New Personal Records Feel Awesome!

Race-2-Place 10K yesterday and I ROCKED IT!!!
I beat my 10K pace from last year (different course) by 17 minutes and 56 seconds.
Can you say "New PR!"?
Plus! I had my fastest per-mile pace to date.
Say What?
I was behind another runner the whole time and all I could think
was, don't let her get too far ahead.
She'd gain some ground on the straight aways,
but I'd pick up the distance on the hills (of all places).
Coming into the last stretch of the run, I put everything I had into
finishing as close to her as possible.  I didn't end up beating her,
but, as I told her, she was great motivation to help me push myself.
And, because of her, I crossed the finish line right as they
were calling my bib number as the winner of a free sweatshirt!
10 seconds later and they would have went on to the next number
and I'd have never known.

Nice tech tee from the race.  I got caught up in the event and forgot to take any other pics...oh well!

This quote is so very true.  My body will never be perfect, but every time I run I become more of the person I want to be--physically and mentally.  Even if I have to walk, even if my times are slow, my body can do some amazing stuff and that's all I can ask for.

Will Run For Sushi

MmmmMmmmm Love me some Sushi! I may or may not have motivated myself
with the prospect of a post-run sushi trip yesterday.

Dinner is ready! I don't like "real" sushi so I get mostly vegetable and avocado rolls,
with lots of spicy sauce!

Actually, I got a call from my mother-in-law during my run UPHILL and
once I hung up I thought about how I told her I was running.  And I told a friend
I was running.  And I told my husband I was running.  So, dang it all, I was going to
RUN! I picked up the pace and thought about why I run--because I can,
because it makes me feel alive and accomplished,
because I am a runner.
Before I knew it, I finished five miles with a pretty dang good pace
(something that has been lacking lately for me).

He gets a slimy spot on the left side of his face from where his tongue
hits him while he is running.  yum.

Someone is watching me...he wouldn't get up until another dog came along.
Even then he kinda just stood around. Score one for me.  A tired Mac is a happy family.

Today is a rest day and then tomorrow I have the Race2Place 10k.  I like doing runs that

have a purpose.  The Race2Place was founded by the family of 8 year-old Parker

after he died of Leukemia.  They raise money to support the camp they started to help

families that have lost a child or family member to illness.  I'm excited for the run--weather should be warmish but a little windy.  Here's hoping for a PR!

Here is the pic from the Bulldog Jog 5K a couple weeks back:

See me? I'm where a blue long sleeve shirt, middle left. It was a wee bit chilly with the wind going.

Perseverance

Just finished a morning run with Jessica and her husband, Sean.

I forgot how much I missed running in the morning.

It was a beautiful day and we got in a little over four miles along the river

with the sun shining on us...perfect way to start a day!

I'm planning on taking Mac out later today for, at the minimum, a walk and

quite possibly another run. 

That's one thing I love about morning runs--you have your afternoon/evening

to get in a second workout. Or, you get it out of the way and 

can relax the rest of the day.  

Monday I did my long run and boy was it l-o-n-g.  

Before I even started I didn't want to do it.  My body was tired but I made myself

get out there and move.  It took me longer than I wanted, I walked quite a bit

more than I wanted (dang knees) but I did it.  I set out with the goal of doing an 8-miler

and that's what I did. I didn't break any records, but I learned a lesson in perseverance.

At 4 miles, I wanted to stop.
At 6 miles I told myself that was an admirable run, time to stop.

But I kept going and stuck to my plan.  I know there will be a point (or two or three...)
in my half marathon when I think those same things.
Now I know I don't have to listen.

I know how to keep going.

 Mac enjoyed the first bit of it, then after a while

I could tell he was wondering why we weren't stopping, especially when
I had to double back a couple of times to make sure I got all the miles in. 

He got a rest day yesterday (I don't want to overdo him), but I can tell he is antsy

to get back out there.  Luckily for him, so am I.

Mac proved his point. He took my arm band so I couldn't run anymore.  Good thing we were already done.

