Great day - 5 mile race, beer, and Bachelorette

OMG I was not ready for that 5-miler today. A - I have not been running much, let alone training for this thing. B - I've put on a few lbs (purposely) from doing more weight-training and of course, not running nearly as much. (to be honest, I look way better than I did before...was a little too skinny). C - I had a couple late nights leading up to the race, so THAT never helps!

This course was hilly, and described as "challenging" on the website. I handled the hills fine actually, it was just by mile 4 that I had some lactate build up and it didn't go away until well after I finished the race. Bottom line, I was not in optimal shape for this, and my legs told me so. They are still feeling like bricks right now. Which is crazy since I've run 1/2 Marathons and had way less of an effect.

Needless to say, I managed 3rd in my age group?! (20-29) I ran so much slower than normal. I typically can run a 40 minute 8K, today was 44:30. Yeah. SO MUCH SLOWER. If only I could have grabbed that first place trophy instead of the third place one, ahhhh well! :-) Seriously, though, I was surprised and super happy about it! What a great treat! Afterwards I hung around for a burger and free beer, shot the breeze with some fellow runners, mozied back to my car and actually stopped in at work to sign someone up for some new personal training. All in all, what a great day! Now, gathering with friends to watch the finale of Bachelorette. Get any better? Nah.

I AM a Runner

New love: Almond Butter. Why didn't any one TELL me it was so GOOD?! Picked some up at Trader Joe's yesterday. Nice for a change, since peanut butter had gotten old to me.

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My new little revelation: I am going to be happy to run shorter distances, and not agonize over feeling pressured to run a marathon or do a 1/2 Ironman. That's right, I said it! What is it with "runners" saying that you're only a true runner if you have run a marathon. That is such a bunch of BS. I have struggled with calling myself a runner or a triathlete because I didn't want those "real" runners or tri'sters to look down on me. Well guess what, I am so over that. If I can run a competitive 5k, 10k, and 1/2 marathon - which I can - than I think I am entitled to call myself a runner, right? Same goes for tri's...I have only done sprints, but those are valid in my mind. Marathons take a lot of time and commitment, and far too many weekly miles for me to even fathom right now. To be honest, I don't FEEL like running 20 miles on my Sunday. I would so rather work out as I please, maybe a nice 6 miler, and then have my day free for other important things (son, husband, friends, other hobbies). Maybe someday I will revisit the idea of completing a marathon, but for now, it's on the wayyyy back burner. And I am okay with that.

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Happiness Journal:

I'm going to take the little guy in the BOB for a 30 minute run BEFORE it gets to be 100 degrees out!
I will write one article today.
I am happy for 2 cups of joe in the AM!

Race Report Woes and Healthy Veggies

Oh man - have had a few tough days here with a teething baby and therefore lack of sleep...but I am here, and I am going to give you the rundown on how the 1/2 went on Saturday. I'll make it bearable, but I do have some b****ing to do about the whole thing.

Sooo, here's the deal. The race has been under a new company for a couple years now, and they have struggled to put on a good race. This race wasn't any better. It had rained the night before (which means downpour in New Mexico...it's the only way it rains here) but turned out to be a beautiful, sunny day. We started late because there seemed to be some confusion on where the start line was. Once we took off, the people in the front all went the wrong way, due to a total lack of markers. So, once the middle of the pack got to the first turn we were all merging together as the front of the pack had turned around and was basically running into us all. There was a 3 foot wide bridge we had to cross over, and so every one was suddenly walking and then at a total standstill as we funneled through the bridge. So obnoxious. Once we got over the bridge people began to disperse and we got going on a massively muddy, rain puddle laden trail for the next three miles. Talk about caking up your shoes, throwing off your gait, and totally ruining new shoes if you had bought them (thankfully, I was in my old pain-inflicting shoes, HA). We looped back the start where it became pavement and went out for a couple more out and backs to complete the next 10 miles. Now, listen...how many out and backs can you really have in a HALF marathon. Really? Really? It was ridiculous. By the time I had kicked off all the mud, dislodged a humungooo rock from my shoes and gotten back into it, I was exhausted! I slowed down massively for the second half of the race, and could not WAIT to finish the race. I practically wanted to give up at mile 8, boooo :-(

Soo...I finished the race and had some major attitude, and was basically in tears. Couldn't tell you why I was so emotional. I was thinking to myself - why do I even bother with this running thing? It's not like I'm super duper fast?! Agghhh. I wanted to just give up on it all! But alas, I got over it and realized I was being a douche, once I factored in all the "issues" of the race. The race actually got a LOT of negative comments on Active - one of which stated that it was really an unfortunate race for those of us who went to race it - 13 miles is a looong way, and people train really hard and make this their "A" race. It was a big let-down for the serious runners.

