Little Rock Marathon Day Nostalgia

Happy Little Rock Marathon Day!

This time in 2013 I was recovering from the hardest run of my life, or so I said. I read through my race recap from back then, and little did I know I was about to start the year of no running thanks to an injury that manifested after that race.

But I did recover. And I ran my comeback race this past December. It was an awesome day. One of the best days of my life.

Lots of things have changed since December. I did have to nurse some nagging injuries, and I haven't been running consistently for various reasons....like the winter weather and general laziness.

For Christmas, Santa gave me entry into the Navy Nautical 10 Miler in Millington, Tennessee. Ten nautical miles is about 11.5 miles. And I haven't kept up with my distance running at all. But all that is about to change.

Thanks to all the photos and posts about the Little Rock Marathon, I have written myself a kick ace training program, and it seems to have happened just in time. It's 14 weeks til my next race day, and I've written a new training plan to reach my new goal.

I'm super excited about it since the weather should start to play nice, and Spring will be here before we know it. Plus Daylights Savings Time starts next weekend.

I like a progressive training plan that allows rest weeks, and I typically only run three days per week. Two weekday runs 3-5 miles depending on where I am in my training. I like to do shorter and faster during the week. Some days I will incorporate hills. Just depends, and I don't really plan those out as much since I like to see what I feel like on those days.

The long runs, however, are planned down to the day.

Here is what it looks like for my upcoming training season:

March
7th - 3 miles
14th - 4 miles
21st - 5 miles
28th - Omega Prostate Cancer 5K (Rest week)

April
4th - Capital City Classic 10K (6.2 miles)
11th - 7 miles
18th - 8 miles
25th - 4 miles (rest week)

May
2nd - 9 miles
9th - 10 miles
16th - 11 miles
23rd - 8 miles (taper)
30th - 6 miles (taper)

June
7th - Navy Nautical 10 Miler (Race Day)

For some reason, I always give myself a two week taper. I don't know why I do that, but it always makes me feel more prepared and rested. I mentally come down from the long run high, run some shorter distances, and then know my next long run is the race. It helps me. It's a weird thing I give myself.

I'm excited to be back on the training bandwagon, and I'm excited to see what I can do. I am not setting any insane goals. I just want to enjoy this one. Let it be what it is. And get some pretty sweet bling!

Via

Who's going with me?!

One Month til Race Day

Well I guess it's actually a little less than one month until race day. Training has been going ok. Just a few nagging injuries that try to keep me down. But all in all, I feel strong.

I am definitely faster than the last time I finished a half marathon, and I'm excited to see how I do on race day.

This past weekend I went to Tennessee to spend some time outside on my grandparents' farm. My mom and I ran 11 miles around the town. And we ran out of the city limits. Seeing a city limit sign and not being at your turn-around point is humbling and mentally challenging.

Here are some scenes from my mini-vacation.

Annie loves spending time outside, and apparently she is "real" dog because she likes to carry and chew on sticks. My mission as a dog mom is complete. My dog loves sticks.

This weekend I will run my last long run before I start my taper. 12 miles. It's going to be a good dress rehearsal. Gotta figure out what clothes to wear since this Arctic Blast is starting to kick it up.
 

Building a Base

Building a base is hard work. Being out of the running game for over a year has put the hurt on me. So I've spent the past two weeks (and next week) building up my mileage so I can run the St. Jude's Half Marathon.

After last week's just-under-15-miles week, my hamstring and knee were bothering me. So I took Sunday off.

On Tuesday, I ran a fast 2 mile run. I forgot to take a picture of my stats since I did the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge after my run.

Here's how it went:

Distance: 2.0 miles
Time: 20:05
Average Pace: 10:09
Best Pace: 8:17
Calories: 173
Average Cadence: 174

The ice bucket challenge was the fastest cool down I've ever had. I do think my co-worker enjoyed dumping ice water on my head a little too much.

When I got to work Wednesday, we found a knot in my left calf the size of the Titanic. We each took turns trying to work it out. None of us could break it up. I now have a bruise on my calf. No pain, no gain.

Yesterday's run was super nice after the first couple of miles.

I forgot how much better it feels to run passed the 2-3 mile mark. I've always felt like I don't get warmed up and feel good until after 3 miles. It was totally true of my long run this week.

Stats for this week's long run:

Distance: 4.0 miles
Time: 46:52
Average Pace: 11:43
Best Pace: 10:46
Calories: 343
Average Cadence: 172

I had negative splits for each mile, and mile four was my fastest. I was nervous about the Titanic sized knot in my calf and my nagging hamstring/knee injury, but everything kept it together. And I can still walk today. It's the little things.

I have a date with my foam roller, and I'm going to a yoga class to help workout some of this muscle tightness. I'm looking forward to a solid recovery day.

And I think I need to take Annie to the dog park....

Since she's been perched on the side of my computer since I started this post.

Up and Running

Half marathon training is in full swing. I'm currently working on building up a nice base before I set out to start my training plan.

This week has been full of accomplishments and a couple of set backs. All good things mostly with just a hint of nervousness.