Once he realized we were done, he took a breather.

Just For The Run Of It

Happy Sunday, all!

This morning I ran the Komen Run for the Cure 5K with my great friend, Bronwynn and her daughter, 12 year-old Brooklyn.  No PRs were set But I had a wonderfully fun time!

We laughed through every step of the 3.1 miles and afterwards Bronwynn and I were 

able to sit and catch up--we haven't seen each other in AGES!

Bronwynn actually asked me to do the run with her right after my post about running

the Bulldog Jog solo.  Whether it was because she read the post or just serendipity,

I'm glad she asked.  While I wanted to run full-out and try to get a good time,

it was a great reminder of why I run--for fun.  For enjoyment, not for numbers.

Numbers have their time and their place, and they definitely help motivate me,

but if I'm getting good numbers and not having fun, what's the point?

I'm going to have to start asking people to take pictures for me so I can not always be doing the same "arms out, body back so I fit in the picture" pose.

Gorilla for the cure? Why not?!

If The Shoe Fits...

So I took my New Balance shoes back.  They weren't cutting it for me.  

I realized I don't want a minimalist shoe. 

I want a minimalist-like shoe.  Meaning I want to be able to connect with the 

ground underneath my feet, I want a zero-drop, but I also want a bit of padding.

The first pair of running shoes I bought were Brooks PureGrit.  

I. Loved. Them.

They were pretty darn ugly, but function over form, right? 

Why I didn't just buy them again when it was time for a new pair I have no idea.

The shoes I most recently had were Brooks PureFlow2; 

they seemed to be a bit too thick in the sole for me--I just didn't feel connected with 

the trail when I was running. 

After trying to push through it, trying a different style all together,

I decided to do what I should have done from the beginning: 

go back to the shoes I loved.

I went for my first run in them yesterday (approximately 30 minutes after I purchased them.  I wasn't too worried about hurting myself with a new shoe because their design/style is close enough to the shoes I was currently running in that it wouldn't be a huge transition for my body).

Four miles with Jessica along the river.  Ran the whole time (great job, Jessica!). 

 Pain. Free.

Whether it was our pace, the shoes or pure coincidence I don't know. But I felt no pain.

There are different camps that either say the shoe doesn't cause the pain or the shoe is the ultimate factor because it effects everything else.  I tend to be in the latter camp. 

When did my pain start? When I switched up to a different type of shoe.  When did my pain get a little better? When I switched to a shoe that was part-way to being my original shoe. When did I go on a run with no pain? When I switched back to that original shoe.

It could all be in my head (I don't think it is, no matter what the guy 

at the last store said. Idiot.),

it could all be coincidence. Whatever it is, if it makes running more enjoyable? I'll take it.

Happy Feet.

Quit Whining and Keep Running!

This is what I felt like yesterday.

I did my 7 miles and at mile 5 was feeling ready to stop.  So I thought, I'll at least do 6.

And then I thought....eff that!

I came out here to run 7 miles and that is what I'm gonna do! I didn't do it particularly fast
 (it was slow, even by my standards), but I committed and I finished.

The feeling of overcoming a challenge is freaking awesome! 


Next week: 8 miles.  
Seven was hard; can't wait to see what eight is like!

I'm also starting to see some major weight loss results.  In fact, I may or may not have tried my husband's pants on and found that they fit...!

That's always been something that really bothered me...how much bigger I was than my husband.

He is pretty dang skinny just by nature (he doesn't work out OR eat anything resembling a healthy diet)

and I felt like it just highlighted my own body and diet (even though I was trying).

While I am seeing the number on the scale change, and I am noticing 

a change in how clothes fit,

I did my measurements the other day and found that most of my numbers went up.

And those that went down only did so by trivial amounts.

Some of that might be due to muscle versus fat, but my waist was one that went up...?

Stuh-range.

All that matters is I feel great and am enjoying eating healthy and running.

Couldn't ask for more than that.

