Best. Race. Ever.

It was freezing. 32 degrees when we arrived this morning at 7am. 32 degrees in Florida mind you. We had to arrive early to try to get shirts for my cross country team because they ran out on Friday. So we got shirts, chilled (literally) in the van for awhile and then waited for my runners to arrive. I had 10 kids out there today, which makes it fun.

It’s an out and back course along the river, so as I’m still running the first half, my cross country kids are coming back – it’s nice to have someone to cheer and wave at. I saw my son early on – I knew he was doing amazing. And he was – my 13 yo rockstar ran it in 23:11! So proud of him.

I plodded along at my normal turtle-like pace, but I felt good. My knees didn’t hurt at all from Thursday’s fall and the cold breeze actually felt good on my scratched up palms. The river was gorgeous and there were tons of runners this morning. It was a 5K and a 10K, so as I was finishing my 5K, bunches of 10K runners were coming in. It was actually kind of neat to be passed by the cool kids.

When I rounded the corner to the finish line I saw my son, waiting for me and cheering, “Go Mom!” And then (I type this with tears in my eyes – it meant that much to me) he ran alongside me for the last 50 yards.

So I finished with my best time ever – 40:49! I’m so close to that under 40 minute 5K I can taste it. And I think my son gets to do anything he wants to do today. He’s that awesome.

Scrapes and Scratches

So yesterday I set out to run 4 miles. I wanted to run every step of four miles. And I was ready. I had some water (just in case), I had my iPhone with good tunes, and I had my Inferno pepper spray (my husband insists). For 3.5 miles it was a very good run.

But then I stopped. Not by choice. Because of this little bugger.

They are actually all over the bike trail where I run. It’s a very lovely wooded rails-to-trails kind of thing. But I hit this one with the outside of my left foot in just the wrong and way and boom! Down I went.

It was one of those slow motion moments where time just kind of stood still as I fell slowly through space. After I landed I laid there for a minute to suss out the damage. My hands hurt. But that was it. So I got up. I walked about 100 yards, testing out my knees and feet. One hand was bleeding a bit, but really two scraped up palms were the extent of my injuries. I resigned myself to walk the remaining half mile or so back to the van.

But then I got mad. This had ruined my perfect run! Ruined it! I had a goal and now it was shot. So I started running again. And I thought that if I ran past my marker about 100 yards it would still be 4 miles if not 4 continuous miles. But I got to the van and I just kept running. I felt good and I refused to stop.

When all was said and done I ran 4.5 miles and walked another 1/2 mile back to the van. As I stretched out I felt kind of invincible. I fell down but I got up and kept running. And really that’s what life is all about, right?

Cursed.

Sometimes I feel like when I put my goals out here in the ether it curses me. The 17 week thing did not work out. Shortly after I made that plan the short sale on our house finally was approved. This process had been going on since July! We closed on the house on the 21st of October, and then I had a bajillion volunteer things to do and we didn’t actually get to move in til the first week of November. So I’ve been busy. As usual.

Cross country is going well for the kids though. My son did his best time ever in a 5K last night with a time of 23:42. I am so proud of him. My time was not a PR. I ran a 44:23. But I ran it. I didn’t walk it. I didn’t interval it. There was no walking. I’m not sure how this happened.

Most of my running lately has been using the timer and doing 3 minute run/2 minute walk intervals. It’s not been consistent. At all. But last night I missed the first buzzer on my timer because it was so crowded and noisy. So I thought I would keep running. And I just kept running. The buzzer would go off, which gave me a rough idea of how many minutes I had been going, but I never felt like I had to stop. And towards the end when I felt tired, I pushed on because I wanted to be able to say I ran the whole thing.

I tried to really push it at the end, but my calves did not agree with that idea. But I felt good and strong. And then I realized that this is only the 2nd time that I’ve run an entire 5K. And it wasn’t that hard. Sure I was slow, but I just kept going. Which is confusing, because it seems like last night was easier than the run/walk stuff I’ve been doing to “train”.

I probably shouldn’t share this, but I’ve set a new goal. A half marathon in February is just not doable. But a 15K in March? That I think I can manage. I have a 12-week training plan and after last night’s run I’m feeling really strong. I’ve printed out the program and I’m going to write all my workouts on the big family calendar so they are there – for me to see in black and white.