I have been battling an injury for over a year. Apparently running isn't always nice to you. You have to do other stuff with it. You can't just run, and I always just want to run. Nothing else. And I have to work on changing that.

I logged just under 15 miles this week. That's huge considering I've been good to get five or six miles in a week. I've gotten some new running swag that's made it all the sweeter.

I went for a trail run on Sunday. Conner Park to River Mountain Park. Up a .6 mile massive hill that made me rethink my decision-making skills. And then down Cantrell, which is every runner's nightmare.

It was a beautiful evening run.

I got a little beat up, but it was totally worth it. Set out to do a 3 mile trail run and ended up doing a little under 5 miles. I love it when that happens.

On Tuesday, I did a ladder speed workout with a half marathon training group from work. After a nice warm up, we did a 400, 800 1200, 1200, 800 and 400. Each one had a rest period, and it was an awesome workout. I felt strong. Only had some minor twinges of pain in my knee area.

I was under my usual 11-minute mile pace by quite a bit. My 400s and 800s were in the mid-9s, and my 1200s were right at 10:30. My last 400 was right at 8:30. 

It felt good to run fast, but the minor pains I felt in my knee and hamstring area were on my mind. Lots of soreness on Wednesday. I did a lot of foam rolling and stretching and finally felt a little more normal until I ran this morning. 

I met my running friend Denise for an easy 3 miles. 

Easy turned into terrible real quick. My two 5 mile runs earlier in the week put the hurt on my ole legs. I felt tired the entire time. My legs felt like they weighed 1,000 pounds each. We both struggled, which has never happened since we've been running together. I blamed it on Tuesday. And the fact that I was due for a tough run.

My hamstring/knee has been sore/tight/achy/bothering me again. So that's my main concern. I just want to run and healthy and feel good about it. It's really hard when I've already trained for a half before and had no problems. Thankfully, I have wonderful people around me that are helping and encouraging me to make to race day.

I can't promise I will post every day. But I will do my best to post my workouts for the week, as well as how I'm feeling about it. This space will be my training log, and I hope you follow along.

Little Rock Half Marathon Training

In two weeks, I will run my second half marathon. I ran my first one ever...and three months later I'm doing it again.

Lots of stuff has been going on around these parts lately, and I'm sorry I haven't gotten to tell you about it any sooner. But let's have some sharing time. Or I'll share and you can read...and then share in the comments. Because I love comments. Seriously. Sharing is caring peeps.

I ran 11 miles this morning. It was windy and cold. But I was in rare form. And by that I mean my attitude was of another person. Usually windy and cold runs means I'm going to be a super Grinch. I mean I hit total diva status when it's below freezing, overcast and windy. You can ask anyone.

But today was perfect. A windy and cold delight.

I've found my most favorite place to run in Little Rock. Or I should say North Little Rock, if specifics is what you're after. North Little Rock did the River Trail right. It's right on the river. I mean so close you could fall in. The rock walls are beautiful, and there are plenty of bathrooms along the trail...if you're into that.

I can't even describe how beautiful it is to me. The Big Guy knew what he was doing when He carved that rock quarry. End o' story.

I spent 9 of the 11 miles singing "I will walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more." Followed directly with "DADADADA..." Nobody sang the responses back to me. Bummer.

So basically the premise of this post is to show you I've been training for the Little Rock Half Marathon, and things have been going well.

I ran 9 miles at Two Rivers Park a few weeks back. Around mile 4, we decided to throw in a mile of trail running just off the River Trail. It was the highlight of the run.

I ran 10 miles last weekend. My  first long run after turning 25. YAY for birthdays. We ran from the Clinton Library to Burns Park and back. Not my best run. I was cold to the bone. No sun. Windy. Total diva princess...and not in a good way.

As a treat to starting my 25th year, I bought some new trail running shoes.

Hello unofficial Brooks spokesperson. #runhappy

After a 2.5 mile birthday trail run on the Pinnacle Mountain Base Trail, I decided trail shoes were a must if I didn't want to die running over all the rocks, roots and occasional small animal.

There will be a post about trail running once I get some more experience with it. But as of right now, I can tell you without hesitation trail running is the best kind of tough. Badassness just exudes out of you. Oh, and you'll be introduced to a new kind of tired.

I'm currently recovering.

Long runs are the best. Reading is the best. How I Met Your Mother is the best.

If I don't see ya before, I'll see ya at the finish line on 3.3.13. BOOM!!!

Whoa...What Happened?!?

Dudes, it's been a while. My life has been crazysauce. And I wish I was kidding. So much has happened, and I'm sorry for not sharing a play-by-play. But most of it is boring. HA.

I've been working a lot trying to get into my new job to get some things going, and I'm feeling good about it (and a tad bit overwhelmed.) There's just so much to do, and it's hard to pick what is more important. AND Asher had surgery...she's doing well, too. So needless to say, my life has been turned upside down and inside out.

The good news?

I'm still running. I haven't lost focus on training. Just because I haven't posted in a while doesn't mean I've given up. This girl has been gettin' it. Long runs, speed work, hills, tempo runs. You name it, I've been running it.

