I had lofty goals for 2016. I dove in deep into #SOULutions. As 2015 came to an end I was very much in a #byefelicia mood. Goodbye. Good riddance. So long. Farewell. Auf Wiedersehen. Good Night.
Twenty-sixteen began with tears. I though that when the clocked ticked over that it would be magic. The a fairy godmother would wave her wand and twenty-fifteen would have just been a bad dream, I would be going to the ball with the handsome prince and life would be different. Better. Less Shocking. Something else.
It was something else indeed. The clock struck twelve oh one and I broke down. This was the first moment of my life that I had to face a new year without a parent. I didn't think it would hit me like that. So painful. So tragic. So sorrowful. Such a blow. It wasn't over. The shock was over and the sorrow snuck in, right under the glow of the New Years Eve ball drop. Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, Tears.
There were lots of tears and sorrow in twenty-sixteen. There was also lots of laughs and enjoyable moments and surprising days and beautiful new memories.
A new semester began with my study girls in the same classes!! YAY! They breathe life into these old bones, this dried out brain.
We joined Planet Fitness about the same time The Adhesive began working at a local fast food joint. We worked out faithfully. I kept running long distance and well it's no surprise that I became injured. Being at the gym was helpful in my rehabilitation. I started C25K again in March.
The semester ended and summer began! Yay! I signed up for a summer class. An Art class I need to meet my degree requirements. It was a surprising and enjoyable class. I spent a day at the Museum with my guys. Such a wonderful day.
Because I missed running the Rock N Roll Marathon Series in New Orleans due to my injury we deferred those funds and travel plans to go on a proper vacation. We went to the Grand Canyon. There are no words to describe it. Awe Inspiring isn't enough. The colors, the depth, the beauty, the views, the vistas, the cliffs, the history. It took my breath away. While we were there I was fortunate enough to meet up with a friend from the past, way back. She was like my other mother. She was my best friends mother. I grew up across the street from her. She is one of my fondest memories from childhood. It was such a joy to catch up with her.
I finished up the summer semester and had a few weeks off before The Adhesives sophomore year began and my next semester as well. The Adhesive began new medication and due to his lack of motivation to obtain his drivers license he rides the bus to and from school.
It wasn't until September that it hit me. There had been sad times in during the year, moments that hurt my heart. And for how crazy it sounds, I cried on my birthday because my dad didn't call me. #thanksdad #ijustcanteven
The sorrow continued throughout the remainder of the year. My husband and I attended Re|Engage, it was helpful, but overwhelming. It was sorta in the middle of that I realized it was too much for me. And that I'm an introvert, like, seriously. It was a good class but it was too loud and too many people and too raw. I thought I could get a tattoo and call my grief over. Re|Engage brought back a lot of memories and questions.
Running really helped me to get through these times, this year. My runner girls kept me going, listened to me, hugged me tight through the tears, logged the miles with me.
I was chosen to be in the Mentor Program at Collin College in October. It has been such a wonderful opportunity. My mentor has helped me realize my potential and, well mentored me. I ran a 5K with my niece in October. It was so fun I really enjoyed spending time with her. She's a beautiful and bright young lady. October also brought with it normal. Normal. For the first time since before dad died we had a Family Day, although everyone wasn't available, it was fun! My family, my brother and his girlfriend, The Rents we went to the pumpkin patch, took pictures, laughed.so.hard, went on the hay ride, ate hot dogs and pumpkin fudge. Such an outstanding day!
The next weekend I ran with my BFF at White Rock Lake. It was her goal to Loop The Lake on her birthday! And we made it!! All the way around! So proud of her!!
In November The Adhesive approached a milestone, he turned 16. How did we get here? I spent the day with my sister and The Adhesive spent the day with his friends playing AirSoft. Back to normal. Normal, I need more of it. We made plans to get together for Thanksgiving and we all showed up! All the siblings, spouses and kids! Normal. We laughed so hard, we took pictures, we ate good food.
My guys left from there to go out of town and I spent the weekend doing homework in silence. So.Needed! Musical season has begun! I met my sister at fair park for Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.
The first Friday of December I had a tour and admissions appointment with Texas Women's University. Oh. Em. Gee! This is becoming a reality. Y'all I could live in the library! I wonder if they allow such a thing? Maybe I could be the first! :)
My sister and I attended the next musical Christmas Extravaganza. It was so fun! Afterwards, we met up at my brothers house for Normal. Our sibling Christmas day. All the siblings, spouses and kids. Yummy food and lots of laughs, hugs, and joy, real joy, beautiful memories and normal.
A year that began sorrow ended in joy.
Psalm 30: 5b Sorrow may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
You may not know how long the night will last, but you are always promised morning. Morning will always come.
I wrote out my #SOULultions for 2016
Embrace GraceEngage Gratitude
Be Available
Believe the best (of myself and others)
Break Free from worn out cycles
Daily Connections
Do hard things
Let Go of the outcome
Learn to be vulnerable
Live authentically
Give of myself
Grow stronger
I did some of this well, consistently. Others, not so much. Progress. Making progress is the goal every year. I took two or three steps forward, and only one or two back.
2017.... #SOULutions
Top Three: Embrace Imperfect. Eight classes and 3.25 or above GPA. Run 850 miles.
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Saturday, October 11, 2014
The One Where I'm Barely Holding On
I don't know where to begin. And I'm not sure where the beginning would be anyway.....
Stress Fracture.
Stress. A mental strain or disruption. Emotional pressure suffered by a human being.
Fracture. The act of breaking. Something that has broken.
A stress fracture. I have a stress fracture in one of the smallest bones of the body. Yet in one of the most important places.
You don't think about your big toe, the function it serves, the stability it gives you until it's gone.
But it's smaller than that. These two bones called the sesamoids. They are basically the patella of the toe. A bone imbedded in the tendon. They act like a pulley, providing a smooth surface for the tendons to glide over. They help the big toe move and provide stability when you 'push off' during running (or walking). They are flat, disc/egg shaped about the size of a popcorn kernel.
Yet when they don't work properly. It feels like you're walking on a popcorn kernel!!
I love popcorn... This, not so much.
I've been in the boot for 6 weeks. Had a follow up X-ray yesterday. There's some healing. So there's that. (Forces a smile)
But it's not enough to get out of the boot or be active again. Or keep me from plumetting into a lower and lower depression and sense of hopelessness.
Four more weeks in the boot and then another X-ray and then talk of surgery. I can't run again until there's no pain. If there's pain, stop and rest more and contemplate surgery.
This is week one of four more weeks in the boot. 😞
I have cried for 24 hours straight. I'm a blubbering depressed mess.
Some may say... It's only running. What's the big deal. You'll run again someday. Be pateint. Keep your chin up. Meh.
Running keeps me sane. My world is usually on the cusp of spinning out of control at any moment. Running helps me get away. Shake it all off. Handle things better. I'm a better person because of running. Running became my life partner five years ago. Now it feels like running has moved away.
At first it was as if running went on a business trip, an interview in a new city. Now it feels like I've waved goodbye to a good friend pulling out of the drivenway.
I don't have to stress out about life with running by my side. Now what's left is life and stress and the stress of life with no relief.
And I'm barely holding on. I'm barely getting through the day. One day down. Twenty-seven to go until I know if running is ever coming home.
I assure you, I will never again pray to learn how to Be Still and Know. Never. Ever. Again. I don't want to be still. And this isn't the kind of still I had in mind. For the record, I don't find this humorous. Although I'm sure God is getting a good laugh.
And Know.... And know what exactly? That life is one series of disappointments after another.... A lesson I'm becoming more familiar with every day. Every.Damn.Day.
All that's left now is Disruption and Something that is Broken.
