

Soooo I guess when I wrote that down on my race schedule this year I didn't really think I'd make it to May. I swear May got here much sooner than I thought it would. 

I have trained and trained for this day. And while yes, this is a race, it's a training run for me. My "real race" the Wounded Warrior Half Marathon isn't until next month. 

Nevertheless, I've been training for this race since March. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Weekend Long Runs. 

I ran running errands Friday. More Fuel, More Protein Powder, another iPhone Arm Band. 

I got all my stuff ready. I typically put all my things into my hat, so it's all together: 

Hair Tie 
Sunglasses 
Sunscreen 
Arm Band 
Earbuds 
ID 
Race Bib 
Fuel 
Fuel Belt 
Gum 

I lay my clothes out: 
Shirt 
Bra 
Shorts 
Socks 
Shoes 

I set two alarms, just in case. I text to anyone I might be meeting and hit the hay! 


For the first time ever, I slept through the night. I woke up once to see what time it was, ended up dropping my phone on the floor. Didn't pick it up. The alarm would go off and I'd get up when I got up. :) 

Indeed both alarms went off. I jumped up, made coffee, got in the shower. I like to take a hot shower before long runs to loosen things up. 

I got dressed and double checked my race day items. It was gonna be hot, so I took two waters. My water pouch for the race and my liter for after the race. 

I knew that the race would have several water stops as well. 

I didn't eat breakfast. Normally I eat breakfast, but I opted to skip that and use my fuel instead. I drank my coffee, got my small back pack out to put all my stuff in. I was riding with a running club member so I needed to pack my things up. It's not like I would be going back to my car for supplies. 

I hugged my hubby and was on my way to the RRC. Met Kathy and we were off!! :) We made it down there in great time and we got a good parking spot too! I saw some people I know and we made introductions. I ate my Honey Stinger for a few calories to start the race. 

It seemed like time was flying. I made a pit stop and before you know it, it was 10 minutes to race time! :) Told Kathy I'd see her at the finish, she's a bit faster than me. 

The gun went off and it was time to race. I made sure to go slow.... there would be no darting out of the start and being too tired at the end. 

I made listened to the RunMeter carefully saying my pace. I wanted to keep it around 11-12. My goal was to finish in 2 hours. To walk through all the water stops and over the bridges. The White Rock Bridges have a lot of give. It's like running in jello! Not that I'd done that, but that's what I imagine it would be like! 

I ran with some great people around me! Talking, Excited, Feeling Good. I saw a few folks I knew running ahead of me and for a moment thought to pick up my pace to catch up to them, but didn't. I decided I'd save my energy. 

I was feeling great! I was a little concerned that morning because my right ankle was sore, it's been achey lately. It was achey today too. Drats! But I was feeling ok, I kept doing a 'soreness check' along the way. And thinking should I slow down, speed up, based on how I felt. 

I got to the first water stop. WOW, these folks had a lot of energy! It was awesome! They had water and gatorade. I took some of each. I walked through the stop and stopped to drink the water rather than pour out what was left. I was making good time, so I wasn't concerned about actually stopping. 

I headed out again. Two runner girls in front of me where discussing whether or not they would run the 10 or make the turn at the 5 mile race. The girl in the purples says to the girl in pink, I think I can make it for the 10, so they made the turn to the left for the 10-mile race with me. 

And off we went onto the first bridge. I was thinking along this route, this is the furthest I've been in this direction around the lake. :) Normally I race in the other direction because its a shorter distance. I wasn't sure if this was an out and back or if we were going all the way around the lake, but it was gonna be interesting since I haven't seen this side of White Rock... not while running anyway. 

The first bridge was ok until you got to the middle, so I walked when the bridge began to move, run when it stopped. 

At this point I've gone about a 5K, maybe a bit longer. There was another band and another water stop. There was a great volunteer who was cheering for us as we went by. He stood there the entire race! 

I was getting everyone messages throughout the race on my app, Coach Nancy, Jerome, a few of my runner girls too. Lots of woo hoos! Run Shelly Run! You can do this! Then I got this message: Good Luck, All of your hard work is about to pay off! And I honestly welled up with tears. I thought, yes! Yes it has! I'm really doing it!! 

Taking Jeromes advice from my 8 mile training run: 

How did you run your 6 mile training run? 

Me: ummmmm 

Jerome: One foot in front of the other! This is just 22 more minutes of running. :)

So when I hit the 2 – 2.5 mile mark I thought: Now it's just 8 miles, I've already done this distance and I can do this too! I'm a fourth of the way done! 

I made it to the 5K point in about 32-33 minutes and I was feeling good. There was another band playing and a water stop. Again I walked through, grabbed the water and gatorade and drank them both. I walked to the last trash bin and finished drinking before I headed off again. It was gonna be hot, it was already humid. I would need all the water I could get! 