After tomorrow, I enter into a blissful period called the taper. But more on that later. I have to show you some keep milestones....Well really just one key milestone.

Last Saturday, I ran 10 miles in two hours. Two major running milestones. It was my first double digit distance, and the first time I've ever ran for a two-hour time period. And let me just say...10 miles in 2 hours is no joke.

Here are my stats from my last long run:
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 2:06:16
Best Pace: 10:10
Average Pace: 12:37
Calories: 1101

I ate like a horse to two days after this run. And the sad part is I was hungry at mile 8.5. Long runs like this turn me into a ravenous wolf. And I don't suspect tomorrow's long run will be any different. 11 miles here I come.

I did a short bout of speed work on the treadmill Wednesday night, and then I ran a nice 5-miler last night. And no, I didn't run by myself in the dark. Remember the last time I tried to do that...Not cool. Never again. I was, and still am, serious.

Here are my stats from last night:
Distance: 5 miles
Time: 59:26
Best Pace: 10:01
Average Pace: 11:53
Calories: 590

It was an amazing night to run. Something about running in a long sleeve shirt and shorts is my favorite thing ever. And I was happy to see an 11:53 average pace and a 5 mile run under an hour. It reminds me of my running self from last winter...except I was a little bit faster.

I got my St. Jude's Hero singlet in the mail the other day.

It's my first piece of Brooks clothing, and I love it.

And in case you want to know, I found out my bib number for St. Jude's half marathon is 5060. So if you want to follow my progress on Race Day, you can sign up for texts based on my bib number. Don't ask me how to do that because I have no idea how to tell you do that. I just know you can do that. You can also look up other runners in the race to find their bib numbers, in case you want to follow them, too.

As of tomorrow, it's three Saturdays from Race Day. I'm so excited and can't wait to run my first half marathon. I hope you choose to follow along that day because I have a good feeling about it. It's going to be a big important day.

To my peeps running The Color Run in Little Rock, GOOD LUCK. Have too much fun. I'm totally jealous you get to run 3.1 miles and I have to run 11 miles. Wanna trade? HA. Just kidding...kinda. Take lots of pictures because The Color Run should be documented as the most fun run ever.

Fight or Flight

After a week of running 19 miles, I'm so glad this week is my recovery week. I did complete all of my runs last week, and my mid-week 5 miler wasn't pretty.

But I am thrilled to tell you all about my 9 mile accomplishment. So here we go.

I set my alarm for 4 a.m., which is something I never do. But I wanted to get up and eat breakfast so I could have time to digest before my 6 a.m. run. Y'all, I had it all planned out. I thought 6 a.m. would be the best time to go before it got too hot outside. And as I was loading my ice chest into the car, I didn't think too much about the fact that it was still dark outside. I thought for sure the sun would be on the rise at any time.

Apparently, I missed the memo that the sun comes up a little after 7 a.m. But being the trooper I am, I downloaded a flashlight app to my phone and took off in the complete darkness at Two River Park.

It was dark. I mean country dark. I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face.

Nobody was out there. The parking lot was completely empty, and there were no signs of human life.

But I wasn't alone.

I ran about a half mile when I turned on to my usual trail. With my flashlight beaming, I rounded the corner and was met with four pairs of glowing eyes. I couldn't see a thing but those eyes staring back at me. Ummmm....I almost peed my pants. So I turned around as quickly and quietly as I could, but then I heard some rustling too close to my left.

I hightailed it back toward my car at an 8-minute mile pace. My legs were booking it. I could hear my heart beating in my ears. Fight or flight, y'all. Fight or freaking flight. I have never moved so fast in my life. I was terrified.

I should have known the run wasn't going to be what I thought it was, but I decided to stay on the road instead taking the trails.

It didn't help.

I could hear too much movement along the sides of the road, and there were too many "shadows" moving. But the coyote darting across the road in front of me was the icing on the cake. I was done with the dark and Two Rivers Park.

I ran back to my car, got in it and left. Didn't look back.

So I drove down to the Big Dam Bridge, and when I got there I saw sunshine and people. Just what a girl needs after too much darkness and wildlife.

I did run a mile and a half at Two Rivers. So I completed the seven and a half miles I had left at the Big Dam Bridge trail. And it was glorious.

Here are my stats:
Distance: 9 miles
Time: 1:53:07
Best Pace: 8:39 (darkness and wildlife escape pace)
Average Pace: 12:34 (much more like normal)
Calories: 960

Let me just say this. Running nine miles gives hunger a whole new meaning. I've been eating the contents of my refrigerator like it's my job. And I'm still hungry.........it's Tuesday.

And for the record, I will not be running in the dark 6s again. Not ever. No way. Too many animals. If it came down to me and deer, I feel like the deer would kick my ass....plus they are naturally swift animals so I don't really stand a chance.

Such a Happy Day

I'm completely thrilled for two reason.

1. I GOT A JOB!!!!!

And with this new job comes the title of Executive Director. I couldn't be more excited about it. I can't wait to get started because I see so much potential for this organization. This vision and opportunity are great, and it's up to me to make it happen.

