Fabulous 5

I am so thankful for 5 miles! 5 miles is a great distance. Doesn't take long. Doesn't hurt. Just enough to work your lungs and muscles. Not so much that you have little to give. You can push a little harder. Go a little faster. You can feel fabulous at the end.

After my 10 on Sunday, I admit, I was a little leery about getting out there again this morning. My knees hurt after Sunday. My hips were aching after Sunday. Would I be able to find my groove. Would I be off again??

Oh, but those fabulous 5! It was raining just a bit. It was a wonderful 48 degrees. Warm enough to not feel cold. Cold enough to not be too warm. Running next to an amazing friend. It. Was. Fabulous.

Each mile was a little faster than last weeks. Each breath felt better than Sunday's. Each step felt amazing. Truly, amazing. As my feet hit the ground, as I felt my muscles working in my legs, as I took each breath. I was thankful. Thankful to be out there. Thankful to feel good. Thankful to run.

Refreshed.

I'm no longer scared of what lies ahead when I face some crazy hills this weekend. I'll embrace it. Hope to be able to find my groove. And be thankful that I even get to be there in the 1st place.

So very thankful for this mornings fabulous and refreshing and invigorating 5!

Ouch!

I had 10 to do today. Just 10. Truly, after 12 felt so great last time (minus crashing after) I thought 10 would be just fine. No problem...

Ouch!

I started armed and ready to go. I-pod positioned just right on my arm so as to not cause more sores? Check!! Hydration pack filled with H2O, hammer gel, my phone and i.d.? Check!! Garmin? Check!!

Then I started running. It felt a little awkward having my water on my backside. I had to push that thing down on my hips throughout my run. Bit annoying, but figured it was better to have water and be slightly annoyed that no water and completely dehydrated.

Besides the pack, I just felt off. I could not get my groove. I kept trying, but just could not find it. I tried looking around, soaking in the scenery, the beautiful fields filled with cows, Mt. Hood in the background, trying to enjoy my therapy... then came the smell of not so sweet cow manure, and bugs in my face. But, I was running, I tried to focus on the positive.

By mile 5, I was thrilled to be able to turn around. I was digging in and pushing hard. I took hammer gel around 5.5 and forced myself to swallow. Not so refreshing on a hot run! I pushed. I plodded. Several times I thought about walking.

With 2 miles left, I really wanted to pick it up. I tried. And I couldn't. I could not make my legs go any faster. It was as if someone had poured sand in my legs. They would not listen. They would not move.

I hit 10 and walked it out. And, Oh. My. Word!! My brain was working overtime to make my legs work!!

As I was stretching, I was telling my friend my times. She asked if I was disappointed... nope. Just happy to have gotten through!

I'm slightly terrified about next week. Worried about the hills. Worried that I will not be able to do it. All this time, I've known that I could. Never had a doubt. Now, I'm doubting. I'm wondering if others have felt the same...

Here are my times for today...

9:01
9:29
9:37
9:37
9:34
9:52
9:49
9:59
10:15
10:16

On the bright side, I did not feel like curling up in a ball when I got home. This, I will celebrate! And, truly, I am so thankful to have been able to run 10 today. Truly. It was just a bit daunting knowing that I've got some serious hills to contend with next weekend when I race my first half!

Note To Self...

AKA rookie mistake #3...

When signing up for your very first 1/2 marathon, make sure to not take the course description too literally.

Make sure to REALLY take a look at the map.

I mean REALLY!!

If you don't, you may end up signing up for a half that talks of rolling and gradual uphills...

Which, doesn't sound too harmless, right?

But, what you'll get is some CRAZY big hill around mile 5.

With the only benefit being that it's pretty,

And eventually, after the gradually rolling hills, you'll get to go downhill.

As my wonderful friend pointed out,

At least it will make the next one look easy and give me a great PR!

Thanks wonderful friend!

Six

The first time I ran 6 my heart was pounding and my stomach fluttering. I was to run it with my wonderful and encouraging friend. I was a little intimidated. After all, she could run those 6 in 48 minutes. I was running averages of 10's.

We took off and to my surprise I was fine until mile 5 and then I had to stop chatting and dig in. We had about 1/4 mile to go and she told me what we had left if I wanted to get in under 10's. She put herself a little ahead of me and I pushed hard!

Gasping, running up that last hill, feeling like I was crawling, we did it! Under 10's!

So excited, the next weekend, I did it again. This time by myself. Again, under 10's. 58 minutes to be exact.

When I ran my 12 a couple weeks ago, I ran on that same trail. I was amazed to look down after the first six and see 56:00. Then, even more amazed when I ran the second half faster!

Last weekend, my amazing and encouraging friend joined me again. Music in our ears, no talking this time, just pushing to see what I could do. Hoping to go a little faster for her. To get closer to her 8's.

It was funny. We run completely opposite. She starts fast and finishes slower. I start slow and kick it up a notch at the end. Around mile 3 she looked back and asked if I was okay... just a bit tired. She had worn me out! I pushed on and as I looked down at my sweet friend on my wrist, I saw just 1.5 left. Kicking into gear I started going faster. And faster. And by the time we had 1/4 mile left, she was behind me. Truly, I was waiting for her to pass me!