It was a nice run. I felt good. I was keeping a good pace. Sometimes shocked with the 11mm pace I was keeping. And I wasn't concerned about the time I was taking at the water stops. I wanted to make it in under 2 hours, but if I didn't that was OK. Yes it was a race, but also a training run. I wasn't racing to train! I was training to race! 

I was going over everyone's advice; Mary's, Jerome's, Wendy, Becki, Nancy, Barbara, Kyle.... 

Take my time, don't rush, I can do this, Becki said she'd always known I could do this, it was just convincing me that I could. 

And I was really doing it. And I wasn't hurting, I wasn't injured, I wasn't limping, I wasn't dragging myself along, I wasn't walking. 

I finally started to see people turning around and realized it was an out and back and we wouldn't have to go over the hill at the spillway or the other hills around the lake. So I knew it would be relatively flat the rest of the way. YAY! 

I high fived the people I knew as we passed each other. It was nice to see them as we passed and get a “you're doing great” as they went by! :) 

I got to the turn around (FIVE MILES!! Half way done!!) and took my Honey Stinger Gold out of my pouch; At this point in the day I've run 5 miles on the calories of the Stinger Waffle and coffee! Maybe 200? 250? 

I felt a lot better after that. Still walking through the water stops and drinking slowly. I had my water pouch with me that holds 2 cups and I was taking sips from it as well. I don't swing my arm though when I'm holding it and my shoulder was getting tight. I began reminding myself to check my form. 

Chin level with the ground, Should Down and Back (Cuz I was wearing my shoulders for earrings!), Stand up straight, hips over the knees, One foot in front of the other! Breathe!! Kyle told me to do it like this: 

Breath in (one two three) Breathe out (one two three) to slow my breathing down and gain control. 

In light of the death of MCA Original Beastie Boy, I downloaded several of their songs. One funny Beastie Boy moment of the race was after the turn around I hear: 

NO SLEEP TILL!! 

BROOKLYN!! 

Just what I needed!! HA!! 

I kept thinking I saw a friend of mine ahead of me, she was walking and I thought something was wrong. I ran to catch up with her and it wasn't my friend but it was a sweet runner girl. About that time another runner caught up with me and said: I've been trying to catch up with you! I thought she meant the other runner, but she meant me! 

Said she'd been chasing my heels! WOW! Then she and I helped the other runner. We would say: We're STRONG women!! We can finish this!! We can do it! And she would run with us. :) 

We got about to the 10K point and she was fading and needing water. I asked her if she wanted some of mine, but she said she thought there was a water stop before the bridge. There wasn't, but there was a water fountain. 

So she stopped at the water fountain and said I could go on with out her. I said NOPE! I'll stay with you. We'll walk across the bridge and then we'll finish strong!! 

As we got on the bridge the Dallas Fire and Rescue Golf Cart was crossing the bridge too, so we had to yield a bit to them. After the bridge we made it to the next water stop with less than 3 miles to go. WOOT! We were making good time. 

This particular water stop was run by the White Rock Running Co-op. These people were a hoot!! They were super energetic, they high fived everyone! They said “this is the best looking runners we've seen all day!” I said yea I bet you say that to all the women! LOL 

Oh wait... I forgot a part before the water fountain and the bridge.... the same volunteer was in his spot cheering everyone on and he said this: Here they come, the long distance endurance runners... enduring, running strong. 

If I hadn't been with those other runner girls I probably would have stopped right there and cried and hugged that man! 

The ladies I was with saw two of their friends, noticed they were taking some walk breaks. I was talking to them about these ladies that had decided to do the 10-mile distance instead of the 5 and they looked like they were doing ok. I was telling them how awesome it was to overhear that conversation and how it encouraged me. Turns out... it was their friends! One of them is the pacer for the Dallas White Rock Half! 

We got to the last stop and they caught up with their friends and they were walking. I said I'm running in, we have less than 2 miles, are you coming? They said they were gonna stay with their friend. I said OK I'll see you at the finish. 

About this time around mile 7.5-8 my instep/ankle was getting sore and I noticed that I was really swollen. My fingers were like sausages and I was out of water and there were no more water stops. I kept thinking of what Jerome said: It's just 22 more minutes! :) 

And about that time I got a message from Nancy that said “you're doing awesome!” I kicked it up a bit, not too much, I didn't want to run out of steam and I didn't know if this was an injury or just soreness. But I didn't want to aggravate it since my Half is in 5 weeks. 

So I ran at about a 10.5 pace for a quarter mile and walk a bit (10-12 steps), then run more. I'd get my pace update, I had about less than a mile to go... and at least 12 minutes to get to the finish!! And cue the Beastie Boys: Paul Revere! Love that Song!! 

There were people lined up at the finish cheering!! Two ladies in particular said, you're almost there, you're doing good! Finish Strong! 