2. I RAN 8 MILES.

Here are my stats:
Time: 1:41:13
Distance: 8 miles
Best Pace: 10:10
Average Pace: 12:39
Calories: 846

The majority of this run was terrible like the lone three-miler I ran on Thursday (more on that later). I haven't been feeling well, and I ran fever a couple of days this week. Such a bummer. And it threw my running off.

I set out to do four miles of speedwork on Thursday, but I cut it to three miles because I couldn't breathe and my whole body felt like it was break into a thousand pieces.

Here are my terrible stats from Thursday:
Time: 36:22
Distance: 3 miles
Best Pace: 10:21
Average Pace: 12:08
Calories: 345

I have no idea what was up with me this week. I just couldn't get in a groove.

The 8th mile of my long run felt the best, and you know I have to be crazy to say that. But I finally worked through my side cramps and stomach pains and leg tightness by the 8th mile. So I can only hope that this week of running will be forgiving, however, I fear it won't.

This is the week before my next recovery week. And it's going to be tough. I have a five mile HILL workout and a 4 to 5 miles of repeats at race pace with a half mile warm up and cool down. And did I mention the nine mile long run???

Typing that just made me realize how crazy I must sound when I say it out loud. Looking at an 18-19 mile week. Sweet. And I'm starting to develop a nice toe callus, a runner's mark that I wear with pride and sometimes pain.

Just in case you're curious about what my day looks like, here is a look at my to do list.

And I got this book on sale at Kroger the other day.

Looks like my spare time is pretty wrapped up.

Tell me something that made you happy today.

The Seven Mile Milestone

Something amazing happened on Sunday morning. Something I've never done before. I ran seven miles. The farthest I've ever ran. And it was awesome.

It was one of those runs that didn't seem long or difficult. I was completely in the zone. And to make the seven miles that much sweeter I got to run six miles with my mom.

Here are my stats:
Time: 1:25:08
Distance: 7 miles (really 7.3...I'll explain it in a bit.)
Best Pace: 10:09
Average Pace: 12:10
Calories: 817

For the first .3 miles of running, my watch decided not to work. So I technically completed  my run at 6.7 miles in an hour and twenty minutes, but I just couldn't stop until I saw that perfect seven.

I felt good running. It was cool outside. I would have and did say it was freezing before we started running. But it ended up being just the right temperature. The sun was out. It was too good. And I didn't have any hypoglycemic issues! Hooray!

But I'm not the only person to hit a milestone this weekend.

My friend and sorority sister Sarah ran her first marathon this weekend.

She ran the 26.2 miles of the Chicago Marathon in 5:25:16. I am so proud of her awesome accomplishment. The whole weekend I was tweeting/stalking her, and I almost cried when she posted this photo of her.

So show Sarah some love because she is amazing!!! And she deserves all the congratulations she can get! Party on, Sarah!!!

Questionable Choices

I don't think I've told you, but I enjoy an apple after every training run.

Today's apple is quite the delight since I made the questionable decision to run outside at noon while it's a ripe 88 degrees. I'm lucky I didn't burst into flames.

I'm not sure what compelled me to run at noon. Clearly it goes against my best judgment. Every experienced runner knows not to run at noon in temperatures above 70 degrees. Period. There is no arguing with that logic.

And not only did I decide to run at noon, but I also decided it would be a brilliant idea to do speed work. At noon. In the 88 degree heat. Again, not my best choice.

When I got to the trails, I should have known not to go through with it considering it was me and the crickets. Not a car or human in sight. (Seriously, rethinking it now as I write it makes it sound so much worse because it really is a dumb thing to do.)

As I'm stretching, beads of sweat rolled down my neck. Disgusting. Hadn't even moved yet. So I changed my plans of speed work to a 3 mile tempo run, and I took off.

Y'all, it's so hot the animals weren't even out. No deer. No snakes. No nothing. Just me, the crickets and the huge flying grasshoppers.

I spent mile one playing a game of dodge the huge man-eating grasshoppers. Seriously, why do they have scissors for legs? I think one cut me. By the time my walk break came, I was beyond hot, but I was keeping a steady pace.

So I kept going knowing that mile two would be more in the shade. For this mile, I played a game of don't vomit because the smell of pine trees intensifies due to the excessive heat. Pine is not my favorite smell. Definitely not even close.

Mile three was a test of sheer will power. Mentally, I wanted to quit. The heat was extreme. The shade was no more. The smell of pine lingered in my nose. And just as I decided I would walk the last half mile, a girl in a hot pink top and matching shorts with full make-up jaunted right by me as if I was standing still.

Ahhhhhhh, hell no.

Something inside me died. And I think it was a touch of my sanity. Stupid make-up wearing sassy pants gave me the little extra something to push the pine smell and heat wave out of my mind. And somehow, only God knows how, I made it the whole three miles.