Friday, April 25, 2014
The One Where I {link up} for Five Minute Friday - Friends
What a great topic.
I'd say I have a lot of friends. It's odd that at this stage in life I can say that. I'm a runner and I'm a part of 3 running clubs so I know a lot of people. But I only have 3 - 4 really good friends.
Kat - I met her a small bible study group. She stood up for me at my wedding. We've been friends ever since. I talk to her at least weekly. We attend church together, eat together, run together, do life together, drink A LOT of coffee together! I love her. I love her like I love my sister. Except she's like my older sister. And as the oldest in my family, it's a treasure to have an "older sister". She is beautiful and better yet, we share clothes and shoes and purses!! She talks me off of the ledge when I'm just about over it about non sense and life. We pray together and cry together. Because I know her; I will be forever changed. We were meant to be together. She gets me. She doesn't judge my craziness, she just loves me.
Jen - although she's moved out of state now, I still talk to her weekly, sometimes daily. We have children born a month apart. Our kiddos have similar struggles, as do she and I. We became fast friends when we met in Sunday School; 9 years ago. She's taught me so much! So much. Like "everything's gonna be okay" particularly with my kiddo. She's the first person who I met whose child has the same issue as mine. I don't know how I would have gotten through elementary school without her! If anything can get this momma to melt down it's her kiddo struggling in school life. He struggles a lot, so melting down is common place around here. And she listens to me rage against the machine! And runs with me, and prays with me, and drink coffee with me, and does life with me. My life is forever changed because I know her. And she knows me. She Knows Me!
My Runner Girls - they see my struggles, they pick me up, they encourage me, they push me, they believe in me. We are a group of women with similar struggles, lives, goals. The running keeps us going, but it's the life we're doing together that keeps us together. It's the meals that show up at your door when you've come home from the hospital, it's the text that says "hey we missed you today, is everything okay." It's the understanding that today, not matter what's going on, we're gonna leave it all on the pavement. We walk together, talk together, run together, grow together, encourage one another, cheer for one another, push, pull and carry one another to the start line of races and across the finish line… of life. They believe in me when I don't. And there's plenty of times I don't. They believe in me anyway. Encourage me anyway. They know I'm capable of way more…. and push me to rise to the occasion! Bless Them!! They also like coffee, so there's that too! :)
It hasn't always been so… I haven't always had good friends. I've struggled with acceptance and accepting. But I've learned so much being in relationship with these women. And drank many cups of coffee!! :)
Monday, February 10, 2014
The One Where It Takes A Small Town Not A Village Day 2 Session 1
IF: God is Real, Then What?
First Speaker Sarah Bessey, I found her through blog hopping. Following links on Facebook. I found her. I haven't read her book. I just follow her. I like her. I like her philosophy. I agree with it. Yea, I agree the greater of the verses should be Submit One To Another. I also believe in being Submissive to my husband, he is my covering. He's a wonderful husband who allows me to be me and lets me grow. Allows The Lord to soften my heart. He doesn't submit to me, not do we have that kind of relationship. But Submit One To Another, I get it. She's got me listening. Like where Mary was the first person to "preach the gospel" Jennie Allen addressed that they had differences and it was a sweet moment. Women of all ages and theologies and ideas and sizes and Bible Versions are welcome.
Sarah Bessey:
I'm too liberal for the conservatives and too conservative for the liberals and I believe shoes should be comfortable! (everyone laughed)
I'm a Jesus Feminist. I'm a cryer. I still have stars in my eyes about Jesus.
Today is not about to do lists or evangelical heroes. It's about grace.
Turn to Matthew 11, I'll be reading out of The Message for all you biblical scholars! (Laughter)
After hearing Ann speak last night I got up at midnight to change what I wanted to say. Is Jesus Beautiful or Useful to you?
28-30: Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
Learn the unforced rhythm of grace. Walk with Him. Fall in step with the man from Nazareth.
Make your Right Now Life an Alter! Your true being brims over into words and deeds! So. Walk. With. Him.
Is the parable of your life your own belief that you have to earn? Work hard for? Run faster to fill in the gaps? More to-dos? Or are you walking in the unforced rhythms of grace.
God saved you because He Loves You and Delights in You! God doesn't want to use you! He wants to be with you because He Loves You!
EMMANUEL - GOD WITH US!
NOT:
God for us
God using us
God managing us
God working us
God manipulating us
When you are in step with Him, things are different. Jesus calls us friends. Sooo, If: God is Real, Then What?
Let our life be the natural consequence of the Sacred Company we are keeping. Our homes, our churches, our neighborhoods is where our life happens.
Prayer (as much as I could write):
Jesus we want to walk in your ways where ever you lead us.
And draw us into community where we stay - anyway
When toes get stepped on and we'll be hurt
And we forgive and stay - anyway
That we have the guts to follow wherever you lead us
Where there's messy living rooms,
Dirty Dishes, Late Nights, Friends That Show Up
That we would long for prayer and scripture
Let us be the hands and feet to every soul
In our care and in our influence for you
Let us sit outside under your sky and
BE SATISFIED
Let us walk in the knowledge of the
Sacredness and Purpose of our lives
The Active leading of the Holy Spirit
Love is our Identity
Speech seasoned with salt
A Sisterhood of Grace.
Courage to face our lives as they are right now
Cuz RIGHT NOW Is It
Keep our eyes on Jesus for
Signs of your presence.
Jennie Allen interviews Kristen Armstrong. I have a few notes, but they aren't coherent!
Bianca:
If we are to pursue the call that God has for us, the race we are to run, it's a Yes/And.
We need to recognize our sins. And stop minimizing our place. Let Go in Jesus Name and without doubt Run!
You can't run if you're looking back. Release your mind from lies, Be Transformed. In order to "throw off" the thing that hinders you need to change your thoughts.
It has been said that hurt people, hurt people. But FREE people FREE people!
I want to free others! How?
1) Transforming your mind (Romand 12:1-2, I Corinthians 10:3-5)
2) Think on these things (Philippians 4:8)
3) Put them into practice (Philippians 4:9)
There is a plan for you! There is a purpose for you! Let the ruins come to life!!
Run:
With Endurance
With Patience
With Perseverance
Never Quit!
RUN YOUR RACE!
You need a come to Jesus Moment where you aren't afraid anymore! This is NOT for someone else! This. Is. For. Me! Remember who you are!! Whose you are!
This isn't a sprint its a Marathon! Stand at the starting line and stare the enemy down!
RUN IT DOWN!
What are you afraid of? Humiliation doesn't await you!! Though my enemy surround me - God surrounds my enemy!
Our potential is unlimited because an unlimited God lives in us!!
I love all the running metaphors because I'm a runner. I get it. I can visualize what's being said. Running is soooo mental and "mental". If I've heard it once I'e heard itthe snakiness 100 times…. Why do you run?! Why I wouldn't run unless something was chasing me!
To which I reply, something IS chasing me…. Heart Disease. High Cholesterol. Diabetes. Mental Illness. And metaphorically God. He's got a race bib for me. He's Got My Number! And has numbered every hair on my head. He's not counting them. He.Knows.Them. It's time to lace up and hit the pavement running!! Throw OFF the things that hinder!! Run the race with abandon!
Rebekah Lyons:
I don't know her, never heard of her until today, but her message wrecked me. I have a… not a special needs child but a high needs child. Easily frustrated, lacking communication, not on grade level at school, dyslexic (sorry kiddo, you inherited that), ADD (unmedicated, his decision). Moved from the city to the country where I found God. I'd heard about God, for years. But God Found me in a small town, guess it was easier there? Wasn't raised in church, but around church. Saved as a teen, begged God every day after that to save me. Prone to fears and anxiety. Panic attacks. I too am afraid of mental illness. I have mentally ill family members. People to struggle with addictions. People who need help. People who have left scars. Mental Illness scares me.
