The One Where I Jump To Conclusions

I have come to the conclusion that I'm not built like a runner. I'm just not. 

I don't have long legs. 
I'm not paper thin. 
I could easily get a black-eye from running if it weren't for the "support" of two sports bras....one being a size too small to keep the 38 D's DOWN! 
I'm not tall. 
I run slow. 
I have curves - I'm a hippy chic. 

I'm not built like a runner. But I run. 

I have bio-mechanical issues with my non-runner body. 
I over pronate. 
I get super tight if I run more than 6 miles a week. 
I have small feet. 
I have a wide toe-box 
I have a narrow heel. 
Not a narrow foot. 
More like a foot shaped like a V 

I'm not built like a runner. But I run. 

I didn't know any of these things about myself when I started running. I just ran. I had aches and pains, but I see that has a challenge. And I run. I've learned a lot about what I can do and what I can't do. 

Without running being my full time job, I'll probably never run 13.1 or 26.2....walk maybe, but run, probably not. And that's OK. 

Since school let out I have joined a few friends to "run the bridge" MWF. The bridge is 4 miles. Some days I can run the whole way (as in have the time) other days I don't so I run as far as I can. I like running the bridge. I don't like getting up at 4:45. It's summer I want to sleep! 

My plan has been to do Galloway Training. And as plans go....well I haven't stuck to it and I am sore and tight. I get into a zone, I think I "can" run the bridge....so I "should" run the bridge. Instead of sticking to my plan, which would NOT include a 4 mile run 3-4 times a week. 

And I'm paying for it with my non-runners body. I'm sore and I'm tight. From my feet to my shoulders!!! Instep, Heel, Achilles, Ankle, Calf, Knee, (this idiotic) IT band, Hip, Shoulder. 

Yes it's very true I'm not built like a runner. And it's OK. And I'm still gonna run. These mammaries and short legs and small feet aren't gonna keep me from running. 

I didn't run Friday so Saturday I HAD to run. I needed to run 4.5 miles but ran 5. I had to stop a few times to tape up, to re-tie my shoes, to make adjustments. But honestly it was a good run!! I was sore, but a good sore. 

Monday though, I couldn't run. I walked but running was out of the question. My achilles/ankle hurt, to the point if I ran it would "run up" my leg to my knee. Yup Running was out. That's OK. I walked. 

Tuesday I did a BodyRock/GISG Workout. I went to Target, yes I know, not the bastion of running gear, but still I got a gel arch support and heel slip. I love my zip ties but I took them out and re-laced my shoes. My shoes were snug....tighter in all the right places, but I was able to move my toes!! YAY! But I couldn't run, I'm still sore. 

I think the issue is my shoes.....er.... my feet!! They are good shoes, but my feet are so......weird.....freakishly small (5.5-6) and squarishly V shaped that my feet move in my shoe, my heel slips, my arch is probably hitting in a different spot each time my foot lands. 

I don't want to get more shoes.....I have a PILE of running shoes at this point. So if I have to get more shoes....I am debating on getting Vibrams in hopes that they will at least FIT my feet. It seems that on amount of overpronation stability is helping my feet, so why bother, honestly. 

As long as I'm gonna spend a ba-jillion more bucks on yet more shoes, I may as well try something else. 

Whatever it is, I'm going to get to the bottom of it. Y'all know me!! 

I 
WILL 
NOT 
QUIT! 

This body that isn't a running body. 
These feet that are freakishly small. 
These aches and pains. 

They are challenges to be overcome. 
Mountains to be climbed. 
Hurdles to jump. 

And I will overcome, climb, jump and R U N!!

The One Where The Earth Moves Under My Feet

But the sky didn't tumble down. No it was a hot one yesterday!! 

The alarm went off at 5:30 and I hopped up and got ready. Had my coffee, made me a shake and gathered my things. 

Water 
Coffee 
Sunscreen 
IcyHot 
Knee Brace 

You know the essentials. 

I set the GPS to the race location and I was off!! At 6:30 it was already 75 degrees out! It was gonna be a hot day! 

I text to Alex (my oldest) and Jerome (my Dallas Team Leader) that I was on my way. I got down to the race site and parking was a mess!! I found a spot though and headed up to find Jerome. Alex was still on his way, but it was still early. 

As it ended up he got there with plenty of time to spare! YAY!! I picked up his number and his chip timer when I arrived and we were ready to go! 