Here are my stats:

Time: 35:21
Distance: 3.0 miles
Best Pace: 9:18 (pretty sure it was due to sassy pants wearing the make-up or the pine smell don't vomit game)
Average Pace: 11:48 (much better)
Calories: 352

You can call me crazy, and that might be accurate. But I think my questionable decisions turned out for the best. At least they did today.

Tell me about your questionable decision that turned out alright. I love a good story.

From Long Run to Recovery

I've made it to what I would call a milestone this week. I ran 18 miles total for the week. I did two long runs this week due to rain. I'm pretty proud of myself. But Saturday I did a six mile long run. To date, six miles (really 6.1 miles) is the farthest I've ever ran.

It's a really great feeling to know I can still do it. And I'm even more pumped because all the long runs from now on will be milestones in my running life. Each distance will add a mile to the farthest I've ever ran. I'm in uncharted waters people, and I'm thrilled.

Here are my stats from this week's long run:
Distance: 6.0 miles
Time: 1:13:16
Best Pace: 9:13
Average Pace: 12:13
Calories: 693

This long run was super special to me. My mom came up to run with me. I love getting to spend time with her. But running with her is extra special. She is one of the reasons I started running. She is training for the full marathon, and this past week was her recovery week. So she only had to run eight miles.

I'm pleased to report I felt good running the six miles. I was in the zone. Ever since I ran my first 10K back in November, I've loved the distance. 6.1 miles is just enough. I'm not 100 percent sure, but I think I had a negative split on this run. I'm pretty sure I was faster on the last three miles than the first three. Negative splits are super awesome, and I'm pretty proud of that fact.

I'm starting week 4 of training, and it's my first recovery week. Basically I will run 3 miles for each run this week. So my long run will be a 5K. A very important 5K. Asher's race is this weekend. I'm super excited about it. I can't wait to see who all comes out to support her.

On a different note, I was reading a magazine, and I ran across this article.

So much is wrong with this. The article suggested wearing just a sports bra to show off your curves and neon tennis shoes to elongate the legs. I'm not even going to get into their thoughts on underwear. But I turned the page and got the biggest shock of all.

The only time you will find me working out with make-up on is if I run in the evening and I put make-up on that morning. There is no way in hell I would put make-up on before I went to run. No way. I mean that is just ridiculous. Plus waterproof mascara is bad for your lashes. Just saying.

I think the gym is one place where you can get a pass for not looking your best. I mean it's all about sweat. If you still look cute, you didn't work out hard enough. It's all about sweat. Not make-up.

On today's agenda:

• Foam rolling
• Grocery shopping
• Cleaning
• Laundry
• Writing
• Cooking something yummy for dinner

What's on your agenda?

How was your weekend?

Zoning Out

I did something kinda dumb the other day. I had to run 4 miles of speedwork. And I thought the temperature was going to stay in the mid 70s. Ummmm....Note to self: Check the weather.

I made the mistake of running in the heat of the day. Now it was nothing like the heat of summer. But still. It was hot. Four fast miles in the mid 80s is tough stuff. (I say fast, but we all know that is a relative term.)

Here are my stats:

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 48:35
Best Pace: 9:23 (no idea how that happened)
Average Pace: 12:09 (much more like normal)
Calories: 443

The miles felt good. Speedwork outside always seems to go by really quick. There are so many things to trick your brain into thinking it's not so bad. I change the pace every minute. I strive to hit 10:30 - 11:00 for one minute. Then slow down to 12:00 -12:30 pace for one minute. Then back up to 10:30 - 11:00 for one minute. Then I let myself walk fast for one minute. I did the three minute intervals for three miles.

I'm training myself to zone out. I want to trick my mind as much as I can for as long as I can. I think it will help me be mentally stronger toward the end of my race. I don't want to be mentally stressing at mile 4 on race day. Talk about a race day downer.

I also wore my Injinji toe socks the other day. And I have to say I really like them when my shoes are on. They feel super weird without shoes. And right before I took this picture I thought people aren't gonna want to see my alien toes. Seriously, they are that long. Disgusting, I know. Don't rub it in.

But I had to show you the socks. Over the past year or so, I've gotten blisters on the tip of my second toe on my right foot. Random place to get a blister. But I've noticed when I wear these socks I don't get a blister or add to the callus on the tip of my toe. I also like the thickness of the socks and the fact that they wick away a lot of moisture, which was good since it was a sweat fest of a run.

Yesterday was my off day. So I didn't run. But I did get to see Boom Kinetic play outside in the middle of downtown Little Rock.

It was the perfect way to spend an off day. I'm super pumped for their new album to come out. "City Ocean" is my new favorite Boom Kinetic song. So if you are in the Northwest Arkansas area or the Little Rock area, be on the lookout for a Boom Kinetic show. The band is full of cool dudes who love to play great music. Definitely check them out. So. Much. Fun.

Who's running today?
This girl. Three miles. Long run tomorrow with my mom. Yippie.

Weekend plans?

Stories from the Treadmill

Do you know how difficult it is to take a picture while running on a treadmill?

I have no idea what that says. I can make out a 31:15 time, and I know I did a 5K. But I have no idea about the pace or any of that stuff. And I thought I was being so proactive by taking this photo. Schucks.