Racing to the end I looked down to see our time. 52:37! Holy crap! Breaking it down...

8:39
8:42
8:47
8:49
9:05
8:18!!

I was amazed that 9:05 was my slowest mile. I was equally amazed that 8:18 was my fastest. To see that we averaged at 8:43 was a bit insane. To think about how much faster I've gotten since our first 6 is crazy.

All this being done with 3, sometimes 4 runs a week. I haven't even worked on my time. My Tuesday/Thursday runs are with my dear friend. They are simply to run. Yes, they are getting faster, but that is just happening. Today I was so excited to be able to tell my friend...

My friend who just wanted to be able to run the entire time during her first 5K.

My friend who ran it averaging, I think, 10:47.

My friend who runs at 6 in the morning and doesn't even love it.

That she ran 5 miles in 48:14.

9:56
9:54
9:42
9:50
8:49!!

And all this done with no music. Just the 2 of us. Starting the run with a therapeutic hug. Having fluffy and deep conversations. Cherishing our time out there. Feeling so much better when we were done. Looking at the sky as we headed home. Seeing God's fingers reaching down. Her commenting that they were reaching down to our dear friends home as they cherish each day with their son. It was a great run. Therapeutic indeed. Praise the Lord!

Why?

I truly love running. Love it!

I love it because there are so many facets to it...

As I've said before, it's can be just me and God.

It can be me living life with friends.

It's me actually accomplishing something!

It's my body being capable of so much more than I thought.

When I signed up for my 1/2 marathon scheduled for October, I was not even running yet. I signed up because it's called a Girlfriends Half Marathon. Celebrating girlfriends. I cherish each and every one of my girlfriends and thought the run would be an amazing thing to be a part of. I also wanted to push myself, work hard, and accomplish the task of running 13.1 miles. I never knew that I would love it like I do.

I was talking with my brother the other day and told him that while I do it for myself, I also do it for him (as he battles cancer for the 3rd time) and my friend and her little boy who has leukemia (as he battles for the 3rd time). I run because they can't. I run because I can. He jokingly said, "then why don't you run a marathon for me. You can do the first 13 for you and the 2nd 13 for me. Then, you'll really hate me." Hating my brother is not possible. Never going to happen.

But, my sweet brother, I will run a marathon for you. I will be inspired. I will cherish every mile. I will hear you cheering me on. When I hit the wall that I hear is inevitable I'll push harder just for you. I'll do the first 13 for me and I'll gladly love you every second of the 2nd 13!

Love you brother!

Insane?

I'm wondering if something is just not right in my head.

Am I insane?

I'm running my first 1/2 marathon May 2nd and don't have anything else until the end of August when I'll be running my first Hood To Coast (H2C).

I hear H2C is grueling but wonderful. I cried when I read an article about it. Completely inspiring. I will be running with a great team of women and am not only excited for the run, but am also excited for the experience with these amazing women. I cannot wait!

Now, there's another race. A road trip with friends. A half, that to be honest, makes me so excited just looking at the event website. A girls run. Sounds beautiful. Great friends. The kicker? It's the weekend after H2C.

I'm such a rookie. I don't know what my body can handle. So far, I been quite surprised and wonder if that would just be too much? My mind says go for it. However, I have no idea what my body will be saying after a weekend of little to no sleep and 3 legs ran that can range anywhere from 14 total miles run to 19.6 miles in a two day period.

Oh, but the half the weekend after is calling my name...

Clearly A Rookie Mistake

Clearly I went too fast.

Clearly I dehydrated myself.

Clearly I need something to put in my belly during my long runs.

But, the 12?

Not a fluke.

However, I'm currently exhausted. Depleted. Trying to find the energy to put some food in my mouth. Trying to figure out what would be the best fuel. Trying to figure out how to not feel so tired.

I felt great during my run. Fantastic even. The sun was shining. I was listening to my fave running music. Even holding myself back on the first 6. Knowing I was going for 12.

I was shocked to look down after 6 and see I had done it in 56 minutes flat. Smiling and elated I turned back around to do the final 6.

Loving the trail I was running. Loving all the people running. And riding. And walking. Loving the beautiful weather. Loving my new running clothes. Loving my Toby Mac.

By the last mile or so I felt like I might as well be walking. Perhaps even crawling. I was thirsty. Tired. Digging in. Wanting to stick my face in a puddle as I ran by...

I gave a final push and up the last hill I ran. Completely expecting to be over 2 hours. Completely shocked when I looked at my timer that said 1:49:40!! Holy cow! Almost 10 minutes faster than last week!

I felt fantastic. Not tired at all. Definitely not feeling like I had ran as fast as I did.

Then, as I was about to pick up the kids it hit. I started feeling a little funky. By the time I got home it was all I could do to fix the kids lunch and get in the shower.

I collapsed on my bed wrapped in my robe. Laying there. Trying to talk myself into going to the kitchen.

Clearly, I am a rookie!

I just found a gatorade and am now giving myself a pep talk to go into the kitchen and refuel. A friend was just talking about supplements this week. Thinking I'm going to have to see what that's all about...

After I scrape myself up off the floor!