He was so tired after 7 miles (and 6 the day before) that he couldn't even bring himself to pose for the camera.
He will be getting a rest day today :)

A Run With A View

Jessica and I went on a post-injury run yesterday and we rocked it.  Our typical run is 3.5-4 miles, usually with no set distance in mind when we start out.  At mile 2 I asked her how far she wanted to go--she didn't care. I said, "how about 6?" She was game so we just kept going.  At the turn-around at the top of the hill we stopped to enjoy the great view of the river and sunset.  Running with a view is so much nicer than watching cars drive by!

 A little past mile 3.  Don't go into the light!

I was a little worried about what the distance would do to my calf and knees (which were a tad sore during the run), but today they feel great.  I have my 7-miler this afternoon and am looking forward to getting into the groove of a longer run.  Yesterday before our run I was so dang tired I almost didn't want to go.  I am so glad I did! The run energized me, put me in a great mood and made me want more.

Hooray for nice weather.  Hooray for running. :)

Sidelined

UGH.

I've been out of the game since Friday due to injury.

Totally my fault, though.

I bought some new shoes Thursday night.  I have been struggling with my shoes lately,

feeling like they have too much cushion, too much barrier between me and the ground.

I loved my first pair of Brooks (PureGrit) and my second, current pair just aren't the same (they are Brooks PureFlow 2). So I bought a more minimalist shoe:

The New Balance Minimus 10V2 Trail 

And then, I went out for a run Friday.  I TOLD myself I'd just do 2 miles.  But I started running.

And it was windy and rainy and Mac was having a blast and so was I...So I kept going.

I did 4.5 miles. Not a huge distance, but a huge no-no in new shoes.  

Like I said, totally my fault.

I felt great after. In fact, I felt great all the way to Saturday evening, around 5, when my right calf started to hurt.  And then my left one.  And by the end of the night I knew I was screwed.

We had a disc golf date on Sunday...canceled.  Instead it was a sit-around-play-board-games,

wrap-my-calf-so-I-can-walk date.  Which helped.  Today it feels better--I can walk normal

(Billy can't call me "grandma" any more).

I'm thinking that maybe tomorrow I'll be able to hit the trail again.  Maybe.

And this time, I'll do it right and transition into my new shoes.

I'm thinking Wednesday I'll do my 7-miler since I couldn't do it this weekend.

Who woulda thought I'd be bummed about THAT?!

books, running, and friends

Yesterday I got to meet the hilarious Christopher McDougall,

author of Born To Run:

A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes and the Greatest Race the World has Never Seen.

I am in the process of reading his book and find it encouraging,

entertaining, inspiring and overall a fun read. If you haven't heard of it, or haven't read it,

GET ON IT! He went from barely running due to injuries to running pain-free and almost barefoot and loving it.  His book goes into his personal stuff a tiny bit (just to give you some history) but mostly focuses on his experiences with other runners, the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico, 

and various races and fun tidbits about this or that.

For a better synopsis and more info, check out him and his book here.

The picture is a little (okay, okay.... A LOT) blurry. But you get the gist.
I also got him to sign my book. YAY!

Today the infamous and mysterious Jessica and I went for another run (this time I have PROOF!).
We went a little farther than we did on Monday and her time got faster.
We started out with some wind and rain--not the most fun, but we had a good time.  After about seven-tenths of a mile we got into the trees and found a whole different world:

The sun came out, rain stopped and the wind died down.  Absolutely beautiful!!
Around mile two we even saw a deer (well, the tail-end of a deer far off).

And proof that I'm not a liar:

I've been feeling pretty good about my runs lately.  Faster times on runs that, at the time, I feel are sluggish and tedious.  I'm starting to feel like I am making some headway.

Except that my knees started hurting after my double-run the other day :(

But...I quit doing my at-home PT exercises.  I have since started them back up and hope they will help. Again.

Tomorrow is Friday and this weekend I am hitting the roads for a 7-miler.  Woo Hoo! The longest I've ran without stopping was 7 miles last September during my half so I know I can do it.