We've had a good bit of rain here in the Big City. So running outside has been non-existent. But that doesn't mean I haven't been running because I definitely have been.

I did a two mile fartlek (speedwork, which was really three miles) on the treadmill Saturday. I wore my blue Brooks Adrenaline 12s I bought in New Orleans at the race expo.

I usually wear my pink ones that look just the same. But for some reason I put on the blue ones. While they are the same make and model of the shoe, the pink and the blue ones feel completely different on my feet.

By the time I finished my speedwork, my left shin and right ankle were screaming in pain. I had noticeable aches and pains I never have after running three miles. It's the shoes. Blue is completely different. I came home and put one of the pink ones on to compare. I could be crazy, but I don't think so. The pink one just felt better.

On Monday, it was still raining. And I had to run five miles. I couldn't put it off any longer, or I would be behind on the runs for this week. So I went back to the ole treadmill that only stays on for 20 minutes. I set it on the 5K setting so I would have to worry about the distance, not the time.

I'm happy to report I ran five miles. I only walked for a minute or so (and I say or so because I had to take into account the instance my treadmill shut off after I finished 3.1 miles) in between each mile. It took me about an hour or so. I tried to keep my pace right at 12:00, but I ran mile 3 at an 11:30 pace. And I wore my pink shoes. They made all the difference.

I didn't start to feel the burn until I was running my fourth mile. And that is how it's suppose to be. I love knowing the training plan I'm following is working.

Adding a mile to the long run each week is the perfect way to add to your fitness. The final mile is the one that builds your strength and endurance. And honestly, it's not so bad...if you've been doing all your training runs during the week the way you should.

I am excited I don't have to spend anymore time on the treadmill this week. The weather is too good right now to not be running outside. So I'm going to take advantage of that this week.

I'm running today. Speedwork. Three miles, which really is four miles considering the half mile warm-up and cool down. And I love the fact that I can run any time today because the weather is just right to be outside.

I'm also thrilled to tell you I get to run with my mom this weekend. I have a six mile long run, and she has an eight mile long run (she's in her recovery week). I love getting to run with her. I can ask her 600 million questions about different things as we run. Get ready, Mom!

What's new with you?

Have you been taking advantage of this awesome weather?

I Make Omelets

I love to cook. It's basically my favorite hobby. Well, it goes hand in hand with running. I love them equally. But running is a love-hate relationship sometimes. Cooking is just a pure love relationship.

That having been said, making an omelet terrifies me. I attempted omelet making one time, and I ended up making the ugliest scrambled eggs ever. I'm embarrassed to even say that. But seriously they were the ugliest scrambled eggs I've ever seen in my life. Too much oil in the pan. Wet and gray in color. I'm gagging just thinking about it.

Needless to say, not my finest moment in the kitchen. So ever since then I've shied away from omelets. I thought too hard to make. Too much room for error. And considering my first attempt being a complete and utter failure, I just couldn't face the eggy treat again.

I'm a weirdo, and for some reason scrambled eggs don't appeal to me. I love a fried egg, poached egg, boil egg, but not plain ole scrambled eggs.

Over the past month or so, my mom has been making post-run omelets and sending me pictures. And they always look so dang good.

Since omelets have veggies and cheese in them, it's not a plain ole plate of scrambled eggs, and that seems like a delight in every bite. The problem is I always think back to the gray veggie scrambled eggs that almost made me vomit just looking at them.

Today I hit a milestone in the kitchen. I made an omelet. A legit omelet.

And it was flipping delicious.

What is in my omelet, you ask? Two eggs, orange bell pepper, purple onion, mushrooms, spinach, basil, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.

This omelet could be one of my best creations yet. And it turned out so gourmet. And did I mention it was delicious?

Talk about a veggie and protein packed breakfast. And I paired it with two cups of coffee. Can't beat that.

I'm shooting for a 5 mile long run tomorrow. And I have a feeling this will be my post-run delight. And when I say I'm shooting for a run tomorrow...I'm not sure if it will happen because of this.

The rain is coming. It rained steady last night. And it looks like the bottom could fall out at any minute. I am going to do my speedwork for this week today. I have to run, regardless if it rains or not. I may have to run more than three days next week, but that's fine. We must sacrifice for the training. It will be worth it.

I'm not sure if this positive attitude comes from the fabulous breakfast I made this morning, or if all the episodes of The Biggest Loser re-runs are starting to reprogram my brain. Who knows for sure?

Weekend plans? Tell me about 'em!

Hills Are Not What I Remember

Let's talk about hill work. Specifically the Big Dam Bridge. More like damn bridge. I think I was mentally more confident than I should have been. The mind is a powerful thing, but that bridge is more powerful.

Those dang inclines...I can't even begin to tell you how slow I was. I was trudging. Trudging up those inclines. At the pace that I usually walk. Can I even call it running? It's too close and too hard to say. There goes my self esteem. Trudging....Who does that? I have no excuse.