She talks about Parker Palmers book Let Your Life Speak.
Is the life I lead the life that longs to live in me? We are supposed to run, but how? How do I live? What do I do?
I chuckle at her Chic Fil A Play Dates and Target Therapy. That's me. Right there. I swear I'm the only one in the room… oh wait, I'm watching at home with my peeps still a sleep I am the only one in the room. It's me and her. And I'm just Wrecked.
She talks about her son Cade being born with complications, how he has Down Sydrome and he's' in the NICU. My son doesn't' have Down Syndrome, but he's born with complication and is in the NICU. She finally gets to see him and says:
He looks at me with his smallness and peaks his eyes open to say:
Are you gonna love me, for me? Not for what I can do? Or what I can accomplish? Or what milestones I can meet so that you think you're a good mom? (did she just say that? yes she did! Oh…. breath out really slowly…. wipe my face, unblur my eyes, thankful for technology I can pause her and listen again…..)
Are you gonna love me, for me? Not for what I can do? Or what I can accomplish? Or what milestones I can meet so you think you're a good mom? (I think there, there you have it, the secret is out, this is how I think. What kind of hoops do I need my kiddo to jump though so I feel better?)
In praying for Cade she asks for him to be whole… a friend confronts her and says maybe your version of Whole and Gods version of Whole look Different. (and I pray every day, after that prayer of salvation, sometimes before it, that God would open my boys mind, help him to learn, rewire his brain so he's successful and has confidence… in other words make him into who I want him to be not who You have created him to be…. I might need to turn Rebecca off….)
Regarding moving to NYC:
I thought I was going to NYC looking for meaning, it turns out I found surrender.
We moved from the city to a small town after I was laid off, in part to start over a bit, and in part so I could become a stay at home mom. It required a lot of down sizing. I thought I moved to the "country" to be the mom I always wanted to be, to go to bible studies like other moms, to go to play dates and socialize. It turns out, I'm not that great of a mom, I was panicked about it. And walking into a bible study was paralyzing. And I went to play dates, but I'm the girl in the corner with the not so socially adapted child. Panic and paralyzing fear became the new normal.
Unlike Rebecca I didn't tell anyone about it. I prayed and prayed to the sky with no change. I put on my pretend face and just kept going.
Regarding her revelation/deliverance:
Sometimes you don't receive your gift, the gift of deliverance until you're interceding for someone else.
Women are gripped in fear. One in four take meds for anxiety (i do not, why? I'm afraid of them).
The root of anxiety is unfulfilled responsibility. You were made for more and you're not doing it!
We fade when we don't know who are are.
When we don't know what He knit in our mothers womb
When we don't know that our frame was NOT hidden from Him.
When we don't know His works are wonderful.
When He knit you, He made you with distinct birth right gifts. And believe me there is enough calling for everyone!
What is your birthright gift? That thing that makes you happy? That thing that annoyed your parents as a child? That thing that comes so naturally to you?
Your calling is nothing more than our talents and burdens combined. Where they collide. Running from your true self prevents you from ever hearing the call.
Burden is informed by the life you life, the family you were born into, the story you've told, by a broken heart.
Calling comes from facing your greatest fear. What is your greatest fear? (really, I have so many, must I pick one over another?) Stop asking for clarity and ask to see things clearly! Because you can be in your calling and be rescued and delivered and still not be Free!
Challenge to write first 40 minutes you're awake… you think the most clear.
Affirmation from the world will not heal a broken heart - only Jesus can do that. When you do what you do for an audience of One it always counts! He makes it new as if it were never broken!
So You're It! You are my holy people whom I Love!
This rescuing and receiving and delivery, it requires responsibility.
It starts with confession. We struggle with freedom because we struggle with healing, because we struggle with confession. Just say it. I don't know why I'm this way help me heal and be free.
Cast off our sin so you can RUN!
(and cue the bawling, Oh Lord, I need this, these ladies, this moment, all of this, yes really Thank You Jesus!)
First Speaker Sarah Bessey, I found her through blog hopping. Following links on Facebook. I found her. I haven't read her book. I just follow her. I like her. I like her philosophy. I agree with it. Yea, I agree the greater of the verses should be Submit One To Another. I also believe in being Submissive to my husband, he is my covering. He's a wonderful husband who allows me to be me and lets me grow. Allows The Lord to soften my heart. He doesn't submit to me, not do we have that kind of relationship. But Submit One To Another, I get it. She's got me listening. Like where Mary was the first person to "preach the gospel" Jennie Allen addressed that they had differences and it was a sweet moment. Women of all ages and theologies and ideas and sizes and Bible Versions are welcome.
Sarah Bessey:
I'm too liberal for the conservatives and too conservative for the liberals and I believe shoes should be comfortable! (everyone laughed)
I'm a Jesus Feminist. I'm a cryer. I still have stars in my eyes about Jesus.
Today is not about to do lists or evangelical heroes. It's about grace.
Turn to Matthew 11, I'll be reading out of The Message for all you biblical scholars! (Laughter)
After hearing Ann speak last night I got up at midnight to change what I wanted to say. Is Jesus Beautiful or Useful to you?
28-30: Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
Learn the unforced rhythm of grace. Walk with Him. Fall in step with the man from Nazareth.
Make your Right Now Life an Alter! Your true being brims over into words and deeds! So. Walk. With. Him.
Is the parable of your life your own belief that you have to earn? Work hard for? Run faster to fill in the gaps? More to-dos? Or are you walking in the unforced rhythms of grace.
God saved you because He Loves You and Delights in You! God doesn't want to use you! He wants to be with you because He Loves You!
EMMANUEL - GOD WITH US!
NOT:
God for us
God using us
God managing us
God working us
God manipulating us
When you are in step with Him, things are different. Jesus calls us friends. Sooo, If: God is Real, Then What?
Let our life be the natural consequence of the Sacred Company we are keeping. Our homes, our churches, our neighborhoods is where our life happens.
Prayer (as much as I could write):
Jesus we want to walk in your ways where ever you lead us.
And draw us into community where we stay - anyway
When toes get stepped on and we'll be hurt
And we forgive and stay - anyway
That we have the guts to follow wherever you lead us
Where there's messy living rooms,
Dirty Dishes, Late Nights, Friends That Show Up
That we would long for prayer and scripture
Let us be the hands and feet to every soul
In our care and in our influence for you
Let us sit outside under your sky and
BE SATISFIED
Let us walk in the knowledge of the
Sacredness and Purpose of our lives
The Active leading of the Holy Spirit
Love is our Identity
Speech seasoned with salt
A Sisterhood of Grace.
Courage to face our lives as they are right now
Cuz RIGHT NOW Is It
Keep our eyes on Jesus for
Signs of your presence.
Jennie Allen interviews Kristen Armstrong. I have a few notes, but they aren't coherent!
Bianca:
If we are to pursue the call that God has for us, the race we are to run, it's a Yes/And.
We need to recognize our sins. And stop minimizing our place. Let Go in Jesus Name and without doubt Run!
You can't run if you're looking back. Release your mind from lies, Be Transformed. In order to "throw off" the thing that hinders you need to change your thoughts.
It has been said that hurt people, hurt people. But FREE people FREE people!
I want to free others! How?
1) Transforming your mind (Romand 12:1-2, I Corinthians 10:3-5)
2) Think on these things (Philippians 4:8)
3) Put them into practice (Philippians 4:9)
There is a plan for you! There is a purpose for you! Let the ruins come to life!!