  I'm feeling pretty optimistic.

Happy Running!

I get by with a little help from my friends

Today was an historic day. I did something I haven't done in over a month.

I have been wanting to do it for quite some time now.

I just hadn't found the right person to do it with.

That's right...I went running with a buddy!

It. Was. Awesome.

I meant to take pictures (at least one) to prove that I really DO have friends, but I forgot.

You'll just have to take my word for it.

It was Jessica's first time running in a while and she did awesome.

We did three miles with Mac in the field and even conquered the hill at the end of mile two.

I forgot (well, maybe not) how much more enjoyable runs can be with a friend.

And then...

This afternoon...

I went back and did another 4.5 miles. And conquered the hill again.

That's what I was scheduled for today.  I didn't want to short myself out with the morning run, but I REALLY wanted to go running with Jessica and figured she wasn't

up to a 4.5 miler on her first try. Plus, getting ready for the Ragnar Relay in June

I wanted to start working in double runs.  This was a great way to do it.

My knees hurt a bit, but not horrible.  Considering a few weeks ago I couldn't even run 2 miles without pain and now I am up to only feeling pain after a double workout...PROGRESS!

Mac went both times and was absolutely tuckered out in the end. Praise the lawd!

He better sleep well tonight.

And the best news? Jessica is going running with me again on Thursday :-)

Schmoozing for the camera.  Little Stinker.

Usually the longer the tongue=the more tired he is.  That's one long tongue right there!

Bulldog Jog 2013

This morning I ran the Gonzaga Bulldog Jog 5K.

A 5k.  Shorter than most of my

training runs.  So why was I nervous?

Apparently, no matter how long or short the event, nervousness is unavoidable for me.

But, once the run started, I settled into my groove and didn't

do half bad! I logged my fastest pace since I started recording them 

and didn't have any knee pain.

But I didn't really enjoy it.  I was at an event full of college-age kids 

that all seemed to know each other and have a running partner or two.  

And I was all by my lonesome.

I've run races by myself in the past; in fact, most of my races I run solo.

But normally the ones I run alone my mom comes and cheers me on.

This time I went absolutely, 100% alone. 

I showed up alone.

I waited alone.

I ran alone.

And I left alone.

At the time, it kinda sucked.  I felt like a loser.

But, now I am feeling pretty proud of myself.

I showed up.

I waited.

I ran.

And I kicked butt.

AND...I got a t-shirt out of it :)

Ups and Downs

I've been a little M.I.A. on here--sorry 'bout that.

Last week I was in Vancouver visiting my family and working without my computer

so keeping up on the blog was a bit of a challenge.

But I'm BACK.

Also a challenge? Celebrating two birthdays, catching up with friends and family and not gaining weight.  Whenever I go back and visit (about every 2-3 months and during summers)

I either gain weight or plateau. It isn't that I stopped running. I didn't--I stuck to my training schedule.

It's that there are so many good restaurants there that I don't have

in Spokane.  And so many friends and family to go out to dinner with.

And my momma's home cooking 

(which is actually pretty healthy, it's just so dang good I eat too much).

Needless to say, I gained a few pounds.  And not just last week, but the week before.

I think I new what would happen on my visit so I threw in the towel before

I even started.  7 pounds in all.

But you know what? I don't feel horrible.  I had a great visit, my clothes still fit (even my "skinny" clothes) and now that I'm back home I'm back on the eating right wagon.

I've already lost a little over 2 pounds by rigidly sticking to my weight watchers

and I know the rest will come off with a little bit of focus.

It's nice to know that my weight doesn't control me; that the number on the scale, while important to me for my journey and my health, can fluctuate but not ruin my life.

I'm still less than 10 pounds to my next goal weight and they are the 

HARDEST flipping pounds to lose!

But I'll get there.

Panting it out while I stretch.

Beautiful day to go running in the woods.

I'm pretty sure this is what Mac thinks when I say "heel".  Maybe I should change it up