Here are my stats:

Distance: 3 miles over the Big Dam Bridge and back

Time: 37:19

Best Pace: 10:00

Average Pace: 12:27

Calories: 319

I felt really good about the run when I started. I knew I had eaten the right foods, and I was anxious to have a good run considering the terrible one I had on Sunday. But the first ascent up the mountainous bridge was very humbling. My calves were screaming at me. And while I felt like I was booking it right on up that hill, my watch was less impressed with me. I was in the 14s. So freaking slow.

I was the Little Engine that could. I think I can. I think I can.

I told myself on the way back that my last mile would be faster. And I set a goal to finish in under 40 minutes. Seriously, the hills were a bit too much. I ended up finishing under my goal, and I know I can only get better from there.

When I finished I was greeted with the best sunset I've seen in a long time.

The picture doesn't really do it justice. But I had to show you.

I also stuffed my face with apple slice on my way home so I wouldn't have another episode.

Being a reactive hypoglycemic really has its downfalls. But the apple was just the right choice for a post run snack. It was cool and juicy. I've been loving the Envy apples lately. You should get some. They're pretty tasty.

On a completely random note, I babysat Asher yesterday. And right before nap time, she wanted me to read her this book.

I feel like this book, especially the kid on the cover, should induce nightmares. He is creepy. And what kid wants to read about body parts as a pre-nap time treat? I'll tell ya again. That kid is an old soul in a little kid's body.

She starts chemo again today. Round 6. Keep her in your prayers. We need a smooth visit.

Tell me something good.

Reactive Hypoglycemia and Running

Back in June, I found out I am a reactive hypoglycemic. And the way I found out was super scary. The experience included me passing out in a public place, vomiting on a super cute guy who smelled like an angel (yes, that was necessary to tell you), hitting my head on the concrete floor and making my mom drive to Little Rock at 2:30 in the morning. Could I be any more dramatic?

Y'all I can't make this up. It was scary. We had no idea what was going with me. And then I sat through the longest blood glucose test, almost puked on a nurse, cried my eyes out, and then went home and took a four hour nap. Yep, it happened.

After my diagnosis, I felt better because I knew I could control it somewhat. It's the type of hypoglycemia that is controlled by diet. So I moved from 2-3 meals a day to 5-7 small meals a day. And it worked. I feel good. I do.

But half marathon training has changed my body once again. I am now burning more calories because I am running regularly again. More running means more food. And I proved this to myself last night after my weekly long run.

I ran 4 miles last night. I've done it before and felt fine. But yesterday was strange.

Here are my stats (which I wasn't too excited about):
Distance: 4.0 miles
Time: 51:14
Best Pace: 10:14
Average Pace: 12:49
Calories: 407

The first two miles were golden. No pain. Nothing out of the ordinary. The last two miles were mentally and physically terrible. And I couldn't really pinpoint why.

I noticed my vision seemed a little watery, but I didn't think anything of it because it's that time of year for minor allergies. So I ran on. When I finished I felt some shortness of breath, but I thought it was just because I'd lost a lot of fitness.

I called my mom on my way home to lament over my terrible time. I use to be so much faster. I couldn't believe that this was the time I use to run 5 miles. How did I lose one whole mile?

Instead of going straight home, I went to Kroger to get some stuff to make a veggie pizza. When I was checking out I noticed I was having a hard time focusing on the stickers on my produce. It took a lot of concentration to get those typed into the register. (I always self check out....just easier.)

By the time I got home, the peripheral vision in my right eye was blurry and looked a lot like the black and white fuzzy screen on a TV. And that was when I realized I was having a hypoglycemic episode.

So I drank a small glass of milk. And within five minutes my vision was fine. But I knew I had to eat something fast. The whole time I prepared my pizza was a mental battle. I couldn't focus. It was like I knew what I needed to do, but I had to concentrate so hard to do it.

I had a 10 minute wait for my pizza to cook. So I ate some chips and drank some water. Then suddenly a severe headache took over. Sharp, stingy pains. I ate half of my pizza. Drank more water. Felt super sick. Like I was going to throw up. My head and stomach ached, and I was freezing.

I ran a hot bath. And just laid in the tub. I had no energy. And I was super sleepy. Just felt like blah.

And then I started to feel better.

All of this happened over the course of an hour. The onset of symptoms, the meal and recovery time took one excruciatingly painful hour. By 10 p.m. I was completely back to normal. No vision problems. No nausea. No headache. No stomach pains. No lack of concentration. Still tired, but basically normal.

Life Lesson Learned: Eat more before a long run. Eat something right after a long run. Eat a well-balance dinner after the post run snack. Always wear that dang ID bracelet (which I forgot to put on before the run).

Additional notes: Always tell someone where you are going to run. I called my mom and the roommate. I always tell the roommate, but now it's even more important that she knows where I choose to run if she's not there with me. If I had had a full hypoglycemic episode, I couldn't have told her where I was.

This is serious stuff. And I am taking it serious. It's so crazy how my body reacts to stuff now. And it's scary how fast it can happen.