Run:
With Endurance
With Patience
With Perseverance
Never Quit!
RUN YOUR RACE!
You need a come to Jesus Moment where you aren't afraid anymore! This is NOT for someone else! This. Is. For. Me! Remember who you are!! Whose you are!
This isn't a sprint its a Marathon! Stand at the starting line and stare the enemy down!
RUN IT DOWN!
What are you afraid of? Humiliation doesn't await you!! Though my enemy surround me - God surrounds my enemy!
Our potential is unlimited because an unlimited God lives in us!!
I love all the running metaphors because I'm a runner. I get it. I can visualize what's being said. Running is soooo mental and "mental". If I've heard it once I'e heard it
To which I reply, something IS chasing me…. Heart Disease. High Cholesterol. Diabetes. Mental Illness. And metaphorically God. He's got a race bib for me. He's Got My Number! And has numbered every hair on my head. He's not counting them. He.Knows.Them. It's time to lace up and hit the pavement running!! Throw OFF the things that hinder!! Run the race with abandon!
Rebekah Lyons:
I don't know her, never heard of her until today, but her message wrecked me. I have a… not a special needs child but a high needs child. Easily frustrated, lacking communication, not on grade level at school, dyslexic (sorry kiddo, you inherited that), ADD (unmedicated, his decision). Moved from the city to the country where I found God. I'd heard about God, for years. But God Found me in a small town, guess it was easier there? Wasn't raised in church, but around church. Saved as a teen, begged God every day after that to save me. Prone to fears and anxiety. Panic attacks. I too am afraid of mental illness. I have mentally ill family members. People to struggle with addictions. People who need help. People who have left scars. Mental Illness scares me.
She talks about Parker Palmers book Let Your Life Speak.
Is the life I lead the life that longs to live in me? We are supposed to run, but how? How do I live? What do I do?
I chuckle at her Chic Fil A Play Dates and Target Therapy. That's me. Right there. I swear I'm the only one in the room… oh wait, I'm watching at home with my peeps still a sleep I am the only one in the room. It's me and her. And I'm just Wrecked.
She talks about her son Cade being born with complications, how he has Down Sydrome and he's' in the NICU. My son doesn't' have Down Syndrome, but he's born with complication and is in the NICU. She finally gets to see him and says:
He looks at me with his smallness and peaks his eyes open to say:
Are you gonna love me, for me? Not for what I can do? Or what I can accomplish? Or what milestones I can meet so that you think you're a good mom? (did she just say that? yes she did! Oh…. breath out really slowly…. wipe my face, unblur my eyes, thankful for technology I can pause her and listen again…..)
Are you gonna love me, for me? Not for what I can do? Or what I can accomplish? Or what milestones I can meet so you think you're a good mom? (I think there, there you have it, the secret is out, this is how I think. What kind of hoops do I need my kiddo to jump though so I feel better?)
In praying for Cade she asks for him to be whole… a friend confronts her and says maybe your version of Whole and Gods version of Whole look Different. (and I pray every day, after that prayer of salvation, sometimes before it, that God would open my boys mind, help him to learn, rewire his brain so he's successful and has confidence… in other words make him into who I want him to be not who You have created him to be…. I might need to turn Rebecca off….)
Regarding moving to NYC:
I thought I was going to NYC looking for meaning, it turns out I found surrender.
We moved from the city to a small town after I was laid off, in part to start over a bit, and in part so I could become a stay at home mom. It required a lot of down sizing. I thought I moved to the "country" to be the mom I always wanted to be, to go to bible studies like other moms, to go to play dates and socialize. It turns out, I'm not that great of a mom, I was panicked about it. And walking into a bible study was paralyzing. And I went to play dates, but I'm the girl in the corner with the not so socially adapted child. Panic and paralyzing fear became the new normal.
Unlike Rebecca I didn't tell anyone about it. I prayed and prayed to the sky with no change. I put on my pretend face and just kept going.
Regarding her revelation/deliverance:
Sometimes you don't receive your gift, the gift of deliverance until you're interceding for someone else.
Women are gripped in fear. One in four take meds for anxiety (i do not, why? I'm afraid of them).
The root of anxiety is unfulfilled responsibility. You were made for more and you're not doing it!
We fade when we don't know who are are.
When we don't know what He knit in our mothers womb
When we don't know that our frame was NOT hidden from Him.
When we don't know His works are wonderful.
When He knit you, He made you with distinct birth right gifts. And believe me there is enough calling for everyone!
What is your birthright gift? That thing that makes you happy? That thing that annoyed your parents as a child? That thing that comes so naturally to you?
Your calling is nothing more than our talents and burdens combined. Where they collide. Running from your true self prevents you from ever hearing the call.
Burden is informed by the life you life, the family you were born into, the story you've told, by a broken heart.
Calling comes from facing your greatest fear. What is your greatest fear? (really, I have so many, must I pick one over another?) Stop asking for clarity and ask to see things clearly! Because you can be in your calling and be rescued and delivered and still not be Free!
Challenge to write first 40 minutes you're awake… you think the most clear.
Affirmation from the world will not heal a broken heart - only Jesus can do that. When you do what you do for an audience of One it always counts! He makes it new as if it were never broken!
So You're It! You are my holy people whom I Love!
This rescuing and receiving and delivery, it requires responsibility.
It starts with confession. We struggle with freedom because we struggle with healing, because we struggle with confession. Just say it. I don't know why I'm this way help me heal and be free.
Cast off our sin so you can RUN!
(and cue the bawling, Oh Lord, I need this, these ladies, this moment, all of this, yes really Thank You Jesus!)
The One Where I'm #wrecked after IF:Gathering {Session 1-A}
That was the theme for me this weekend.
Wrecked
Ever since I found Jen Hatmaker through my running buddy Sarah, and found Ann Voskamp though a Jen Hatmaker's comment "I wonder what Ann Voskamp would do?" I ended up spending a lot of time on their blogs, reading their books, reading books and blogs they suggest. Friends I don't know where in the Inter-Web world I've been that I hadn't known about these ladies.
I've read She Reads Truth for a year, I started last year with Fresh Start and I read all year! I formed a bond with the ladies of SRT. Well I formed it with them…. I'm pretty sure they think I'm a stalker! Pretty Sure of that! I email them, I tweet them, I follow them, I like them. If they have a stack of books, I have a stack. Anyway.
Those ladies led me to more resources, resources that tell me You Are Normal. We All Struggle. Some Days Parenting Just Sucks.The.Life.Out.Of.You. Perfection Is Unattainable. Fix Your Eyes On Jesus. Find One Word Instead Of ANew Year To Do List, It Is All Gonna Be Okay. And not in an I'm Okay, You're Okay kind of way, but in a real and authentic way.
I say all of that to day, one day while reading a blog, we'll give Jen Hatmaker credit. I read about IF:Gathering. I see a lot of ladies I admire will be there, ladies I don't know or heard of, and one I held in my arms when she was born.
I read the blog, I longed to be in Austin. Oh don't I always. But totally wanted to be there for this. I only know one person who will be there and well she's speaking. It's too far out to make plans, who knows what will come our way by then. Hope it's really good!
I follow along more and Whaaaaaaatttttt….. A Live Stream!! A. LIVE.STREAM! Put that on my calendar. Talk to my girlfriends. Get ladies together. This will be fun!
As it got closer, I just felt this anticipation come over me. Alysa Bajenaru said it best: "There has been something stirring in me for a few years… I'm tired of comfortable Christianity, frustrated with how my faith is portrayed in social media…. I crave authenticity, messy authenticity….. Real people having real conversations. And I'm not the only one."
Indeed, she's not the only one.