So, my numbers, which aren't very specific, are as follows:

I ran the first 6 miles at 8:30 pace and felt pretty good, but that declined due to the shenanigans at the beginning of the race. So much so that I finished in 1:56:57...you can figure out the numbers for the latter half of the race, but I clearly slowed wayyy down! After talking with Mike about it, he claimed that we could deduct 3-4 minutes off our times to get what we possibly could have run it in. That made me feel better :-) On a good note, I DID run faster than in Tucson in December, and totally untrained as well! I guess impromptu races don't always work out that well...hmmm...yeah my fault on jumping in with two feet.

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Moving on here - do any of you struggle to find new and tasty foods to eat? Things can get superbly boring when you eat the same things all the time, and actually, you can miss out on much needed nutrients. Now that summer is creeping up on us I am looking for new veggies to cook up. It's fun to cook and eat new things, plus it broadens your dietary awareness. I checked out things I like, and things I don't frequently eat and created a list for you all to try out. From the list below, I want you all to pick one thing that you don't typically eat, and buy it on your next grocery trip. Do the same thing for the following grocery trip. Which foods are you going to try? I'll tell you what I tried out on my next post.

Artichokes - only have 60 calories per one medium artichoke, and hold 25% of your daily fiber and vitamin C. Plus they are fun to eat. Steam them for 30-45 minutes.

Radishes - contain antioxidants that are cancer fighters, as well as vitamin C. Slice them up in salads, pastas.

Arugula - one cup is 4 calories, and 28% of your daily Vitamin K. Good in salads, mixed with other greens, or in soups.

Beets - High in potassium and magnesium. Goood in just about anything - I just eat them as sides.

Mustard greens - Have beta carotene and phytochemicals (help combat cancer). I would just mix these into salads.

Fennel - It's a crunchy white bulb that is a good alternate to onions. Works as an inflammatory (good for runners, of course) that can relieve cramping and stomach spasms.

1/2 Mary tomorrow - glass of wine tonight! YES!

Wow. I am alone. Like, in the house with NO child and NO husband. And I am doing NOTHING. Just got home from work and decided not to have a workout today due to the 1/2 tomorrow and my knees hurting this past week. It's not often I can sit on my bed and just jerk around with no pressing matters (errr...what...is it sad that laundry is sometimes a "pressing" matter? Whatever). This is GREAT - doing nothing that is! I think what makes it even grrrrreater is that it's only for a short period of time so I just relish in it even more. It's funny how the busier you are, the more things you are able squeeze in due to mad time management skills, I mean look at me - I am totally squeezing in quality "me" time right now. HAHA. And...to entertain myself I am displaying a picture of my guns above for you all to see. I know - so totally jacked (harr harr).

Anywayyyyy, so I have the 1/2 tomorrow and I am not properly trained. Meh. We will see how it goes. I am thinking I will start out at a comfortable pace (9:30 or so?) and then settle into a more "uncomfortable but manageable pace" after a few miles. And what is that pace? I'm not even sure, to be honest, but I am thinking somewhere around 8:45? That is a 100% wild guess. I have never been a real numbers person, and I never really predict race times and rely on pace goals...I don't even wear a watch. I just go by how I feel. It has worked in the past. So who knows what an "uncomfortable but manageable pace" will actually feel like. I will def let you all know in the race report! Who knows how this will pan out.

Oh. And I am running in my nasty ratty old shoes that give me apparent knee issues. Ugh. Not like I had time to run out and spring on new shoes...that will have to happen at a later date. Boy I hope my joints get through this intact!

On a whole different issue - I taught kindergarten today. They were AWFUL! Some classes are good, but mannnn this class was bad! AGH! I left feeling drained and like a needed a glass of wine! (which I remedied...) I can deal with one 5 year old, but 19?! Made me appreciate my little Logey man - check out this pic of him below. Fell asleep like this...and somehow managed to get his pants off before doing so...

Have a great weekend all - I'll check in on things after my race!

Sunday is for relaxing, and long runs? Uhhh...