I was so excited to see him, it had been a while! He's training for www.4deserts.comthis was his first race of the year! I got to run with my son! So so exciting! 

I was a bit nervous because I hadn't been able to run much, I didn't log many miles in May and this was my longest distance race to date. I've run four miles before, but not at White Rock. I didn't know the course or what to expect. 

Because I hadn't run much I set my pace at 14.30, hoping to beat it, but happy to stay there if need be. 

The gun sounded and we were off!! WOO HOO!! We ran at about a 9mm pace for the first 1/2 mile I said to Alex this is too fast we'd better slow down I don't know what's up ahead on this course. So we settled into an sub11 - 11mm pace. We finally came up to a water stop and I was seriously needing water. We continued on at an 11mm pace until the bridge! Oh Meh Gah 

Ummmm..... this thing is like trying to run away from an earthquake!! You have NO idea where you're foot will end up on your next step! Up or Down!! This this is wobbling all over the place, like a hammock!! Oh but it's concrete! And a big batch of craziness, about a tenth of a mile beyond the bridge is the turn around and then the it's up hill for quite a ways. 

This is where I nearly fell apart. I was still feeling off from the bridge and now I have to run uphill. And the water stop isn't for another mile. 

I had to take a few walk breaks just to get over the wobbling feeling! We carried on but at a slower pace. I wanted to go faster but I wanted to have the energy to finish so I slowed down considerably. sub 13 - 13mm. 

Alex was telling me to remember everything I'd taught him....breath normal, correct my posture and form. He was right I was practically bent over, not wonder my feet hurt. Plus I still don't have these zip laces correct. My foot was going numb, either from the tape or the laces. So with every step my foot on the up step would 'wake up' and on the down step 'go numb' quite the weird sensation. 

We made it to the water stop and I was feeling like I could carry on! 

We rounded the corner with 1/2 a mile to go and I was tired and we were on a slope that was very strange to run on. We had to maneuver our way around that and get to the end. 

Alex asked if I wanted to sprint to the end. I told him I could go a bit faster but I couldn't sprint. Mainly because my foot was numb!! At this point nearly completely numb! I was concerned I'd fall down! 

We finished!! Chip time 50:07!! Woo Hooo!!! Better than the hour I though it would take! We got some water and started looking for my friends. We found Jr Miller from The Ticket (a local sport radio broadcaster), Alex got his picture taken with him and we went inside for the results. 

I got a banana and we had an icee pop, ya know the tube kind. Ahhhhh it was super refreshing!! 

I found Jerome and his buddy Chris, I didn't see Amy but she said she left right after she finished. I saw her running though!! :D 

We headed back to the car and then home. It was 88 degrees at 9:30 on my way home! No wonder I was so hot and thirsty!! 

My next DRC race is a 10K July 2. I plan on running the 66 bridge quite a bit and also a training run out at White Rock, so I can conquer that bridge a few times before the race. My plan right now is to walk on it (during the race) if I can't get out there to train on it. 

I will definitely bring water. Probably my liter bottle. I generally drink 24 oz of water when I run 3-4 miles at home on the treadmill, so I'm gonna need more than what the DRC provided yesterday, for sure. Thankfully there was one water stop though!! 

Thankfully there were awesome volunteers!! :D 

I am sore today, but not as sore as I though I'd be. I iced down when I got home, my knees, my foot that was numb. Took a shower and went out for my grocery haul for the week! I love the look of a fridge stuffed with veggies!! 

Next thing to purchase is a fuel belt. Cuz I'll need something to keep me going on longer runs for sure. 

Now it's time to get ready for church; Hope y'all have a fabulous Sunday!! :D

The One Where We've Been Married 12 Years

-EEEWWWW!!! 

I've got my glasses I'm out the door I'm gonna hit something!! 

This SI joint back pain this is beginning to get to me! I was in a lot of pain Friday and we had the kiddos field day. We made it thru!! 

Our job of the day was the 3-legged race. We had fun and it was a good workout. I probably did 300 squats! I had a subway veggie sandwich for lunch, but definitely not enough water. I haven't had enough water in 2-3 days. Friday and Saturday for sure. I'll have to try to make up for it today. But we're packing to go camping and not a lot of access to a nearby potty. I'll be back on track next week, for sure. 