A tweet from her later that day, Strip away that which usually defines me and get to the core of how I really am I have been feeling RESTLESS!! I am ready to be brave, ready to be bold, ready to run the race Jesus has marked out for me. Run the messy race of authentic faith.
DITTO! Ditto to it all!
I'll just write my notes out. Maybe later this week I'll be able to process more of it.
Day One:
Jennie Allen
I was built to run races for God, eyes fixed on Jesus, but I was missing it.
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the Substance!
Jesus says two things:
Repent!
Believe!
Repent, confess, be honest, broken, throw off your sin, don't miss this moment!
We have prayed for a movement of God, that women who are afraid, scared, in bondage, would be set free! That you would run your race. Because this is our time, this is our leg of the race! By Faith!
RUN!
It's okay to be terrified, just obey! Quit with the comparisons and just do what you are called to do! Throw off all the junk and live like God is Real!
My biggest fear is that we would walk away and do a bunch of great stuff. A great movement of God isn't doing a bunch of great stuff. a great movement of God is 10,000 women all around the world on their knees depending and coming to God in brokenness.
By faith, we could be a generate that wasn't fancy, wasn't perfect, but we lived like our God was real!
Get back in the race! We are all human and we are all jacked up, just fix your eyes on Jesus!
Christine Caine:
The wilderness did not denote freedom, but deliverance. It was for freedom that Christ set us free, but many of us settle for deliverance!
It was an eleven day journey to freedom that too FORTY YEARS because of fear, doubt, murmuring, grumbling and complaining! It's time to lay aside the weight and the sins that ensnare us - the unforgivness and jealousy and bitterness and anger. If we set these aside, some of the injustices of the world would be solved overnight!
Redefine your comfort zone, because wherever you go you are with the Great Comforter! Just as he was in the wilderness! A pillar of fire at night, a cloud by day!
You came out of Egypt, but Egypt is still in you. But God want to get Egypt out of your so we can walk into the Promised Land free! Go from Deliverance To Freedom!! The wilderness is where you shake off Egypt!
A generation came out of bondage and slavery. But they died in the desert! That generation is Gone!! You have to have our own "cutting away"
LET US lay aside the weight…
A weight could be anything, it could be good, but holding you back.
An anchor.
A thought.
Culture.
Tradition.
The Weight of:
Opinion
Entitlement
The day after they ate of the promised land, the manna stopped. Because God is doing a new thing! Don't become so used to the systems of God that you don't need Him!! The manna Ceases!! Don't get stuck in the past!
You allow the past to define you like the Gospel isn't True!! When you owe it to the next generation to get free! We either believe in this Gospel or we don't!
The most potent force on the planet is not a missile or the atomic bomb! The most important force on the plant is the Blood of Christ. It sets people free!
Many of us prefer the comfort of victimhood over what it takes to be free!! Time to move on girls, get a new problem!!
God starts with impossible! A Virgin, A Stable, A Cross, A Risen Savior! It's all Crazy, so believe the impossible anyway!
If you want to see the promises of God worked out in your life, then you must believe the truth of God's word over your circumstances. Yet most of us base our lives on the facts, and that's why we never go into the Promised Land, why we never walk in freedom.
Let's build our lives on the truth of God's Word, not the facts of our circumstances.
Sue Davis and Shauna NeiQuist:
Table People
Stop
Gather
This Time Matters
Toast - raise a glass says I see you. You matter.
Prayer - every good thing we have is from God.
Where ever you are BE ALL THERE especially at the dinner table. Acts 2:46 They worshipped together, they ate meals at home, with glad and sincere hearts.
Once a Month IF:Table
6 Women from all walks of life, some you know well, some you don't (you count as 1 so you can 5 other women)
4 Questions about God (see the website….information coming soon)
2 Hours (Present not perfection)
Revival Starts At Home!
Wrecked
Ever since I found Jen Hatmaker through my running buddy Sarah, and found Ann Voskamp though a Jen Hatmaker's comment "I wonder what Ann Voskamp would do?" I ended up spending a lot of time on their blogs, reading their books, reading books and blogs they suggest. Friends I don't know where in the Inter-Web world I've been that I hadn't known about these ladies.
I've read She Reads Truth for a year, I started last year with Fresh Start and I read all year! I formed a bond with the ladies of SRT. Well I formed it with them…. I'm pretty sure they think I'm a stalker! Pretty Sure of that! I email them, I tweet them, I follow them, I like them. If they have a stack of books, I have a stack. Anyway.
Those ladies led me to more resources, resources that tell me You Are Normal. We All Struggle. Some Days Parenting Just Sucks.The.Life.Out.Of.You. Perfection Is Unattainable. Fix Your Eyes On Jesus. Find One Word Instead Of A
I say all of that to day, one day while reading a blog, we'll give Jen Hatmaker credit. I read about IF:Gathering. I see a lot of ladies I admire will be there, ladies I don't know or heard of, and one I held in my arms when she was born.
I read the blog, I longed to be in Austin. Oh don't I always. But totally wanted to be there for this. I only know one person who will be there and well she's speaking. It's too far out to make plans, who knows what will come our way by then. Hope it's really good!
I follow along more and Whaaaaaaatttttt….. A Live Stream!! A. LIVE.STREAM! Put that on my calendar. Talk to my girlfriends. Get ladies together. This will be fun!
As it got closer, I just felt this anticipation come over me. Alysa Bajenaru said it best: "There has been something stirring in me for a few years… I'm tired of comfortable Christianity, frustrated with how my faith is portrayed in social media…. I crave authenticity, messy authenticity….. Real people having real conversations. And I'm not the only one."
Indeed, she's not the only one.
A tweet from her later that day, Strip away that which usually defines me and get to the core of how I really am I have been feeling RESTLESS!! I am ready to be brave, ready to be bold, ready to run the race Jesus has marked out for me. Run the messy race of authentic faith.
DITTO! Ditto to it all!
I'll just write my notes out. Maybe later this week I'll be able to process more of it.
Day One:
Jennie Allen
I was built to run races for God, eyes fixed on Jesus, but I was missing it.
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the Substance!
Jesus says two things:
Repent!
Believe!
Repent, confess, be honest, broken, throw off your sin, don't miss this moment!
We have prayed for a movement of God, that women who are afraid, scared, in bondage, would be set free! That you would run your race. Because this is our time, this is our leg of the race! By Faith!
RUN!
It's okay to be terrified, just obey! Quit with the comparisons and just do what you are called to do! Throw off all the junk and live like God is Real!
My biggest fear is that we would walk away and do a bunch of great stuff. A great movement of God isn't doing a bunch of great stuff. a great movement of God is 10,000 women all around the world on their knees depending and coming to God in brokenness.
By faith, we could be a generate that wasn't fancy, wasn't perfect, but we lived like our God was real!
Get back in the race! We are all human and we are all jacked up, just fix your eyes on Jesus!
Christine Caine:
The wilderness did not denote freedom, but deliverance. It was for freedom that Christ set us free, but many of us settle for deliverance!
It was an eleven day journey to freedom that too FORTY YEARS because of fear, doubt, murmuring, grumbling and complaining! It's time to lay aside the weight and the sins that ensnare us - the unforgivness and jealousy and bitterness and anger. If we set these aside, some of the injustices of the world would be solved overnight!
Redefine your comfort zone, because wherever you go you are with the Great Comforter! Just as he was in the wilderness! A pillar of fire at night, a cloud by day!
You came out of Egypt, but Egypt is still in you. But God want to get Egypt out of your so we can walk into the Promised Land free! Go from Deliverance To Freedom!! The wilderness is where you shake off Egypt!
