I have really been sucking it up at my blogging. So much for keeping you people that actually want to hear about my life up to date.
This year actually wasn't so bad. I am very blessed, this I know.
To name a few events of the year:
My baby niece Cora was born, my family has become closer through hardships, new friends were made, and I ran my first half marathon.
I have dreams and aspirations for my life, and to be honest my life isn't where I thought it would be at this age. It's been good though, and I know I shouldn't want more but that's my human heart I guess.
I know I am so blessed with my health, a healthy family and love. I see people in my line of work that are just broken. People are dying every day, some with no family by their side, and some with an abundance of family members filling the halls. That's a part of the job, heck, it's part of life.
I had a hope of running a full marathon in the year 2012. After my half marathon experience, I thought it would be possible. However due to my hip issue, I don't think it's going to be possible. I've researched and researched, and have diagnosed myself with piriformis syndrome. Not a lot can be done with it, you just have to do a lot of strengthening, stretching, massage and sometimes chiropractic adjustments. I hope to one day be able to do a full marathon, but this piriformis syndrome takes a loooong time to restore itself. Taking it slow, shortening my runs, and doing tons of strengthening is in the cards for me for now. As long as I can keep running some, it's better than not at all. I never thought I would say that about running.
Running has saved me from myself. Running isn't for some people, but I truly love it. Some days it's hard to get up and do it, I will admit. Most days it's a needed relief. Popping on my headphones, listening to music, letting the endorphins flow, and thinking about nothing... it's the best.
I am ready for 2012.
I'm not planning on doing any New Year's Resolutions. I just want to be happy and I want everyone that I love to be happy. I want the world to be at peace, and I want people to be kind to one another. I want lies to stop, and truths to be told. I want people to stop hurting and using one another for selfish gain.
Only in a perfect world. A girl can dream, can't she?
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Route 66 Half Marathon
Once again I'm slacking when it comes to blogging. I just wanted to give a summary of my very first half marathon.
Let me rewind back to January 2011. I had decided that I was going to train for a 5k in March 2011. I was not a runner, I could not run more than 5 minutes without almost dying. I didn't follow a couch to 5k plan, I just built up my level of comfortability when it came to running until I could run 20 minutes straight, then 30 minutes... you get the point. I would have conversations with my friend Stacy about how I didn't think I could do it, that there was NO way I could run a 5k race. I'm naturally athletic, but I'm not naturally a runner. I'm not a fast runner, and I probably will never get below a 10 minute mile in a race but I'm okay with that.
I ran a few 5k races over the course of 5 months or so, then I ran a couple of 10k races here and there. In June 2011, I decided I wanted to train and run my first half marathon in November. 13.1 miles. This girl who started out almost passing out after running 2 minutes, is going to try to run a half marathon? I must have gone insane.
The summer months were hard to train, in which I rarely ran since I DESPISE the treadmill. I did some long runs, my highest being 11 miles. It's funny that I now see 3 -6 miles as "short and easy runs".
The Route 66 Half Marathon in Tulsa started out as a cold and windy morning, and it ended that way.
My friend Stacy and I stayed at a hotel in Tulsa the night before, and maybe slept for 2 good hours, if that. Stacy is a natural runner, and she is faster than I am and probably ever will be.
There were so many people there racing, and a lot of supporters along the road. Total strangers cheering on other strangers as they ran. Some of my favorite signs I saw were, "Be a honey badger, Don't give a S&*#" "Run complete stranger that I don't know, Run" and at the end "You're almost there" with a sign beside it that said, "That's what she said"
The first 6 miles were pretty hilly, and I have to say that I am never prepared for hills. Mainly because I rarely train on them. I've learned my lesson though, I have to get over my hill phobia. The last 7 miles were pretty much a straight, flat way. After mile 9 or so, you had a straight, VERY cold wind coming at you. In my experience, between mile 10 and mile 11 was the longest mile of my life. My legs could not go any faster, my hips were getting incredibly tight, and my energy was depleting.
I took some Clif Shotbloks along the way and drank Gatorade every now and then.
I ended up finishing in 2 hours 32 minutes and 40 seconds. It was a 13.3 mile course, which ends up being an 11:29 pace. I am pleased with that considering I didn't train for 2 weeks prior due to life. My goal was to finish and now I have a PR to build off of.
I have a marathon relay coming up in December at White Rock Marathon in Dallas.