Yesterday was our 12th anniversary, with the kiddo already at the campsite, hubby and I found a place in Dallas to eat. It's a yummy organic, gluten free place!! And it was oh so good!! 

I had smoked salmon with creamy cauliflower mash and wilted spinach. Followed up with coffee and chocolate cake cheesecake. :D 

I've done really well at staying in range. I did a good workout Thursday. I'm hoping there will be a good place to run at the camp site, we'll see. Otherwise I'll try to get the guys out again to ride bikes Tuesday or Wednesday. Plus get my ST sets done. I can feel the fluff coming on! Can't let that happen. 

Here are a few pix of my meals lately and our bike ride the other day! Since I don't know how to name them they will be in no particular order and I'll have to go back and edit. 


Dinner I think Wednesday night 
 
Hubby - we're headed out on our after dinner bike ride 
 
kiddo - don't take my picture mom!! 
 
REALLY! STOP! 
 
Veggie Taco Lunch 
 
Ezekiel Bread with Raspberries 
 
Morning Liquid 
 
Check out line!! #12 on our 12th anniversary! 
 
DINNER!! Smoked salmon...melt in your mouth good!! Creamy Cauliflower Mash with Wilted Spinach!! So So Sooooo Good!! 
 
Allowed a bit of sugar for this special occasion, this is gluten free chocolate cake with cheesecake filling, chocolate icing and white chocolate shavings! 
 

The One Where I Cook Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients:

1 Yellow Onion

1 T Olive Oil.5-1 Pound Chicken Tenders (cubed)

1 C Chicken Broth1/2 C Milk2 C Mixed Vegetables, Frozen
1 Can Health Valley Cream of Chicken Soup*
1 Can Health Valley Cream of Mushroom Soup*
.5 C Flour
1 Tbsp Poultry Seasoning
1 Tbsp Paprika
1 Tsp Garlic Salt

2-3 Sprigs Fresh Thyme

1-2 Bay Leaves

1 Can 8 Count Grands Biscuits (or make biscuit recipe listed in notes)

Directions:

In a large stock pot heat olive oil and add diced onion, sweat the onion and add chicken, cook until almost done; then add the next 6 ingredients, bring to a boil and then let simmer while you prepare the biscuits.

In a bowl or plate (I prefer a plate) mix together the flour and seasonings. Coat the biscuits in the flour mixture. Bring the soup back up to boiling. Pinch off dumpling sized portions and drop them into the soup. Be careful for "overboil" during this process, add as many dumplings as desired, turn the heat down to prevent overboil and allow the dumplings to cook for the recommended time on the package/recipe. (Grands 13 minutes/Recipe 10-13 minutes)

For thicker stock 1-2 Tbsp of the flour seasoning mixture to make a Roux and add to the soup.

Serve and Enjoy!

The One Where I Run The Hot Chocolate Race

I picked My #1 Donut up around 7AM and then headed out for our Addison Adventure. It was cold and rainy and hard to see and I got lost a couple of times but we MADE it there!!

Found the race site and then found our Spark Peeps!! Jerome, Amy, Nancy, Andrea, Lynette, Michelene,Susie, Donut, Laurie (?), a few others who's name escapes me at the moment.

We dropped all our stuff off with Susie AKA Donut and found our place at the start. I was gonna run with Lynette.....well for as long as I could!

Around the 1/2 mile mark my right shoe came untied and I had to stop, I lost Lynette from there but kept going. The first few miles with her though I was running a 9mm!! And it didn't feel too fast or like I was gonna pass out! But after I stopped to tie my shoe I was a bit slower. Down to my normal 11mm pace. I made it over the first hill and was feeling good! No pain no need to adjust. I felt good!! YAY!

I got down the hill at a bit of a quicker pace and could hear the cheers of the lady who was there with her own police detail! She'd already made it to the turn around!

I made it to the turn around in about 18-19 minutes and I was feeling good! Then the that darned hill was in my face again! I told myself "Commit to the hill!" And I would count off 10-20 seconds and then look up to see how far I had to go! LOL Just how much more commitment would this take!

After that is was GRAVY! Cuz the turn to the home stretch was next! I did experience a bit of chaffing. I forgot to wear a t-shirt instead of sleeveless, but other than that, I felt great!

I'm sore, but not in pain. YAY!!!!

I finished by the RunKeeper 35.17 by the official time 35.50. Because Susie Donut, let me race with her bib, all the stats are under her name. Hmmmmmm....just looked up the stats. There aren't any for the bib number. Odd.