A generation came out of bondage and slavery. But they died in the desert! That generation is Gone!! You have to have our own "cutting away"
LET US lay aside the weight…
A weight could be anything, it could be good, but holding you back.
An anchor.
A thought.
Culture.
Tradition.
The Weight of:
Opinion
Entitlement
The day after they ate of the promised land, the manna stopped. Because God is doing a new thing! Don't become so used to the systems of God that you don't need Him!! The manna Ceases!! Don't get stuck in the past!
You allow the past to define you like the Gospel isn't True!! When you owe it to the next generation to get free! We either believe in this Gospel or we don't!
The most potent force on the planet is not a missile or the atomic bomb! The most important force on the plant is the Blood of Christ. It sets people free!
Many of us prefer the comfort of victimhood over what it takes to be free!! Time to move on girls, get a new problem!!
God starts with impossible! A Virgin, A Stable, A Cross, A Risen Savior! It's all Crazy, so believe the impossible anyway!
If you want to see the promises of God worked out in your life, then you must believe the truth of God's word over your circumstances. Yet most of us base our lives on the facts, and that's why we never go into the Promised Land, why we never walk in freedom.
Let's build our lives on the truth of God's Word, not the facts of our circumstances.
Sue Davis and Shauna NeiQuist:
Table People
Stop
Gather
This Time Matters
Toast - raise a glass says I see you. You matter.
Prayer - every good thing we have is from God.
Where ever you are BE ALL THERE especially at the dinner table. Acts 2:46 They worshipped together, they ate meals at home, with glad and sincere hearts.
Once a Month IF:Table
6 Women from all walks of life, some you know well, some you don't (you count as 1 so you can 5 other women)
4 Questions about God (see the website….information coming soon)
2 Hours (Present not perfection)
Revival Starts At Home!
Monday, January 6, 2014
The One Where I Don't Push It (or push it real good)
Saturday was the first race of the year! It was dreary and cold. I didn't want to go, but I laid my flat mama out anyway.
I text my friend - made sure we were still on. Went to bed. But not to sleep.
My sister was texting with me, I finally had to tell her I needed to sleep I had to be up early for the race. Yea, it's just a 5K but still I needed to sleep. I've been up late quite a bit over Winter Break.
I got up on time. I got dressed. I made coffee and breakfast. I picked up Holly. I needed to be there a bit early because I forgot to register! Yea, I'm that girl. The one who knows I need to register and then don't thinking I'll have plenty of time.
We got parked, walked to Winfrey Point and made it there just in time for me to register. I got my chip anyway, they ran out of bibs. Holly and I tried to stay warm while looking for other friends. I saw Mimi and Clay.
I knew Shannon was coming but I hadn't found her yet.
It was race time so we headed to the start. And we're off! I felt good. I was happy the wind wasn't whipping off the lake. We were sort of sheltered from it. I've been at races where there was a significant lake effect.
I made it to the one mile mark and decided to unwrap my hand from the jacket, glove, long sleeve situation to look at my garmin. I was running comfortably with a bit of a push. 10.06! Wow. That didn't seem possible.
I kept going. Saw a few runners I knew at the turn around. I slowed down at the water stop, took a few sips and kept going. Not much longer now. I see the familiar bend in the path and know I'm not too far out. Maybe a half a mile. I picked up the pace a bit, but not really pushing it. I didn't want to sprint it out. Just see what a comfortable pace is. Without the obsessing I've done in the past. I wasn't out to PR. Just trust the process of not obsessing on times and paces and foot counts. Just running.
I see the finish and I'm see that I can make my goal for the run, under 33 minutes! I looked at the clock as I crossed 33.03! Gun time! Yay!!
I turn my Garmin off (32:47:51) I found Shannon and waited for Holly. She came in a minute after me. We got some water, walked off the race, went to the club house for some snacks and walked back to the car.
Then Hypnotic Donuts! You can't go to White Rock and not go there! Yum!! A little post race goody. Although I know it's not good for me and it's way more calories than I need. It's only once a month. And I've committed this year to not obsess over the numbers.
I text my friend - made sure we were still on. Went to bed. But not to sleep.
My sister was texting with me, I finally had to tell her I needed to sleep I had to be up early for the race. Yea, it's just a 5K but still I needed to sleep. I've been up late quite a bit over Winter Break.
I got up on time. I got dressed. I made coffee and breakfast. I picked up Holly. I needed to be there a bit early because I forgot to register! Yea, I'm that girl. The one who knows I need to register and then don't thinking I'll have plenty of time.
We got parked, walked to Winfrey Point and made it there just in time for me to register. I got my chip anyway, they ran out of bibs. Holly and I tried to stay warm while looking for other friends. I saw Mimi and Clay.
I knew Shannon was coming but I hadn't found her yet.
It was race time so we headed to the start. And we're off! I felt good. I was happy the wind wasn't whipping off the lake. We were sort of sheltered from it. I've been at races where there was a significant lake effect.
I made it to the one mile mark and decided to unwrap my hand from the jacket, glove, long sleeve situation to look at my garmin. I was running comfortably with a bit of a push. 10.06! Wow. That didn't seem possible.
I kept going. Saw a few runners I knew at the turn around. I slowed down at the water stop, took a few sips and kept going. Not much longer now. I see the familiar bend in the path and know I'm not too far out. Maybe a half a mile. I picked up the pace a bit, but not really pushing it. I didn't want to sprint it out. Just see what a comfortable pace is. Without the obsessing I've done in the past. I wasn't out to PR. Just trust the process of not obsessing on times and paces and foot counts. Just running.
I see the finish and I'm see that I can make my goal for the run, under 33 minutes! I looked at the clock as I crossed 33.03! Gun time! Yay!!
I turn my Garmin off (32:47:51) I found Shannon and waited for Holly. She came in a minute after me. We got some water, walked off the race, went to the club house for some snacks and walked back to the car.
Then Hypnotic Donuts! You can't go to White Rock and not go there! Yum!! A little post race goody. Although I know it's not good for me and it's way more calories than I need. It's only once a month. And I've committed this year to not obsess over the numbers.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
The One Where I Tell You My Plan
Several people have asked me how I lost the weight. What was my plan? What do I do now to maintain?
I began on SparkPeople on 1200 calories a day. With 3 meals and 1-2 snacks. As I was more educated, learned more about what worked for me, I changed a few things up. I lost from 145 pounds to 122. I've fluctuated over the years but I generally hover around 125.
I wanted to up my game though. I didn't want to gain through half marathon training this time. I wanted to get to what I consider a "good race weight" and learn how to fuel my body better. So, I went to see a Sports Dietician. LOVE HER!! Much much love to her. Eve Pearson with Nutriworks CNC (Comprehensive Nutrition Consulting). She got me back on the right track. Back to the basics.
She figured my BMR, took measurements, talked to me about what foods I consume, came up with a plan to reach my goal. Even through the holidays I lost or maintained the loss I had. I encourage everyone to see her. But if you can't here's a few tips I've learned from her.
I found this site to be helpful in figuring your BMR FreeDieting The Calorie Calculator is pretty accurate to the figures Eve helped me with. Use the middle number for Fat Loss. Just ignore the extreme fat loss number, let's be honest, it's restrictive and something you won't keep up with in long term.
So you've got your number. (let's say it's 1500)
Divide it by 4: 375
Divide that by 2: 187
I consume 5 meals a day. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are 375 calories
Mid-Morning and Afternoon Snack are 187
Meals should include a carb, a protein and a (good) fat. Snacks a carb and a fat or a carb and a protein. Don't eat naked carbs!
Use a tracker like SparkPeople or MyFitnessPal for nutrition and exercise.
However, I caution you from getting in the mindset of "I exercised today, so I can have all those calories." You'll only maintain where you are now.