I plan on running the half marathon in Ardmore and the half marathon for the OKC Memorial.
I have a goal to run a marathon in 2012. I never thought I'd want to, and I never thought I'd say those words. I may be crazy, but why not I say, why not?!
Let me rewind back to January 2011. I had decided that I was going to train for a 5k in March 2011. I was not a runner, I could not run more than 5 minutes without almost dying. I didn't follow a couch to 5k plan, I just built up my level of comfortability when it came to running until I could run 20 minutes straight, then 30 minutes... you get the point. I would have conversations with my friend Stacy about how I didn't think I could do it, that there was NO way I could run a 5k race. I'm naturally athletic, but I'm not naturally a runner. I'm not a fast runner, and I probably will never get below a 10 minute mile in a race but I'm okay with that.
I ran a few 5k races over the course of 5 months or so, then I ran a couple of 10k races here and there. In June 2011, I decided I wanted to train and run my first half marathon in November. 13.1 miles. This girl who started out almost passing out after running 2 minutes, is going to try to run a half marathon? I must have gone insane.
The summer months were hard to train, in which I rarely ran since I DESPISE the treadmill. I did some long runs, my highest being 11 miles. It's funny that I now see 3 -6 miles as "short and easy runs".
The Route 66 Half Marathon in Tulsa started out as a cold and windy morning, and it ended that way.
My friend Stacy and I stayed at a hotel in Tulsa the night before, and maybe slept for 2 good hours, if that. Stacy is a natural runner, and she is faster than I am and probably ever will be.
There were so many people there racing, and a lot of supporters along the road. Total strangers cheering on other strangers as they ran. Some of my favorite signs I saw were, "Be a honey badger, Don't give a S&*#" "Run complete stranger that I don't know, Run" and at the end "You're almost there" with a sign beside it that said, "That's what she said"
The first 6 miles were pretty hilly, and I have to say that I am never prepared for hills. Mainly because I rarely train on them. I've learned my lesson though, I have to get over my hill phobia. The last 7 miles were pretty much a straight, flat way. After mile 9 or so, you had a straight, VERY cold wind coming at you. In my experience, between mile 10 and mile 11 was the longest mile of my life. My legs could not go any faster, my hips were getting incredibly tight, and my energy was depleting.
I took some Clif Shotbloks along the way and drank Gatorade every now and then.
I ended up finishing in 2 hours 32 minutes and 40 seconds. It was a 13.3 mile course, which ends up being an 11:29 pace. I am pleased with that considering I didn't train for 2 weeks prior due to life. My goal was to finish and now I have a PR to build off of.
Right before we faced the cold weather.
All the people behind us that were racing.
Me and Stacy at the end. 13.1 finishers!
I have a marathon relay coming up in December at White Rock Marathon in Dallas.
I plan on running the half marathon in Ardmore and the half marathon for the OKC Memorial.
I have a goal to run a marathon in 2012. I never thought I'd want to, and I never thought I'd say those words. I may be crazy, but why not I say, why not?!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Warrior Dash Tulsa 2011
I had a request to blog about my experience at the Warrior Dash in Tulsa, and I thought that was a great idea. Especially in a year when I look back and try to remember exactly what I thought.
This was the first year that Oklahoma had a Warrior Dash, so I was pretty pumped to participate in it.
Let me start off by saying that I WAAAAY underestimated how hard it was going to be and that I am NOT in as good of shape as I thought.
They donate your shoes at the end if you want so they encourage you to wear your older shoes. (Big mistake on my part, and I'll show you why later.)
I ran the Warrior Dash with two of my best friends Stacy & David. They are in way better shape, so they left me and had a much better time. I ended up finishing around 55 minutes.
I'm okay with that because I didn't do it for time, I did it just to finish. Also, next year I will be able to go under that time.
I went into this thinking, "Oh, I'm a runner, I don't really need to train for this too hard." Yeah. Right.
It started off pretty good until about the 3/4 of a mile into it when it basically went into a straight up hill trail run with tons of little ditches, holes, rocks and what not.
The obstacles included:
-jumping over walls then going under bars x 4
-stepping in tires and jumping over cars X 3
-running through tires
-climbing up a straight wall with tiny bars to step on that were very far apart and a little wall (they had those a couple of times through the course.)
