Check in .....Soon!

OK, once again it has been along time since my last update, but it is the Thanksgiving holiday week and I will have time to blog!!! I do have a video that my daughter and I made, so enjoy until next time!!

Checking In!

So much has happened since my last article. So much, that I don't have time to write it all!!! Plus, I don't want to be late for church, so I will only spend 4 minutes giving an update (no one is reading this but me, but - hey, I like it!)

Let's see, I completed my first 1/2 marathon in March (ING Georgia) and was able to finish in 2 hours and 8 seconds!!! I also completed another 1/2 marathon in Seattle, WA and had a ball!! It was part of the Rock n Roll series and we (my sister, Jennifer, and Talitha) had so much fun. I also completed my first Peachtree race (59 minutes and it was sooo hot) and will be doing my first US 10K labor day next Monday. I have learned that running in Georgia during the summer is awful!!! The heat and humidty is no joke!! I had plan on doing the Miami Marathon in January, but I think I will just hold off on the marathon until later next year. I have 2 more 1/2 marathons this year - Atlanta 13.1 in October and Zooma in November. After these races, I think I will focus on speed and strength. My crosstraining routine consists of Insanity w/Shaun T (craziest workout DVD ever!!!), Weight Training, and Spartacus workouts. Besides the long run once a week, I do track workout on Friday or Interval running, and a tempo run on Tuesday morning. A group of us try to workout 2 a day and I am enjoying the results, but I think I am going to start working out 2 a day only a couple of times a week.

I am still trying to build a good nutrition plan and it is taking a little longer to get it together. I ran into a Dr. at Whole Foods (his name is Dr. Jockers and he is in Kennesaw) and I think he might be able to help me. He is very passionate about eating right and being healthy (he talks so fast - faster than me!!!) and he knows what he is talking about when it comes to the topic. I hope to attend one of his seminars in the upcoming month.

OK time for me to get ready for church, I will not be late!!! Until next time, here is my new favorite quote from Lance Armstrong -
“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”

Running with Passion - Not Experience

I haven't written in a long time and so much has happened!!! Today I completed my first 10K (Chattahochee Challenge - Nature Center) and it was a good race. I ran at a very comfortable pace and finished in 1:02:32. This was a great time for me and I am looking forward to finishing my next 10K under 1 hour. My sister and husband also ran and they had good finish times so we were all happy!!

As I continue to run and get ready for the ING Georgia 1/2 marathon, I realize my passion to run allows me to continue to improve. I have no experience, but I have a desire and passion to continue to run and this allows me to improve each month.

Live Hard, Love Hard & RUN to Jesus!

Polar Bear 5k run was great! My husband, sister, and me all set PR's today!! It seems that when I run for someone (today was for Brock Meadows) or something, I always do my best! Today I ran for Brock Meadows. I learned about Brock because his family gave all the runners in the Polar Bear race bands to wear during the race. Brock ran in the Polar Bear race in 2008 and tied for 3rd place in the 40 yd dash..he was only 2 years old! Days later, he passed away, but the good thing is that we know he ran to Jesus. On the band I wore today it said Live Hard, Love hard & RUN to Jesus! I will always remember these words, as well as Brock. Every year I run the Polar Bear, I will run for Brock. I thank his family for encouraging me today and to live like Brock.

The run was fun and easy! I couldn't believe the clock when I saw it..it said 28:30! I took off and crossed the line in 28:40. After talking with my husband, he informed me that the tags didn't capture our start time, only our end time and according to his watch which he started after we crossed the finish line, we had actually finished a minute and 26 secs earlier!! So my time (according to his watch) was 27:04! I take 28 or 27....it is still faster than 30 min!! I believe that Brock asked Jesus to give me some extra speed on the hills!!

This week I also signed up for the ING Georgia 1/2 marathon!! So it is official, I am doing the 1/2 on 3/21 and I am so excited!!! I already see myself crossing the finish line and receiving my medal...time finished 1 hour and 59 minutes (hey..I can dream!) So I am going to step up my training and pay attention to my nutrition so that I can be in the best shape possible. A year ago you couldn't get me to go outside and take a walk, and now I am running a 1/2 marathon!! God is awesome, he continues to make my life fun and exciting and have me do things that I think is impossible...I just love Him!!

So this week is another long run - 7 miles, and it is going to be interesting! This time, I will not stop at Starbucks...I will stay on the path!!

Got to stay on the path!

I did my six mile long run today and it was not that bad. I did stop (my sister was with me and we stopped at Starbucks for water...I know we should have kept running but the hills were kicking our butt), but we finished and wasn't really that tired. So I know that I will not pass out when I run the 10K in 3 weeks. Dennis (fitness trainer) was there with another client and they had to be running 8 minute miles (once we started running, they were gone). My sister and I had decided we would only do 4.5 miles so when we couldn't see them anymore, we made a different route that would allow us to finish in 4.5 miles. Well, we got caught!! We didn't stay on the path the trainer told us to stay on and he actually came back and got us! So after running off the path and making our own running route, we had to get back on the 6 mile path. We will not do that again!! When we finished, we were so happy!! Dennis is so awesome. Not only did he come back to get us early in the run, he actually stayed and waited until we finished.

