Tag: MLgoals

I’m skipping WIW this week because these are the only numbers I care about.  (Can someone tell me what the split means – is that the halfway point? – I need to learn more about splits in general and how to track them etc).

Please note my “unofficial” time that I kept on my ipod that did not include the bathroom break was 2:11:54

Oh and another NSV – my mom insisting on buying me some clothes while I was home because my stuff is getting stupid big. I fit EVERY pair of 12s I tried on and most medium shirts. Say what?

Me and FasterStronger before the race!

Race Day In Review

  • Despite not getting as much sleep as I would have liked on Saturday night I was up and ready to go Sunday.
  • It was COLD on Sunday morning and I debated wearing compression tights instead of compression shorts – but I had never run in the tights before and I didn’t want to try anything new.
  • Get to the park and use the potty before there is a line.
  • Texting with FasterStronger to find out her whereabouts – oh and I’m a creeper and texted her a picture of me since I’m still faceless on here.
  • Drink like a bottle of water because of nerves.
  • Meet up with FasterStronger and her friend. I loved their cute outfits for the race. We drop our stuff at gear check, take our pre race energy gels and make our way to the start.
  • We go to the 11 minute corral – the race starts with the seeded runners who got to wear black bibs, I kinda had to pee, but I ignore it because I know I will sweat it out and the lines are long.
  • The race starts with silver confetti and we pretty much stand still for 2 minutes until out group gets to the front.
  • Right out the gate I feel good, cold, but good. I am a concerns about having to pee already since it’s COLD out. However I really don’t want to lose time stopping so I vow to push through and hope to sweat.
  • After my first mile I see I’m running a sub-10 pace which is exciting, but I also don’t want to over do it so I try to keep myself around the 10 min pace as much as possible.
  • See FasterStronger and have our awesome High 5.
  • While running I see 2 ladies with homemade shirts that say “a DIVA is a female version of a hustler” – I am immediately mad that I didn’t think download that song and put it on my playlist.
  • I spent a lot of the run looking at what everyone was wearing (I’m such a girl). LOTS of pink and black. I see a number of women with iRUNLIKEAGIRL gear on.
  • Like I mentioned I also was in awe of all the women themselves and how different every single one of us were.
  • Around mile 4 I see ladies in line for port-o-pottys, but I decide not to stop despite the fact that I have to go and I’m still not sweating. Plus I just drank a bunch of water with my 2nd energy gel.
  • By mile 6 all I can think about is having to see and decide I MUST stop. I know my pace will pick up if I pee so I try not to stress out about losing time.
  • Finally right before mile 7 I see pottys and only 2 people in line. I pause my Nike+ sensor so I can track my time minus the bathroom break.
  • Get in and out pretty quickly and feel MUCH better, unpause Nike+ sensor.
  • I pick up my pace quite a bit to try and make up for some time and believe it or not after a mile or so I catch up with a few ladies I recognized from the pack I was running with (one girl was running with just a sports bra and had quite an ample bossum [I should have just worn a sports bra – I mean it was all women, who cares] and one girl had a camel back and awesome tights on)
  • Next thing I know it’s mile 10 and I still feel good. Still around a 10 minute pace.
  • Finally like mile 11 I start to sweat – it had been so grey and cloudy all morning. I’m starting to get really tired and notice people starting to pick me off.
  • Mile 12 we get feather boas and tiaras (I opt out of the tiara). I keep telling myself to push through and keep up my “suicide pace.” I muster the strength to run full force and pick off a bunch of people
  • The last mile of the race was not scenic – we ran through like a truck depot/parking lot which was hella awkward.
  • I finally see the finish line in sight. Sadly the crowds were as loud and crazy as I hoped (however throughout the race I enjoyed seeing dad and kids cheering and holding signs for moms).
  • Crossing that finish line was a beautiful thing.
  • I RAN THE WHOLE DAMN THING. I only stopped to pee. No walking, no jogging, all running. I’m pretty much I ran in the 9:15-11:55 min/miles range the whole time.
  • My legs felt STRONG – I remember looking down at my quads as I ran and being impressed with myself – my ankles were a bit mad at me for running the whole time, but they got over it.
  • After the race it was time for medals, champagne, roses, food, pictures, and stretching.
  • Met back up with FasterStronger to recap the race, chat, celebrate and then say out goodbyes.
  • Try to keep moving and walking because once I sit I know it’s going to be hard to get moving.
  • Meet up with my aunt for brunch, head home for a shower and 2 hour nap before my flight back where I slept most of it.

I am so proud of myself. I had a great race. It’s interesting to surround myself with you fitblrs and hear about people running half-marathons, full marathons, ironmans like it’s NORMAL. WE ARE NOT NORMAL. So at first training and even running this half I was like “no big deal” because honestly I forgot doing a half was impressive! I’ve gotten so much love and support from friends, colleagues, students, etc – plus all the fantastic messages I got from you guys (especially when I get loved on my by my “tumblr crushes” – I get so excited). I’m looking forward to my next half on halloween weekend, then after that Triathlon training I’m coming for you!

Beauty in All Sizes

Just woke up hella sore after my 2 hour nap and need to pack up and head to the airport – where I will limp around I’m sure.

I have so much to say about today’s half and I will write a full post tomorrow, however I must take a minute to share what stuck out the most was how beautiful, unique, and amazing each runner was.

Running alongside nearly 3,000 other women was surreal. There were all shapes, sizes, ages, colors, abilitities, etc and we all had the same goal. Each runner was strong and graceful and determined. I really almost cried while running thinking about this sisterhood of runner I had the honor of being a part of even if for a short time. While I ran not only did I want to do well and achieve my goals, but I wanted everyone around me to do the same. 