I'm not a fan of cheat days or cheat meals. It's all about choices. Not good or bad. But fuel or non-fuel. How will this effect my run? My digestion? My sleep? This isn't a diet, it's how I live. Eat Sleep Run Repeat!
If you go over your calories, use the top number the Maintenance Number for your goal. For instance a party or special occasion and consider it a maintenance day.
Now for exercise and snacks:
If you exercise for under an hour; you change nothing you stick to your caloric allotment.
If you exercise for over an hour; you add in one additional snack
If you exercise over two hours; you add back all the calories you burned. This includes 2-a-days.
Let's say you went to the gym in the morning worked out for an hour, then in the evening you ran 5-6 miles. You'd consume all your calories burned.
I hope this helps you on your journey!
I wanted to up my game though. I didn't want to gain through half marathon training this time. I wanted to get to what I consider a "good race weight" and learn how to fuel my body better. So, I went to see a Sports Dietician. LOVE HER!! Much much love to her. Eve Pearson with Nutriworks CNC (Comprehensive Nutrition Consulting). She got me back on the right track. Back to the basics.
She figured my BMR, took measurements, talked to me about what foods I consume, came up with a plan to reach my goal. Even through the holidays I lost or maintained the loss I had. I encourage everyone to see her. But if you can't here's a few tips I've learned from her.
I found this site to be helpful in figuring your BMR FreeDieting The Calorie Calculator is pretty accurate to the figures Eve helped me with. Use the middle number for Fat Loss. Just ignore the extreme fat loss number, let's be honest, it's restrictive and something you won't keep up with in long term.
So you've got your number. (let's say it's 1500)
Divide it by 4: 375
Divide that by 2: 187
I consume 5 meals a day. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are 375 calories
Mid-Morning and Afternoon Snack are 187
Meals should include a carb, a protein and a (good) fat. Snacks a carb and a fat or a carb and a protein. Don't eat naked carbs!
Use a tracker like SparkPeople or MyFitnessPal for nutrition and exercise.
However, I caution you from getting in the mindset of "I exercised today, so I can have all those calories." You'll only maintain where you are now.
I'm not a fan of cheat days or cheat meals. It's all about choices. Not good or bad. But fuel or non-fuel. How will this effect my run? My digestion? My sleep? This isn't a diet, it's how I live. Eat Sleep Run Repeat!
If you go over your calories, use the top number the Maintenance Number for your goal. For instance a party or special occasion and consider it a maintenance day.
Now for exercise and snacks:
If you exercise for under an hour; you change nothing you stick to your caloric allotment.
If you exercise for over an hour; you add in one additional snack
If you exercise over two hours; you add back all the calories you burned. This includes 2-a-days.
Let's say you went to the gym in the morning worked out for an hour, then in the evening you ran 5-6 miles. You'd consume all your calories burned.
I hope this helps you on your journey!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The One Where I Stopped Being Scared
My first Long Run of Dallas Rock N Roll Training. It was at this stage of training 3 years ago that I fell and busted my knee. A little closer to March, but I had just run my 8 mile training run..... on the treadmill. Wow, I remember the days when I did all my training on the treadmill because I was too scared to run outside alone.
Scared to fall
Scared of animals
Scared of attackers
Scared of people
Just plain scared.
All my spark peeps had faith in me way before I did. Y'all knew all along that I had this in me! Thank you for your positive force!
Time and many more miles has changed a lot of things....
Sure I'm still scared... and yes I did fall and injure myself seriously. But I keep lacing up and heading out the door to log miles and smiles with my Sole Sisters!
If you aren't part of a running club I encourage you to be a part of
www.momsrunthistown.com
You don't have to be a mom to join, You don't even have to be a runner. There are many walkers in our group. College kids. Women with no children. We ladies from elite runners to beginners.
If you don't have a chapter where you are.... start one! That's what we did!!
The One Where I Stopped Being Scared
My first Long Run of Dallas Rock N Roll Training. It was at this stage of training 3 years ago that I fell and busted my knee. A little closer to March, but I had just run my 8 mile training run..... on the treadmill. Wow, I remember the days when I did all my training on the treadmill because I was too scared to run outside alone.
Scared to fall
Scared of animals
Scared of attackers
Scared of people
Just plain scared.
All my spark peeps had faith in me way before I did. Y'all knew all along that I had this in me! Thank you for your positive force!
Time and many more miles has changed a lot of things....
Sure I'm still scared... and yes I did fall and injure myself seriously. But I keep lacing up and heading out the door to log miles and smiles with my Sole Sisters!
If you aren't part of a running club I encourage you to be a part of
www.momsrunthistown.com
You don't have to be a mom to join, You don't even have to be a runner. There are many walkers in our group. College kids. Women with no children. We ladies from elite runners to beginners.
If you don't have a chapter where you are.... start one! That's what we did!!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
The One Where I Crush Last Years Time
Wow! WOW! WOW!
That's all I know to say.
The day started with the alarm going off at 5:50. I laid out my clothes the night before, so I was ready to roll.
I got up, got dressed, made coffee, put my contacts in. Well I put in my old pair and realized that they were indeed old and I wouldn't get another days use out of them.
Text my friends for my ETA update. Changed my contacts. I'm not the most gracious contact wearer, I drop them, blink them out of my eye while trying to get them in. I normally don't wear them for weekday runs, but on Race Day it's a must! Particularly because I'm driving!
I got my quick breakfast and coffee, laced up and was out the door.
I was picking up a Sole Sister on the way! SO Excited for her!! It was her first DRC Race!! WOOT!
We listened to 80's music on the way, I wore argyle socks to represent my age group. This was an age handicapped race, so the older people got a head start, the younger you are the later your wave started. Our age group was at 8:24
[caption id="attachment_52" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
80's all the way[/caption]
We made it to DRC we met up with some of my running buddies and my older son. We laughed, we chatted, we made future race plans.
We walked down to the start, found our age group and were ready to race! We didn't have to wait long... I think there were 1-2 waves in front of us. We laughed about the way the age groups were divided, because we had 16 year old girls and 11 year old boys in our 40 year old age group as well. Joked about how the 16 year old girls would smoke us.
[caption id="attachment_58" align="aligncenter" width="225"]
Swift Feet!! Great Running Friends![/caption]
In true Running Pfuhl fashion as we started I didn't set my Run Meter! We were about a tenth of a mile in before I realized that. Oh well, I usually run about a tenth over, so this would be a good barometer for me.
I have the run meter set to notify me of my pace every 3 minutes. The first 3 minute notification said I was running sub-10! Wow, that's kinda crazy. I didn't feel winded or like I was going too fast or that I would fade out either. I tried to slow down a bit, but keep a good pace.
I knew my Sole Sister was a little behind me and I know she doesn't run that pace, I didn't want her to fade out either.
The other Sisters I ran with are in a younger age group, kept razzing me that they wouldn't be able to overtake me.... I laughed because she's so much faster than me and I only had a 1 minute head start. Yup Yup less than a half a mile in she passed me! She's an awesome runner!
We made it to the wonky bridge.... this thing may as well be made from rope and planks..... it moves when you run on it. It's the strangest feeling. The first time I ran it I totally lost my umph and slowed down considerably. It messes me up for sure.
I ran when I could on the bridge, slowed down when I felt the Earth Move Under My Feet! I made it to the water stop and was grateful for the drink and to get my bearings from the bridge. Now it was the uphill climb to the turn around.
I'll post last years race blog too, but it is at this point that I start looking for my running buddies and my son to pass me, although they started later! 5 minutes later.
