Pushing through

Mike is home and I told him that he had to kick me out of bed to get my run in this morning.  I have been feeling lazy lately so I had to force myself to get out and run.  I'm not gonna lie, it was not my best run feeling wise.

At the start I just hurt.  My legs were sore and it took me a bit longer to get into the run.  Once I settled in I felt pretty good for awhile.  Then my stomach started hurting.  It's been a long long long time since my stomach hurt like that when I ran.  I pushed through and got home.  I cut my run short by about 10 minutes though.  I really wanted to get a longer run in this morning.  I was able to get just over 2 miles, but still I wanted to do more.

I'm just not feeling it this week.  I'm not sure why though.  I just have to keep going and keep running so I can push to reach my goal.  I have 2 months until the zoo run and I want to hit that 30 minute mark.  I think I can do it if I keep up with my training.  I have a race on August 7th and then one on August 28th.  I may run one on September 10th or 11th as well.  Those should be able to tell me where I'm at as far as time.  September 24th is the zoo run and then the 25th is the island run I'm doing.  After that I have the Race for the Cure and the Onkel Hans Thanksgiving run.  That pretty much wraps up my racing season for 2011.  I am doing the Resolution Run on January 1st, but with swimming that's pretty much all I can do through the fall and winter.

This winter I will start training for my first 10k.  I want it to be the zoo run next September.  I may try to do a few 8k runs in there as well.  I'm nervous about this, but I know I will be fine.  I just have to set my little goals and I can do it!  I'll be using 10k101 to help me train.  It's an interval training program that I just have to listen to what it tells me to do and I don't have to think.  It's a Running Mate program so I know it's a great one.

Off to recover from the run and to get some work done.  Tomorrow morning I'll try to get my full run in and I think I may try to get some speed work in as some point.  We'll see how it goes.

Finally got out this week

Monday and Tuesday I was just beat!  I couldn't seem to get out of bed.  I think I really needed the sleep.  Plus I did some work around the house.  Today I finally got out for a very quick run.

Since Mike is out of town James is with his mom this week.  He has had to stay with grandma and grandpa during the day because daycare is also closed.  Last night he stayed with me so I couldn't get up and run early like I love to do.  I delayed my run and that really didn't help my motivation at all.  I love running in the mornings.  I love the peace and quiet. I love counting the rabbits I see along the way.  I love the coolness of the air.  I love everything about running in the early morning.

James got up around 8am and got ready to go.  I decided that since I was fast losing my motivation we would walk to grandma's house.  James wanted to ride his skateboard.  He is still learning to ride and balance on it so riding his skateboard involves me holding his hand and pulling him.  He is getting better at balance though.  I didn't feel him pulling on me as much.  He is also getting the hang of steering and shifting his weight.  It did take awhile to walk there though.

By this time I really only had time for a quick run.  I hate that I had to cut it short.  I have so much to get done today that I really needed to get home.  We have people coming on Saturday and I need to get the house organized and cleaned.  Plus I had to feed the animals.

I did enjoy pushing myself on this run though.  I felt good to get my legs moving even for a short quick run. 

It's also getting hot again.  I'm glad I remembered my Bondi Band!  If you haven't tried these I highly recommend that you do.  I love them!!!!!  Saturday when the humidity was so bad during the race, my Bondi Band kept all the sweat from my eyes and face.  They really rock!!!!  You can get them here http://www.bondiband.com/  Today they once again kept the sweat out of my eyes and face.  I love these things!!!!!!  In fact I am going to order a few more before the end of the summer.

Now I'm off to hit the showers and eat some breakfast.  I'm really busy today so better get started!

Lake Festival Fun

This past weekend we went to Celina, Ohio for their Lake Festival.  We got to see my family. It was a lot of fun.  My neices and nephews were there as well as our friends from Detroit.  We had a blast!  The kids got to play together.  We went to the pool, ran a 5k, rode rides and the kids had a slumber party.  James is already talking about next year.

First stop was the Neil Armstrong Space Museum.  I always liked this little museum and wanted James to see it.  He had a good time.

Then it was off to Celina for more fun and excitement.  The kids played out in the backyard of the villas we stayed in.

Friday evening it was fireworks time!

The next day was the 5k.  After the race we all hit the pool to cool off.

After cooling off, we braved the heat to hit the downtown area.  The kids got to ride rides and James got to use the gift certificate he won at the 5k.

Saturday night was the slumber party.  Although everyone crashed pretty quickly.

Sunday morning it was pizza for breakfast and cartoons.

Then it was time to head home.

It was a fun weekend and like I said before, James is already talking about going back next year.  He loves Lake Festival weekend.

Lake Festival 5k: James' first 5k race

Yesterday James ran his first 5k race.  He was awesome!!!!!!!!!!  It was so hot and humid even at 8 in the morning.  He was a trooper though.  He ran almost the whole thing.  He got stubborn right at the end and didn't want' to run anymore.  I helped him along though.  His time was 52:38.  He wants to run another one.  I am so proud of him!

Our friend Vicky ran with us and it was also her first 5K.  She did an awesome job too!!!!! 

Here are a few pics.

Here we all are before the race.

Lining up at the starting line.

And we're off!

Crossing the finish line.

James won an award for coming the farthest.

Just hanging out after the race.



Dirty Dash Mud Race

Today I ran the Dirty Dash Mud Race and it was awesome!!!!!!!!!!  I had such a great time.  We had to take the before picture first.

I am nice and clean and ready to race.  So here we go!

The race stated out with almost 2k out in the open fields.  Running up and down some rolling hills.  That took me into the woods.  It was so much cooler in there.  I loved it!  I was moving right along when I saw a group of people stopped.  It was the first river crossing.  There were some logs we had to climb and then wade through the water.  They were making us go single file for safety.  It add about 2 extra minutes onto my time, but that's fine.

It was hard to get started after waiting at each river crossing.  I was going along okay and then I came across my arch enemy....the HILL!!!!!  Not only was it steep, but they were making it muddy and slippery with a sprinkler. Ugh...I had to walk it.  After that hill it was a short bit more on the trails and then back out into the open to hit the mud pit!  Here was what that was like!

I had such a good time!  And then Mike had to get the after picture.

I can't wait to do this next year!

Rattelsnake Point Trail Run: My Very First Trail Race

I'm not gonna lie, it was a tough race for me.  I was fine the first 3K, but when I hit the last hill that went straight up...It was a killer.  I really did enjoy it though.  I love the challenge that it presented me.  I love running on trails.  They are so much easier on my knees then the street.  It's so quiet and so peaceful.  The scenery is beautiful.  Of course I didn't get to see much of it because I was watching the trail, but it was pretty.

I started out okay.  I felt good and my pace was nice and easy.  There were a lot of roots and rocks that I had to watch out for.  I hit the 2k mark and felt good.  I was hot, but still moving.  At 3k I was still doing okay.  A bit slower, but moving.  Then the hill hit.  It was straight up with huge rocks and roots.  I knew it was going to be a challenge, but I wanted to do this.  I ran a few steps and decided that for my safety I had better speed walk up it.  A few times I had to stop and move to the very edge of the trail so the first of the 12k runners could pass me.  That was what killed me.  As long as I was moving I felt good.

I got to the top and had nothing left the last 500 meters.  It was out in the open and it was hot and I just could not get my feet to move any faster.  I was trying though.  I really was trying. 

I was happy with my finish and with my time (39:07).  I didn't think it was too bad for my first trail run.  I would love to do another one.  I did enjoy it.

Here is me at the start.

And as I'm coming into the finish.