-climbing on nets flat
-climbing over a net wall which was SOOOO high that I had a miniature panic attack about plunging to my death.
-leaping into an ice cold river and having to roll over logs X 3 (apparently a lot of people peed in it..I found this out later),
- Climbing up multiple taaalll talll walls and worrying about falling and dying. (Yes, I'm a bit dramatic)
- Running down a straight downward trail hill, trying not to go too fast so that you run in a ditch and fall and roll to your death.
- Jumping over more walls.
-Crawling under barbed wire and nets
- Jumping and crawling in a mud pit
- Jumping over fire.
I'm sure there are more but that's all I can remember.
It was probably the hardest thing I've done physically, yet it was sooo much fun.
I wanted to die while doing it, but I felt so accomplished afterward.
If you know me well, you know I have basically no upper body strength.
That I was able to do those obstacles and climb up straight hills made me really proud and pumped up!
So obviously this is going to be a yearly thing!
Here are some photos from our little adventure:
This was the first year that Oklahoma had a Warrior Dash, so I was pretty pumped to participate in it.
Let me start off by saying that I WAAAAY underestimated how hard it was going to be and that I am NOT in as good of shape as I thought.
They donate your shoes at the end if you want so they encourage you to wear your older shoes. (Big mistake on my part, and I'll show you why later.)
I ran the Warrior Dash with two of my best friends Stacy & David. They are in way better shape, so they left me and had a much better time. I ended up finishing around 55 minutes.
I'm okay with that because I didn't do it for time, I did it just to finish. Also, next year I will be able to go under that time.
I went into this thinking, "Oh, I'm a runner, I don't really need to train for this too hard." Yeah. Right.
It started off pretty good until about the 3/4 of a mile into it when it basically went into a straight up hill trail run with tons of little ditches, holes, rocks and what not.
The obstacles included:
-jumping over walls then going under bars x 4
-stepping in tires and jumping over cars X 3
-running through tires
-climbing up a straight wall with tiny bars to step on that were very far apart and a little wall (they had those a couple of times through the course.)
-climbing on nets flat
-climbing over a net wall which was SOOOO high that I had a miniature panic attack about plunging to my death.
-leaping into an ice cold river and having to roll over logs X 3 (apparently a lot of people peed in it..I found this out later),
- Climbing up multiple taaalll talll walls and worrying about falling and dying. (Yes, I'm a bit dramatic)
- Running down a straight downward trail hill, trying not to go too fast so that you run in a ditch and fall and roll to your death.
- Jumping over more walls.
-Crawling under barbed wire and nets
- Jumping and crawling in a mud pit
- Jumping over fire.
I'm sure there are more but that's all I can remember.
It was probably the hardest thing I've done physically, yet it was sooo much fun.
I wanted to die while doing it, but I felt so accomplished afterward.
If you know me well, you know I have basically no upper body strength.
That I was able to do those obstacles and climb up straight hills made me really proud and pumped up!
So obviously this is going to be a yearly thing!
Here are some photos from our little adventure:
Stacy, David, and I after
Me & Stacy
David & I
Me and my mud boogers
Next day. My bruised & cut legs (If you can see them)
...ANNNND this is why you do not wear old, too small running shoes in a race like this.
Notice the blisters on the left (sorry my feet are disgusting)
I encourage everyone to do this race at least once in your life! You won't regret it! (Well you might at the time you are running it, but afterward it's great!) :)
My friend Sherrie found a video somebody had posted using their camera helmet. It's long but you can fast forward through parts if you are interested to see what kind of obstacles there were. Obviously this guy did it way faster than I did, and it doesn't truly capture how hard it really was.)
Love.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
busy business.
I have become a slacker again. That's okay.
I have a week and 4 days off from work, but I have so much to catch up on I feel like it's going to go by fast. I originally planned to go on a vacation but that didn't pan out. I'm bitter happy that it worked out this way.
I'm in the process of finding a house to rent so my little Dexter boy will have a yard to play in and I can hopefully get another dog for him to keep him company.
My running has not been as good as I would like. With the weather being 100+ degrees everyday, the only time I can effectively run is early in the morning. There are two problems with that; one being that I'm NOT a morning person, and the second is that when I am up that early it's because I just finished a 12 hour shift and I'm pretty exhausted. I'm hoping to still do the half marathon in September, but if not then the Route 66 Half is definitely on!