I kind of hate it. I wish my body would burn sugar like a normal person. It's one of those things I have to be constantly watching. I don't have to take my blood sugar, which is a good thing because I'd pass out every time I had to prick my own finger. But it's still super frustrating.

If you are like me and need some support, please let me know. I would love to talk to you about it.

And for my family who is reading this and probably freaking the eff out, please try not to worry. My number one goal is to be healthy and smart about running. I love running and want to run this half marathon. And I will do it. I just have to be smart about what I eat and when I eat.

Little Rock friends/runners, who wants to run with me?

Has anything like this ever happened to you? Tell me about it.

Speedwork Distractions

Tuesday night it was 96 degrees when I got out of my car to do some speedwork. I think 96 degrees and speedwork should never be used in the same sentence...ever.

Going into the run I had a pretty solid plan on how it would. And lucky for me this time it actually did go as planned.

Day Two of half marathon training: Two mile fartlek.

Here are my stats:
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 37:22
Best Pace: 9:49 (probably when I ran by a snake...it happened.)
Average Pace: 12:28
Calories: 321

I thought for sure this run was going to be terrible because of the heat and my out-of-shapeness that has happened over the summer. But I was pleasantly surprised.

I had to watch the time because my pace would change every minute. I had to watch the pace so I remained consistent on the speeds I was aiming for each minute. And I had to watch the distance so I'd know when to cool down. Lots of bright and shiny things in the run to keep my mind occupied.

Distractions are a good way to keep your mind off the pain that comes with running fast and slowing down and speeding up again. It could have been a complete disaster, but it wasn't. Thank the good Lord.

Today's run is a 3 mile tempo run. I still haven't decided what that means for me yet. I need to converse with running guru aka my mom. She wrote my plan, and I'm not exactly sure what she wants me to do on this tempo run. I feel so brand new. Eekk.

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Switching gears:

• The Stuttgart Daily Leader wrote a great article about Asher's upcoming fundraiser. If you want to read it, go here. If you need a registration form, comment below with your e-mail address.
• The Gallery of Hope is Friday. I hope you got a ticket. I will be there. It's going to be a good time.
• Boom Kinetic is also happening Friday at the Rev Room. Please, if you haven't gone before, go and have the time of your life. It really is the most fun ever. Good people. Good music. Good times.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Who wants to run with me?

St. Jude, Here I Come

Happy September, Friends!!!

I hope everyone tries to get involved with some local efforts to raise awareness for childhood cancer. September is the month to do this. If you want ways to get involved, feel free to ask me. I know plenty of ways to get plugged in.

I went for a run last night. Three easy miles. But it was different than a normal three mile run because it was the first run of my half marathon training plan. Can you believe it's already time to start training? Y'all I have to get my mind right and wrapped around this.

Here are my stats:

Distance: 3 miles

Time: 38:48

Best pace: 11:04

Average pace: 12:56

Calories: 283

Now let me explain these stats. This three mile easy run was suppose to be my long run for the weekend. So long runs can be at whatever pace you feel comfortable so can get through the miles. Don't worry there will be plenty of speedwork and hill work in this training plan.

But last night it was 97 degrees when I got out of my car to stretch at 7 p.m. I guess I haven't been taking advantage of these cooler warm days the last few weeks. 97 degrees when the sun is setting. Wow. But I had to run.

A half mile into my run my legs felt like lead. Heavy. Not fun to pick up and put back down. Then I started to loosen up. I felt good. Nearing mile 1 I thought maybe I should keep going and run to 1.5 before taking a one-minute walk break. Something said don't over do it. So I took the break at mile one.

At the turn around point (mile 1.5), I felt good. Hot, but good. I turned around and headed back toward my car.

I need to mention I start all runs running away from the sun as it's setting so I can run in the cooler, less hot sun on the way back when I'm more tired. It's a very good theory. Really.

So I turned around at 1.5 miles to face the sun. My usual tactic. There was no breeze. The sun was relentless. At mile 2, I took my last one-minute walk break. I felt too hot. But I was determined to not quite on this silly 3 miler I'd run so many times before. How pitiful would it have been to quit a run on the first day of half marathon training? So pathetic.

The last mile was terrible, mentally terrible. My body felt good. Stride was good. Breathing felt normal. Not gasping for breath. But my brain was messing with me something fierce. And did I mention the heat. My head literally got so hot. At one point I thought it may explode from the unbelievable hotness that was put off from the shining ball of lava in the sky.

Lesson from the run: Stop being a pansy. I need to become mentally tougher. And the only way to do that is more running. Which I see a lot of in my future.

All in all, I'd call it a victory in the running books. I didn't stop, aside from my two one-minute walk breaks at each mile. And I worked through the lead legs and mental meltdown.

Tomorrow (Tuesday, September 4) I will run a two mile fartlek. Fartlek is just a fancy word for speedwork. Not at all to be misconstrued with passing gas or bowel problems of any kind. My plan is one minute fast jog, one minute slow jog, one minute fast jog, one minute walk over the course of two miles.

I have a feeling it's going to be another hot one. And I don't think running in the morning or evening will really matter. Hot is hot.

Tell me about your weekend?