When I heard my pace update I had about a ½ a mile to go, I ran it in at 10mm pace!! WOOT!! I finished strong!! I looked at the clock as I ran past. It said: 2:00:20 

I was happy to have made the 2 hour mark! I did it with water stops and all!! I looked for my friends and didn't see them, I got some water. Much Needed Water! And made my way up to the clubhouse. 

I found Kathleen and Lynette found me. I made my way to the pizza and ate banana. Stretched and kept moving. I was sore but not hurting, so I was happy about that. As I'm eating and talking to friends one of the ladies I ran with the one who was struggling, came up to me and said she really appreciated me running with her. She was so glad that I came along at that time to help her through! 

WOW. I was well speechless. I said you're welcome! Anytime. It was my pleasure. I hoped we got to run together again! 

I hugged necks of friends and miss sweetpea and then we left. Kathleen needed to run a few errands and that was fine by me. We went to Lukes Locker and Starbucks! No run is complete until there's been coffee!! 

We drove back to my car and I went to the kiddos baseball game! Then home for a nap! I know there are so many other details I don't remember right now. But I'll leave you with some memorable music moments...well the ones I can remember! 


Good Vibrations – began the race with this!! 

Desperately Wanting – about mile one! 

Never Going Back To OK – this one was next. That's right!! I'm never going back to okay! :) 

More Than A Feeling – I laughed a bit at this... I woke up this morning and the sun was gone? Nope, it was beating down on me guns blazing!! LOL 

Run To You – why yes! I will run to you....and back in the day... run to you! Bryan Adams – Yum-O! 

Leaving Eden – the background words in this are “one more step away” and I was indeed one more step away from where I was the day before. I was really doing this!! “it's like I'm further away with every step I take and I can't go back....” there was no going back; no turning around, I was further and further from the start and closer to the finish with every step! 

Courageous – We were made to be courageous!! We were made to be courageous! Taking back the fight! We were made to be courageous and it starts with us tonight!! 

Let The Sparks Fly – There's no such thing as Maybe! Burn it like your fading! No more hesitating let the sparks fly baby! Drive it like you're racing! You can call me crazy! I'm just tired of waiting let the sparks fly baby! 

No Surprise – I've practiced this for hours, gone round and round, and now I think that I've got it all down, and as I say it louder I like how it sounds, cuz I'm not taking the easy way out!!! I'm not wrapping this in ribbons, I shouldn't have to give a reason why.... It's no surprise I won't be here tomorrow!!! …. you and I will be a tough act to follow, but I know in time we'll find this was no surprise!! WOOT! LOVE IT!! 

Our favorite place we used to go, the warm embrace that no one knows, the loving look that left your eyes, that's why this comes as no, as no surprise! - for me, there's no going back now!! It's onward! I've put 13.1 off too long. This should come as no surprise.... I'm going forward! 

Boys of Summer – always makes me think of Wendy! :) 

September – my birthday month!! - do you remember on the 21st night of September! :) Oh Oh Oh... On and On and On and On!! (or as jerome would say one foot in front of the other) 

My Desire – you wanna be real, you wanna be emptied inside, you wanna be someone, laying down your pride, you wanna be someone some day, so lay it all down before the King.... You wanna be whole, you wanna have purpose inside, you wanna be set free today... This is my Desire, This is my Return, This is my Desire, To be used by You! ….and I know my heart is to feel you near and I know my life is to do Your Will. It's to do Your Will! This is my desire!! 

Walk by Faith – From the first guitar riff I was about to bawl! Would I have believed you when you said Your Hand would guide my every way.... Help me to rid my endless fears.... your grace covers all I do... yeah! I will walk by faith, even when I cannot see.... Love the ending of this song... I will walk by faith! I will walk by faith!! I will walk by faith! 

Lost at Sea – Love this one!! I'm going your way, even though I can not see in front of me and I'm going your way even though I feel lost at sea! ….. Ride the wave, wave goodbye, by the way did I mention today that I don't know the way home! 

We R Who We R – Thanks Michellene for the suggestion! Great running song! :) Let's GO!! Tonight we're going hard! Just like the world is ours! We're tearing it apart! We are super stars! We are who we are!! :) 

Burnin' up – not sure this was such a good one since I was indeed burning up from the heat! LOL I tried to not think about that as I ran! And at this point was out of water! 

The Beastie Boys were a big player on the ipod, it was good to hear those old songs, it gave me a chuckle! :) As well as Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Bye Bye Bye by NSYNC And Push It! 

Anyway here are my stats..... hope you've made it this far! LOL 

Here are my run stats: 

Mile 1: 11.09 

Mile 2: 10.08
 
Mile 3: 11.09
 
Mile 4: 11.08
 
Mile 5: 11.28
 
Mile 6: 11.39 

Mile 7: 11.47 

Mile 8: 10.58
 
Mile 9: 12.05
 
Mile 10: 12.11
 
Mile .36: 11.11