I have started rowing with my hospital's corporate rowing team. My friend has done it for a few years now and she loves it. It's a really good workout and you use your legs and back more than I thought. I'm excited to really get into it... although there is a tiny part of me that fears I may be like this lady:
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
thighs.
I really don't like my thighs. I'm sure I'm not the only woman who doesn't like their thighs, but they are really annoying.
As a runner, and I guess I can consider myself a runner, they are inconvenient.
In the summertime in Oklahoma it is hot. 105 degrees hot.
Mind you, I don't run in that heat, but in the morning and late evening it doesn't usually get really cool.
I would enjoy running in shorts, however no matter how much I work out and how much I try to eat well, I cannot get rid of the tops of my thighs touching.
Maybe this is TMI?
It's very uncomfortable running for a long distance in the heat and the tops of my thighs are rubbing together. No matter how much body glide I put on (the exercise stuff, not the sexual stuff), it only helps for a mile then it wears off.
I've actually considered liposuction. I know it's extreme, but for now I've decided against it.
Mainly because I'm too scared I'm going to develop some kind of blood clot or never wake up from anesthesia.
Also because you have to wear compression hoses for about a month and a half and I'm not about to wear those in this heat.
They say you can't spot reduce, but if anyone has any ideas... let me know.
Ahhhh the curse of being a lady. ;-)
As a runner, and I guess I can consider myself a runner, they are inconvenient.
In the summertime in Oklahoma it is hot. 105 degrees hot.
Mind you, I don't run in that heat, but in the morning and late evening it doesn't usually get really cool.
I would enjoy running in shorts, however no matter how much I work out and how much I try to eat well, I cannot get rid of the tops of my thighs touching.
Maybe this is TMI?
It's very uncomfortable running for a long distance in the heat and the tops of my thighs are rubbing together. No matter how much body glide I put on (the exercise stuff, not the sexual stuff), it only helps for a mile then it wears off.
I've actually considered liposuction. I know it's extreme, but for now I've decided against it.
Mainly because I'm too scared I'm going to develop some kind of blood clot or never wake up from anesthesia.
Also because you have to wear compression hoses for about a month and a half and I'm not about to wear those in this heat.
They say you can't spot reduce, but if anyone has any ideas... let me know.
Ahhhh the curse of being a lady. ;-)
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Running and Thunder Games
So who has two thumbs and is a complete blogging slacker? This girl.
I ran my first 5k in Ardmore. There were a ton of hills, which threw me off because I always run on very little incline at the Lake.
However, I finished in 32:01!
My next 5k is the Red Bud Classic on April 10, then I am running the YWCA 5k on April 16.
I am running the Memorial Marathon Relay on May 1st with a team from the hospital, and I am the 10k leg. Eek!
Harden & Durant
Half-Time
KD shooting a free throw
WUSSSEELLL WESTBWOOK!
I ran my first 5k in Ardmore. There were a ton of hills, which threw me off because I always run on very little incline at the Lake.
However, I finished in 32:01!
My next 5k is the Red Bud Classic on April 10, then I am running the YWCA 5k on April 16.
I am running the Memorial Marathon Relay on May 1st with a team from the hospital, and I am the 10k leg. Eek!
Me & Jodi after our race.
I also went to the OKC Thunder v. Jazz game and had pretty good seats.
I have a NBA crush on Kevin Durant. haha.
Harden & Durant
Half-Time
KD shooting a free throw
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Weight. Running. Shoes.
I was at Red Coyote Running Store yesterday to get a pair of really good running shoes. I've been training for a 5k in March and I also plan to run in the Memorial Day Marathon with my work. I'm not running a marathon, I'll just be running in the relay probably the 5k leg, maybe the 10k?
I needed to find some running shoes that were perfect for me.
This place is awesome, they have you run or walk on a treadmill and they video tape your feet. They look at your gait to see what areas of your foot that need support.
I had a wonderful guy help me, and he was very patient as I tried on a billion shoes and couldn't seem to tie my laces correctly.
This should probably be for my "Friday Faves and Flops" review, but there is more to this story.
I ended up getting these shoes (in blue stripes), they are so light and great!
http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/product-detail/product.jsp?id=KSS409&sc=CX10M075&cm_mmc=portal-_-googlebase-_-na-_-rrs206-KSS409
As I was sitting there this other customer is talking to another customer that he knows. There is a larger girl in there and he makes the comment to his friend, "She's getting running shoes? Gotta lose weight for the new year." Then they laughed.