I also did speed training this week and was actually able to go 7.5 on the treadmill for 4 quarter miles (thanks to Dennis). God is so awesome...he is really doing a good work in me (if you know me, you will say amen). I also did a workout called spartacus for core and strength training (did it on Monday and again on Friday), so this week was good. Next week I am planning to do 2 days of strength training, run 3days, and work on more core 2 days! I have the 5K Polar Bear race next weekend and it should be fun! I am hoping to finish in under 30 minutes, but if I don't...it doesn't matter, because I will have plenty more races to run and will do them in less time (thats me being motivational!) Until next time....see you at the races ..whatever that means :0)

No Boundaries - Only Possibilities in 2010!

Today I ran 5 miles for the first time in my life and I am so happy that I did it without walking! I am also happy that it is over!!!! I was so dehydrated that I almost choked on the water I drank after I finished because I was so thirsty. I have to hydrate because being thristy during a run is not fun!! My knee started to hurt so I slowed down and it stopped hurting (thank you God!). I finished in 51:50. It was a little slower than I wanted but hey...I finished without walking so I am not going to complain. Next week is 6 miles and it will be outside (it was 0 degrees and icy so I told the trainer I would have to pass on the outside run).

Well, I am off to my nephew's birthday party. There will be cake, but I will eat responsible!

Snow/Ice in Georgia!

Yes, it has snowed (well, 1 inch) and the snow has turned to ice and it is 16 degrees....in Georgia!!!! I have a 5 mile run tomorrow and it looks like it might happen on the treadmill because it is too icy and too cold!!! I have never ran 5 miles before so I am looking forward to it, but also wondering if I am ready. I am already prepared not to be upset if I have to walk. I have to be patient so that I don't get hurt before the big run March 21, 2010 (March was so far away back in October, not it is only two months away!) I had a dream that I decided to do the marathon instead of the half...glad it was a dream!!

I have been doing alot of reading (See Dane Run by Dane R, Runner's Book by Galloway, Marathon training by Whitsett, and lots of online articles, etc.) I would like to purchase a book about the history of running (well, I kind of asked my sister to get it for me - Christmas gift). I love reading (I would get in troule in school for reading....well, I was reading Sweet Valley High instead of my history book - I would hide my book inside the history book) so like I mentioned before, I am starting a small running library...5 books so far...more to come!!! I have learned some good tips and also why some people can run faster than others (genetics have made some people super fast). So I am enjoying this new hobby and at the same time learning about running and I have had the opportunity to make new friends.

So tomorrow is the 5 mile run and I have talked to Dennis (the 1/2 marathon coach) and he said that despite the weather, the run is on. Well, I am going to have to convince him that running at 7am in the morning when it is only 18 degrees and icy is not good for me!! I can at least try, but I have a feeling that I may not be able to convince him...I will just pray!

2010 - All Things Are Possible!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!

Yes, it is 2010 and it is a year of possibilities!!! And with God, all things are possible!! I am really excited about my new hobby (running) and making big plans! So far in 2010 I have ran the farthest I have ever ran during one session - 4 miles!!! Yeah!!!! It was a little tough (most of it was mental, the other was because my son's was in the room with me and wanted me to turn the TV), but I got it done!! I was able to finish in 41:05, and still turn the TV for my son so he could watch the Wiggles!! I will do another long run this weekend and I am looking forward to it (well, I am really interested in finding out what mile during my session will be the toughest). Since it was only 10 degrees outside, I had to do the run on my treadmill, so I am hoping to run outside for the next run.

My husband and I watched a good movie/documentary this weekend called "The Spirit of the Marathon". It showed how every day people of all ages, as well as elite athletes prepared for the Chicago marathon. It was really motivating and showed just how tough mentally (you have to be physically ready, but the mental preparation seemed to be really important - believing you can do it) you have to be to complete a marathon. I have a lot of work to do prepare for the 1/2 marathon, and must really focus to be ready for the full marathon. I am doing some reading about training for marathons and will take advantage of my training time (yes, I will not goof off, I will pay attention during training...even when it is hard!). I also was reminded this weekend that my uncle ran 2 marathons when he was 17 and he finished his first marathon in 3 hours!!! His pictures from the marathon are on my grandma's wall in Detroit (yes, my grandma still has family pictures on the wall) and I have asked my mom to scan in the pics and send them to me for inspiration!! I talked to my uncle this weekend and he told me that I could do it because 2010 was the year of possibilities!!