As I was running I also thought of all you tumblr ladies (and gents) and how inspiring and BEAUTIFUL you each are. Love your body and love yourselves because you are a gift to each person who knows you.

UGW in 6 months?

I just realized that Tuesday was September 21 – which is 6 months from March 21 which is my “Ultimate Goal Weight Ultimate Goal Date” (try saying that 3 times fast) that I set a little while back.  March 21 is the start of Spring and I want to emerge from my formerly fat cocoon then too!

I am 29.4 pounds from my UGW of 155 pounds. It’s taken me nearly 9 months to lose 38 pounds. It’s certainly possible to do – is it probable I’m not sure given my battle with plateaus. HOWEVER in spite of that I think coupled with triathlon training and full marathon training (I’m hoping to run one in April and then the Dublin marathon next October) that in 6 months time I couldwill be 155 pounds with a BMI of 22. 6 months – that’s nothing (which mades me think of BenDoesLife’s post about what got him started). 

Dublin Marathon 2011 – Who is coming with me?

I was just gchatting with my sister about my ½ marathon and we were talking about her NYC ½ marathon she did last year (a friend got injured and my sister had 5 weeks to train and be ready to take her spot). She ran it like like 2:50:00 which is amazing considering she was only a casual runner.

Anyway she told me about the Dublin Marathon and how it apparently is one of the flattest courses in the world. http://dublinmarathon.ie/index.php

Oh and the race is on HALLOWEEN. COME ON!

I have not traveled outside of the US before. My 2009 Resolution was to get a passport – which I did. My plan was to travel in 2010, but I feel like this year has been so devoted to heath and fitness. So maybe 2011 can be my travel year. Ireland has been the on the top of my to-do list. (I want to visit the 4 countries that primarily make up my ethnic background: Ireland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Italy).

I’ve talked about Ireland for almost a year, but keep making excuses about money or work or whatever. This gives my a over a year to be ready for a full marathon with hopefully a few varying distance races/triathlon in between and gives my sister a year to start training, plus I want to rope in my friend Kelly who I have talked going to Ireland with and I roped her into a 5K with me in May. And also a year for all of us to save $$$.

Hotter’N Hell Hundred

Yesterday was the Hotter’N Hell Hundred which is a cycling race that happens in a town I once lived it. It’s a pretty big deal. This is the info I found on it on wikipedia.

The Hotter’N Hell Hundred is an annual bicycle ride in Wichita Falls, Texas. It is held each year on the 4th or 5th Saturday in August (always 9 days before Labor Day) and includes professional as well as amateur riders. The professional racers ride a 100-mile road race, as well as time trials and criterium. For the amateur riders, there are road routes of 100 miles, 100K, 50 miles, 25 miles, and 10K. The amateur routes are also open for inline skating.

The race was first held in 1982 as part of the Wichita Falls Centennial Celebration. The name is thus a rare example of a triple entendre: one hundred miles (i.e., century) in one hundred degree Fahrenheit weather (the race is held in August, usually the hottest month of the year in Wichita Falls), initially conducted to celebrate the city’s 100th anniversary.

Approximately 8,000 to 10,000 riders participate each year, making the Hotter’N Hell Hundred the largest sanctioned century bicycle ride in the US. 2009’s Hotter N Hell had over 14,000 riders

I’d like to one day participate in the race…maybe even get to be the type of rider that does 100 miles! Currently, I don’t even remember the last time I was on a bike, but I have big plans down the line…

Perfect Run

Today’s 10K was GLORIOUS.

I felt great, temperature was in the 70s with overcast skies, and I was ready to go.

My goal time was 1:15:00

My ULTIMATE goal time was 1:09:00

My unofficial times thanks to the ipod stopwatch was 1:09:10.

HOLLER!

I felt so great the whole run. It was the 5K loop twice which I liked. We ran over 2 different bridges and there were more hills than I would have liked, but I pushed through.

I felt so strong and powerful. 

My friend Sara ran her first 5k today and high fived me as I crossed the finish line and got it on video. 

After we finished there was a beer truck which was pretty glorious. It overall was a very laid back race VERY different than my 5K. 

Seriously though finish lines I’m addicted to you. Bring on the half marathon in 2 months. Also I’m ready to turn 27 a month from today…I swear I’m like a fine wine I, I only get better with age.

I’m sure I’ll write more about the 10K at a later and date and include some pictures, but I wanted keep you all in the loop. 

Thanks for all of your love and support!

SIX SUX :P

FIRST – THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR POSITIVE WORDS AND COMMENTS. It means so much. thank you thank you.

I got some 10K gear today. I bought a dri fit tank, compression shorts, a sweatband, and new headphones (thanks 365to30 for the recs). *pictures coming soon – I plan on doing a practice run in all my new gear this week*

Today was my 6 mile run as per half marathon training. I planned on running in the evening again today since the timing worked out well last time. I had a work event this morning and then laid out my the pool ALLLL afternoon. I didn’t eat enough all day, was tired, and sun stroked (haha). I ended up not LEAVING for my run until 7:45pm. I didn’t love the course I chose and was tired. The middle of my run I wanted to give up, but  a. I knew it’s only mildly physical, it’s mostly mental. b. I was too far from home and if I walked I would be LAAAATE getting home. I took a few walk breaks, but charged through. The last 2 miles of the run I actually felt really good. I ended up doing the 6 miles in 1:19:02. I’ll take it. My goal for my 10K realistically is 75 minutes (1:15:00), and in a fantasy world its 69 minutes (1:09:00). I think given the obstacles I had to overcome today it was a solid run and it feels great to have done 6 miles – it was my longest run to date.