People are so insensitive sometimes. So what if that's what she is doing? At least she's trying to better herself as a person, which they should try to better their attitudes. As someone who has struggled with her weight starting at 12 years old, it's not something that is easily fixed. I've gone over countless diets throughout the years, binge diets, fad diets, weight loss pills, etc... Obsessively hovering over the scale and pinching areas of yourself you wish you could take off. You can do it for so long, but it doesn't really ever change the source inside you that makes you eat and overindulge. As of now, I'm just sticking to eating healthier and working out toward a goal that I made for myself. If I lose weight in the process, that would be great.
Who knows if that girl in the running shoe store will lose weight? Maybe this is the beginning of a life changing year for her and she doesn't need people knocking her down.
I once had a friend that said that "fat people disgusted her".. that watching The Biggest Loser made her want to vomit. She would say, "just stop eating so much! Eat a salad!" I asked her if I gained weight, would she still be friends with me? She told me that it depended on how much weight I gained, 250 lbs would be her limit. This is in all seriousness, and I was very hurt by this, when she knew how much I struggled with eating better and getting in shape.
This friend was diagnosed with depression, and was being treated for it. I never mentioned it to her, but I probably should have... People that have problems with eating are no better or worse than you and your depression. It is a mental/emotional problem that we deal with, just like you do.
She never understood it, she claimed to be so open-minded, but was very ignorant when it came to that subject. To make a comparison, I wish I would've told her that there is a certain level at which she was depressed that I would stop being her friend. (Which I wouldn't have done, we parted ways due to other matters.)
Regardless, I wish that more people would just be loving and supportive instead of sitting in judgment to things you have no idea about. You have no idea what has gone in that person's life.
1 Peter 8-11
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
I needed to find some running shoes that were perfect for me.
This place is awesome, they have you run or walk on a treadmill and they video tape your feet. They look at your gait to see what areas of your foot that need support.
I had a wonderful guy help me, and he was very patient as I tried on a billion shoes and couldn't seem to tie my laces correctly.
This should probably be for my "Friday Faves and Flops" review, but there is more to this story.
I ended up getting these shoes (in blue stripes), they are so light and great!
http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/product-detail/product.jsp?id=KSS409&sc=CX10M075&cm_mmc=portal-_-googlebase-_-na-_-rrs206-KSS409
As I was sitting there this other customer is talking to another customer that he knows. There is a larger girl in there and he makes the comment to his friend, "She's getting running shoes? Gotta lose weight for the new year." Then they laughed.
People are so insensitive sometimes. So what if that's what she is doing? At least she's trying to better herself as a person, which they should try to better their attitudes. As someone who has struggled with her weight starting at 12 years old, it's not something that is easily fixed. I've gone over countless diets throughout the years, binge diets, fad diets, weight loss pills, etc... Obsessively hovering over the scale and pinching areas of yourself you wish you could take off. You can do it for so long, but it doesn't really ever change the source inside you that makes you eat and overindulge. As of now, I'm just sticking to eating healthier and working out toward a goal that I made for myself. If I lose weight in the process, that would be great.
Who knows if that girl in the running shoe store will lose weight? Maybe this is the beginning of a life changing year for her and she doesn't need people knocking her down.
I once had a friend that said that "fat people disgusted her".. that watching The Biggest Loser made her want to vomit. She would say, "just stop eating so much! Eat a salad!" I asked her if I gained weight, would she still be friends with me? She told me that it depended on how much weight I gained, 250 lbs would be her limit. This is in all seriousness, and I was very hurt by this, when she knew how much I struggled with eating better and getting in shape.
This friend was diagnosed with depression, and was being treated for it. I never mentioned it to her, but I probably should have... People that have problems with eating are no better or worse than you and your depression. It is a mental/emotional problem that we deal with, just like you do.
She never understood it, she claimed to be so open-minded, but was very ignorant when it came to that subject. To make a comparison, I wish I would've told her that there is a certain level at which she was depressed that I would stop being her friend. (Which I wouldn't have done, we parted ways due to other matters.)
Regardless, I wish that more people would just be loving and supportive instead of sitting in judgment to things you have no idea about. You have no idea what has gone in that person's life.
1 Peter 8-11
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
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