Hey all. So, this is a nice Sunday morning. Had the usual wake-ups last night what with Logan rolling onto his belly and getting stuck, and then needing to eat around 2:30am...then Mike's alarm blairing at 5am and waking ALL of us up. He's really got to figure something else out...or at least turn that thing down. So, Mike got up and went for a 20 mile run and I am just hanging out here! It's cold out there; he must be miserable! AAAND it even snowed a little bit last night, yeyyy! Love it.

I started some Christmas decorating already, but I don't think it's too early because it will be here before we know it! We have a busy December: a trip to Tucson, a trip to Vegas, and a trip back east for the holidays. AGGH. So much. Maybe I can finagle my way out of one of them? I wanted to be rested and relaxed for the trip home but that might not happen...oh well. Tucson is the 1/2 marathon for me and marathon for Mike. I'm really dragging in my training. It's just so boring to run for longer than an hour by yourself, ya know? I could do speed work any day as it is variable and quicker than a long run...those long runs kill me with boredom...which is why I have been slacking on them. I really need to get a few more of them in before the race. The thing is, I know I can run the 13.1 just fine. And not at a bad pace either. At this point, though, I am not in good enough shape to get anywhere near my PR (1:47), so even if I really push it in my training I will only take off a couple seconds, maybe. Basically, I am just doing this to get in shape and finish the race etc etc. I don't have the base down to run much faster. Maybe in the spring I'll be ready to try and close in on that PR. We'll see.


New necklace above is at my shop. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34536938 (something is wrong with my link thing? Hmm I don't know.)

Have a great Sunday :-)

This and That and Running and Pouting

Hahahaha, I am a terrible mother. I actually waited for him to get uber pissed off so that I could take this picture. When he gets mad, he has a true pout. It's hilarious. Apparently he gets the lips from yours truly. Hmmm, I tried to show off my lower lip, can you see the resemblance? Hahaha.
So, I ran the 8.7 miles on Saturday and it was pretty good. I had track last night (actually, we are working on trails right now...) and that went alright. I get super discouraged because I just can't run that FAST! And I am breathing like I am ready to DIE at the end! We did 4 times around a .7 hilly loop...with an easy "cycle-like" run for the first .5, and then all out the last .2. Needless to say, I skipped the second loop, only completing three. I went out too hard the first time around, and not being very warmed up caused me to just fizzle out at the end. Booo. I think we should warm up more in the beginning because the actual workout ends up not being as advantageous as it should be. Perhaps I'm different than others, but it takes me a good mile or more to feel somewhat warmed up. Kinda sucks for others who don't feel like running a lot, but oh well.

Today I think I might set the bike up on the trainer and sit on that for a bit while baby sleeps (or cries or makes noise or whatever), and then 9AM tomorrow I'm going for an hour run with a couple ladies. Nice slow pace :-) I have to bring LM along in the BOB, so a slow pace will work out nicely.

Oh, and hope you all had a great Labor Day wknd. Mike and a couple friends ran the NM half, I was the designated cheering sqaud as usual. He did a 1:30, which is actually the fastest he's done out here in NM. Damn lack of air.

I have a hiccuping baby

Napping with mom - is this really comfy?

My baby seems to hiccup a lot. Is this normal? It's like he is drunk off breast milk. I call him the "boob catcher", as he is always searching around opening his mouth, sucking his tongue...trying to find a boob ANYWHERE! There MUST be one out there somewhere! LOL. He is wriggling around in his boppy chair as we speak.

Boy do I hope this weight comes off fast. I lost about 20 lbs so far...15 when I got home and another 5 this past week. Now I am just left with a jelly belly. It goes down every day, but I know it will take work to get back to normal. I am hesitant to start any running, though. I want to make sure everything is healing well etc etc. Logan and I went for a walk/jog the other day, and it went alright. My lungs are obviously totally out of shape. My abs are also non-existent, which is a really odd feeling for me because mine were always pretty strong and defined. It's all soft now. WEIRD.

Mike and I are planning on a race in December in Tucson. He'll do the full marathon and I'll do the 1/2. So, that gives me five months from when Logan was born to get to where I want to be. I think I'll be able to do it. I probably won't start training for it for a bit, and just ease into it when I do. It'll be a nice "come-back" race for me hopefully! Finishing will be all that matters, this won't be for time. Granted-I have a hard time NOT racing for time, so we'll see. Mike is going to try and qualify for Boston again so we can head back there for the race next April. Boston, being THE marathon to run, has always been so accessible to us! It has been literally in our backyard and been able to watch the runners, so not being there the past couple years has been strange. I know he'll qualify easily because he is speedy :-)

Okay, enough for today, I'll bop back in eventually!