Wish me luck!

17 weeks

So I am *loving* my new little Jeff Galloway run-walk interval timer. It’s awesome. It is so freeing not constantly looking at my watch to see if I am done yet. So very freeing. I just run. And the running intervals are always over sooner than I expect them to be. Which is awesome. I did 2.5 miles this morning in 35 minutes – 18 running and 17 walking. And I still kept up a 14-minute per mile pace. I just know I will get faster as I keep practicing with this.

So I was looking at the Galloway site and he has a very low-key half-marathon training plan. Which lasts for exactly 17 weeks – if you don’t count the follow-up weeks. And guess how many weeks it is to the Donna Deegan half marathon – the one that’s run at the same time as the Breast Cancer Marathon? Yep, it is exactly 17 weeks.

I took that as a sign. I started my training this morning. I adjusted it slightly so that I can run all but one of the Cross Country races we have scheduled. That being the Breast Cancer 5K the day before my half-marathon. Yep, gonna skip that one! I will just go and cheer for our kids.

I will however be running the Komen 5K this Saturday. I was going to skip it because I have so many races scheduled over the next 3 months, but this morning I found out that someone I love very, very much has been diagnosed with breast cancer. And she’s far away and I feel so helpless, but I really have to do something. And running this race is something I can do. I’m trying to put together at least $100 in donations to run in her honor, so if you’d like to donate you can visit my racing page.

On saying no.

I am horrible at saying no. Just awful. That is why volunteer way too much at school and church. Way too much. But last night I said no. There was an event that no one had volunteered to chair. And I just could not do it. I’m already way overextended as it is.

I also said no to something else. I’m not going to walk another 3-Day. There. I said it. I guess I might change my mind at some point in the future. But right now I don’t want to. The fundraising was really, really overwhelming. I felt like it took over my life for six months. And there were things about the walk itself that I was really disappointed in. Mostly logistical things.

My teammates from 2010 are starting to plan on walking in 2012. But I am not. When push comes to shove I have other goals. And training and fundraising for a 3-Day is like a full-time job. For at least 3 months if not 6 months or more. I think I might get some other women from church to go down and do a cheer station for them though. That would be fun.

Speaking of other goals. Yeah. I haven’t been doing well at all. Cross Country is going good though. We are having a bake sale on Friday to raise funds for technical shirts for the kids. I’m excited about getting back to racing myself.

But I really have to buckle down on the weight loss thing. The truth is I will not be getting much faster (if at all) until I knock off some of these extra pounds. To help me with my run/walk program I ordered the little timer thingie from the Jeff Galloway site. I’ll give a review once I receive it.

And I *have* to get my eating under control. I have so much going on right now and I feel awful and tired and I realize that it’s because I am eating crap. Must eat good stuff to feel good. So I’m off to write a grocery list!

Goals.

Well this summer was not great for me – for running or for weight loss. The heat and the smoke from the forest fires kept me indoors too often. And it seems that when I don’t start the day with a run or some other exercise, I have a lot of trouble staying on track with my eating. So I’ve gained back a few pounds and my running has suffered. But now I have motivation.

This is funny.

So I need to lose a *ton* of weight, right? And my very best 5K was not even under 40 minutes. So guess who is the cross country coach for my son’s school? Yeah, that’s right, go ahead and laugh. My whole plan is that if they can beat me in tryouts they make the team.

I’ve come up with a schedule for practices and races, and I’m actually kind of excited about it. But I really need to get back on track with my running. Because come next May there will be a sports banquet. And while I don’t mind being a rubenesque running coach, I don’t want to look ridiculous standing up there.

Up, up, up

Some days running is a definite upper. I get up, I run, and the rest of the day is just gravy. I’ve done it, I’ve succeeded, and everything that follows after the run is just easier and better.

Today is not one of those days.

This morning’s run was not too bad. I only did two miles, and the humidity has let up a bit. But both of my favorite shirts were dirty and I just felt off. The rest of the day has followed suit. Suit? Is that right? Is that one of those sayings where the word is something else other than what I’ve always thought?

I digress. As usual.

I just feel so meh. And I’ve got deadline work to do and laundry to fold, and what I really want to do is crawl back into bed. No rest for the wicked though.