Race for the Cure Recap

What a weekend it has been. I mean it was crazy good. I finished my first Race for the Cure in 40:34, which I think is pretty amazing.

I ran in honor of Paula, my co-worker who is currently fighting her second battle with breast cancer.

She is a huge inspriration and a wonderful woman. I am lucky to know her. She is truly a survivior and lover of all people. Her spice for life is something I envy. And I strive to truly appreciate things the way she does every single day.

Now I didn't take any pcitures of me or my group at the race. I know. I know. Bad blogger. But just so you know where I kinda was in the grand scheme of things, I was near the very front of the pack.

And that was just the front half of the group. The back of the line went way back. 46,000 women and men were registered to race and be part of the 3 miles of men. It is amazing to see some many people come together for one cause.

After the race, I got to spend some quality time with my mom. We went shopping for winter running gear. I can't wait to share those things with you on the blog once Mother Nature lets it get a bit cooler. I can tell you the new Nike store in Little Rock gives discounted prices on apparel. Good discounts. Check that out ASAP.

10K Training Update

I ran 4 miles last night. And it was clearly more than I was use to. I could feel the tiredness settle in about 3.5 miles. The last .5 mile was a mental battle.

I can do this. No...it's too hard. I should walk. No, don't you dare walk. It's only a half a mile. Just...keep....going....

And that is exactly what I did.

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 50:13
Best pace: 9:21
Average pace: 12:33
Calories: 419

Now let's talk about this for a second. I run 3 miles in 40-something-ish minutes. So I added another mile in 10 minutes. Holla. At. Your. Girl. Someone's legs were booking it last night on the River Trail.

I kept a pace I keep all the time, which makes me super excited. So adding mileage doesn't seem to affect my average pace. Hooray! And I did it by myself. So I know I can do it.

Now I just have to stick to the plan. My next 4 mile run will be Sunday. I'm gonna stick with 3 miles for the rest of the week. And be thankful it's just 3 miles.

My lower back paid the price of 4 miles last night. It had a dull ache after that. Luckily this morning it had died down. I guess the mile of extra jarring really didn't help my achy back.

Big Things Happening This Week

• I get my spiffy new tooth tomorrow morning. HOORAY!!!!!
• Part 2 of my PR Strategic Communications Plan gets turned in on Thursday.
• UCA Homecoming on Saturday...Woo Whoo! Can't wait to see my Alpha Sig sisters, along with lots of other fellow Bears!
• I WILL start my thesis proposal this week. It has to be done. This is my promise to start it. So there you go. I said it. So it has to happen.

How was your weekend?

What big things are happening for you this week?

Recommitment to the Run

It's exactly 9 days until Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

I got my race packet in the mail a few days ago, and something sort of changed. The reality of the race is starting to set in a bit more. I've been working toward this goal since May. It's crazy that it's finally here. Nine days away. While it's not my first 5K, it is the first time I will wear a race bib and actually run in the Race for the Cure.

Since the cracked tooth debacle, I haven't been able to run. The dentist told me not to run, and I was actually kinda scared to since my luck is not the greatest. So yesterday was the first time I've ran in two weeks.

Time: 41 minutes
Distance: 3.17 miles
Best time: 9:41
Average time: 12:56
Calories: 312

I'm pretty proud of the time considering I haven't ran in two weeks. But I'm not about to tell you the run was cake because it was pretty tough. I could definitely tell I had taken a prolonged break, but I don't think it will hinder my plans for my next running goal.

New Goal: 10K Training
I have exactly six weeks until the 10K Duck Race in Stuttgart. It's the Saturday following Thanksgiving so I'm sure I'll be needing a run to cut through the pumpkin pie, turkey and the thousands of pounds of sides I will consume to begin the Holiday Season.

So as of yesterday, I've officially began training for the 10K. My plan looks something like this:

The first three weeks (Oct. 13-Nov. 5)
3 mile runs during the weekdays (Mondays, Wednesday and/or Fridays) at least two of those per week.
4 mile run on the weekends (Saturdays or Sundays)

The last three weeks (Nov. 6- Nov. 26)
3 mile runs during the week (same as before)
5 mile runs on the weekends

And I'll save the 6.2 miles for the actual race on Nov. 26.

It's gonna be the longest, straightest, flatest 6.2 miles of my life. Long straights with little curves in the road. I'm gonna be so bored. Who wants to run with me? We can sing songs. Or make up stories. Or talk about how we are gonna eat corndogs and funnel cakes from the carnival when we are finished running.

Word to Your Mother

I hope everyone's week is going smoothly thus far. I am turning in a 6-page literature review tonight. And I wish the semester was coming to a close with assigments, but UALR is still cramming them in somehow. I did get a lot accomplished this weekend, although my all-nighter didn't really happen. I made it to 1 A.M., but then called it quits because my eyes were getting sticky with sleep.

Still a lot to do in a little time period. But I will make it work.

So I've decided something. But before I tell you what, I'll give you the back story.

Five years ago, I started doing Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. And every year my mom and I say we will meet up and do it together. Little Rock's Race for the Cure is the third largest race in the nation so my mom and I go with good intentions to meet up, but we can never find each other.

Once I got into a sorority, we started going as a group. And my mom went with her close friends. That was how it was for four years. Last year things changed.

I graduated college so I didn't walk with my sorority sisters, and my mom had become an avid runner who can kick a 5K in 30ish minutes. She's actually ran in the race for two years now so this coming October will be her third year.

So basically in five years, my mom and I have never done it together. So I am going to change that.

Instead of asking her to walk with me, I am going to do my first 5K. It's three miles, which doesn't sounds too bad. But it is a pretty hilly little stint of roads. I don't want her to walk because she loves running so much. (P.S. She is currently training for her first half-marathon on April 30 in Nashville). And I want to do it together FOR REAL this time. So I will have to suck up my hatred for running and knock out three miles.

I will have all summer and early fall to prepare for it. And I can already run about 1.5 miles....so that is half way. Only 1.5 miles to go.

I feel like this is something I need to do. 1) To help me stay in shape. 2) To get over the faux pas I have of running. 3) To do Race for the Cure together.

So that is my official decision. A 5K with my momma. I will run with her, if she will slow down enough for me to keep up. Training starts May 16, the Monday after school is over. That gives me six months...Surely I can do it. I will keep you posted with my work-outs and all that good stuff.

So yeah. Anyone else what to join? You can go for a jog with me. We can do it together. It could/will be fun.

Until next time...