As I climbed the hill to the turn around, I saw a fellow RRC Member. I cheered for her. I saw my other Sister, running strong, we high five as she passes by. I kept looking at the shadows behind me.... Looking for my son. I made it to the turn around and he hadn't passed me yet... wondering if I'd missed him... then I saw him coming up to the turn around as I was going down hill. We smacked hands, said I'll see you at the finish!
A few other buddies passed me, running strong. Before I made it all the way down the hill to the water stop, my son passed me! WOOT! LOVE IT!! He ran a strong race!
Now back over the wonky bridge and pretty much uphill all the way back. Grrrr.... the bridge GOT ME! It was more difficult that I remembered to go up that hill after the bridge. I kept talking myself into running faster, because my average paced had slowed considerably. Although I was CRUSHING last years time.
On the slight downhill sections I'd speed up. And try to keep pace on the uphill. It's only 5 miles but it seemed like forever! I made it to mile four and was psyched to get this race done!
I sped up a bit, trying to keep my average pace to a sub-10. I saw the clubhouse and knew I was close to the end and again tried to pick up the pace more, although I had extra miles to run after the race to stay on track with RNR Half Training.
I ran to the finish, saw my friends and kicked up my pace. I saw the clock and chuckled... it's age handicap! It said 1:14 (and some change) I wasn't expecting that! LOL
Crossed the finish and stopped my Run Meter. I didn't get sub-10, but a major PR nonetheless! 50 minutes 15 seconds! WOW!! Great Race!! Great Day with Good Friends!
My Sole Sister crossed the finish, we got some water, talked to some other runners and headed out for our extra mile! :)
80's all the way[/caption]
We made it to DRC we met up with some of my running buddies and my older son. We laughed, we chatted, we made future race plans.
We walked down to the start, found our age group and were ready to race! We didn't have to wait long... I think there were 1-2 waves in front of us. We laughed about the way the age groups were divided, because we had 16 year old girls and 11 year old boys in our 40 year old age group as well. Joked about how the 16 year old girls would smoke us.
[caption id="attachment_58" align="aligncenter" width="225"]
Swift Feet!! Great Running Friends![/caption]
In true Running Pfuhl fashion as we started I didn't set my Run Meter! We were about a tenth of a mile in before I realized that. Oh well, I usually run about a tenth over, so this would be a good barometer for me.
I have the run meter set to notify me of my pace every 3 minutes. The first 3 minute notification said I was running sub-10! Wow, that's kinda crazy. I didn't feel winded or like I was going too fast or that I would fade out either. I tried to slow down a bit, but keep a good pace.
I knew my Sole Sister was a little behind me and I know she doesn't run that pace, I didn't want her to fade out either.
The other Sisters I ran with are in a younger age group, kept razzing me that they wouldn't be able to overtake me.... I laughed because she's so much faster than me and I only had a 1 minute head start. Yup Yup less than a half a mile in she passed me! She's an awesome runner!
We made it to the wonky bridge.... this thing may as well be made from rope and planks..... it moves when you run on it. It's the strangest feeling. The first time I ran it I totally lost my umph and slowed down considerably. It messes me up for sure.
I ran when I could on the bridge, slowed down when I felt the Earth Move Under My Feet! I made it to the water stop and was grateful for the drink and to get my bearings from the bridge. Now it was the uphill climb to the turn around.
I'll post last years race blog too, but it is at this point that I start looking for my running buddies and my son to pass me, although they started later! 5 minutes later.
As I climbed the hill to the turn around, I saw a fellow RRC Member. I cheered for her. I saw my other Sister, running strong, we high five as she passes by. I kept looking at the shadows behind me.... Looking for my son. I made it to the turn around and he hadn't passed me yet... wondering if I'd missed him... then I saw him coming up to the turn around as I was going down hill. We smacked hands, said I'll see you at the finish!
A few other buddies passed me, running strong. Before I made it all the way down the hill to the water stop, my son passed me! WOOT! LOVE IT!! He ran a strong race!
Now back over the wonky bridge and pretty much uphill all the way back. Grrrr.... the bridge GOT ME! It was more difficult that I remembered to go up that hill after the bridge. I kept talking myself into running faster, because my average paced had slowed considerably. Although I was CRUSHING last years time.
On the slight downhill sections I'd speed up. And try to keep pace on the uphill. It's only 5 miles but it seemed like forever! I made it to mile four and was psyched to get this race done!
I sped up a bit, trying to keep my average pace to a sub-10. I saw the clubhouse and knew I was close to the end and again tried to pick up the pace more, although I had extra miles to run after the race to stay on track with RNR Half Training.
I ran to the finish, saw my friends and kicked up my pace. I saw the clock and chuckled... it's age handicap! It said 1:14 (and some change) I wasn't expecting that! LOL
Crossed the finish and stopped my Run Meter. I didn't get sub-10, but a major PR nonetheless! 50 minutes 15 seconds! WOW!! Great Race!! Great Day with Good Friends!
My Sole Sister crossed the finish, we got some water, talked to some other runners and headed out for our extra mile! :)
Saturday, January 5, 2013
The One Where It's The First Race Of The Year 2013
First race of the year.
I laid out my clothes, shoes, sock, headphones, hat, everything I needed. I looked in my purse to make sure I had gum, headphones, running gloves.
I was meeting some other peeps at the RRC so I went to bed early so I could be ready to get there in time to meet them for my ride.
It was nice to get a ride down to DRC and be with a group. That's a first for me. I was meeting others down there, my son included. But in my years of DRC races, I've generally driven down there alone.
We go there early, hung out, took a few pit stops. It was cold but I was prepared.
I'd purchased winter running pants.... I know right... can you believe I said something like that! I generally spend November - February on the treadmill!
I saw some folks I know. Jerome, David, Shannon and her friends as well. It was nice to see everyone.
My son hadn't arrived yet and we were headed down to the start, so I put his bib back on the table in case he showed up he wouldn't have to hunt me down.
I was sad that I didn't see him.... he wasn't responding to texts, so I didn't call in case he was sleeping. He drives quite a ways to get to the DRC, about an hour.
The race started a little late and we were off!! I tried to hold back.... I try not to take off only to get tired. I was going along ok and was shocked at my pace. But I wasn't huffing and puffing. It was a comfortable pace for me. So I kept going.
Shortly after that I feel a arm on my shoulder.... it's my kiddo!! YAY!! He came!! Late but he came and he ran ahead and said have a great race mom!! OH love that boy of mine!
Shortly after that Jerome and David are asking me if I saw him and asked me how I was doing. I said Great!! Ran with them for a bit and then they weaved their way though the crowd to go on the 10K route.
I made it to the water stop and got water. I needed a drink because although I had gum in my purse, I didn't actually put it in my mouth! LOL
Made it to the turn around, felt great. Sped up. Got some water. And kept on!!
This year there were no delusions about the finish line! Thankfully. And the mile markers were out for the 10K so it was easy to keep up with where I was on the path. :)
At the 6 mile/2.90 mile marker, I kicked it up a bit.... Finished in 31.31!! 10.01/mm!!
One Day Soon I will beat that!! ONE DAY!
I met up with my kiddo his fiancé and my friends. The kids took off after a while and my friends were finishing the 10K. We waited for the results and awards.
Three of my friends received an age group award!!
And my son!! He won 3rd place!! 25.39 was his official time! That's about 4 minutes improvement from last year! WOOT!
My time last year was 36.33 3.22 miles
This year: 31.52 3.18 miles
WOW!! we both improved about 4 minutes!!
Just as a reflection: Here's last years blog
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
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....
Friday, November 16, 2012
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
Sunday, June 17, 2012
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!!)
Thursday, May 31, 2012
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. :)
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. :)
Monday, May 7, 2012
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
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
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