In my age group I would have finished 30th out of 65! WOOT!! But under her age group I was 38/75!! COOL!

Lynette/Susie found me at the finish and we waited for the others! :D We met back up inside, got out hot chocolate and ate yummy donuts that Susie made for our fabulous Spark Team!!

We hung out. We took Pictures. We had a great time!! Can't wait for next month!!

The One Where I Make a 2011 Race Plan

Jan 15th - Hot Chocolate 5K DONE!! 35:17 Not a PR, but the same time as 11.2010

Feb 5th - DRC 5K
March 27th - Rock -n- Roll HM - maybe...BIG Maybe...I'm thinking about the relay though
or April 2 - DRC 5 Mile Run
June 4th - DRC Bloomin 4 Mile
July 2nd - DRC Independence 10K
August 6th - DRC Cross Country Relay
September 3rd - DRC 5 Mile Breakfast Bash
October 1st - DRC The Loop 15K
November 5th - Husky Run Run
December 4th - White Rock Half Marathon 13.1

Starting off with Spark Your Way to a 10K Training. My goal is to get to a sub-11 pace this year. I'm not trying to set any land speed records! LOL

The One Where I Tell You To Get Off The Hook!

There were a few mentions yesterday about some sparkers who feel at times they can't take the trash out, how it builds up and makes it hard for them to move around.

I've had that experience. I know how that feels. So much piled up, so much junk, garbage, and clutter. I didn't have the Cleavers for parents. I've been overwhelmed by the piles and the crud.

I read a book about health and nutrition. And while I don't agree completely with the authors "style" of health and nutrition, I was able to "eat the meat and spit out the bones" per se.

There is an exercise he mentions about forgiveness. Hold on!! I know what you're thinking.....breath in and out for a moment. Forgiveness isn't about letting someone off the hook. It isn't about lack of accountability or responsibility. Its about hook availability!

When we fail to forgive we are on the hook. We are holding on for dear life. We hold onto yesterday, three days ago, 5 years ago, 13 years ago, 35 years ago. If we're holding onto the hook then surely we're holding then responsible. Right? That would be the logic in that.

Let me tell you something, the hook means you're being eaten for dinner, friends! The only person who is being eaten (alive) is you! The other person is carrying on with their life having no thought about what they have done. (trust me on this one.....i could write a book of stories)

Holding onto the past is like drinking poison in hopes that it will kill your enemy! It doesn't kill them.....it only kills you. With poor health, depression, emotional eating......just fill in the blank. My blank was drinking and generally a destructive life. Who was I hurting? Not the offenders, that's for sure!

ANYWAY! Back to the hook. When you get off the hook, you allow for hook availability. Whether you see it materialize in your lifetime or not, the hook is available now for others. You stop being dinner. You stop being in a tug of war with the hook. You stop being in the holding pattern.

This Forgiveness Exercise was very helpful for me in leaving the past where it belongs.

****NOTE**** If you are offended by "religion" by the terms like prayer or God, etc. I encourage you to stop reading now.






Forgiveness Exercise
From Walk Thru The Bible Ministries

Instructions:
Step 1: Take a sheet of paper and write down the name of the person you need to forgive at the top. (one person per paper)

Step 2: Write down the things that person did to cause you pain. I can tell you from experience that once you start remembering those things, your emotions will start to rise to the surface, but that’s okay. That’s just a sign you haven’t forgiven them yet.

Step 3: Once your list is complete, you need to look at each person’s name and say “I forgive you for…..,” and say out loud what they did to hurt you.

Step 4: Then ask God to cleanse you of your past unforgiveness, bitterness and/or resentment. By the time you’ve reached this step, you’ll be heading down the road to recovery. After you’ve completed your list, you should cut up the paper or burn it.


Its not a cure-all. Its just a resource that has helped me thru alot of junk. I had junk my friends. Now I'm down to a managable pile of clutter, but its getting smaller. Occassionally I have to go thru this exercise again, I generally burn mine. Its more ceremonial to me. I watch the paper burn, mourn the loss of that event, that relationship, that crutch I was using to hold me back. And I move on.

On another "religious" type of note: CS Lewis said something incredible well he said alot of incredible things, but this one stuck with me a long time ago.

Anything that's not dead in your life can't be raised up!

Have a super Tuesday!! :D