20 for 20!

Who thought I would run 20 days straight? It hasn't been easy. Many, many days I had no desire to face the treadmill or bundle up to go outside, but once I dragged myself there I was able to follow through. Only 11 more days to go!

December Running Challenge by Tall Mom

Tall Mom saved my fitness routine today. I was sitting at my desk, realizing it was 4:30 and that even though I had packed my running gear to hit the gym after work, I really just wanted to go home, sit on the couch and watch Pretty Little Liars on Hulu. (You're right--my life is extremely interesting.)

BUT, then I read Mel's post about a December running challenge to run every day this month. You only need to do at least a mile each day. I knew this is exactly what I needed. So I will be hitting the gym in the next 30 minutes so I'm not shamed into quitting on the first day (hmm, really the first hour) of signing up for the challenge.

You can do it too: http://www.tallmomontherun.com/2011/12/winner-and-december.html

Thank you, Mel!

Tale of a 5K PR

You know how when you decide to start a blog and you are amped to write every day, but then every day becomes every week and before you know it you're updating your blog twice a year and always apologizing for it? Yeah, that's me, minus the apology. I've been told women apologize too often, so in that spirit, on with the blog.

Like most slow runners, I have dreams of being fast like everyone else. I spent the past four weeks doing speedwork and tempo runs. And lo and behold, that stuff works. I haven't run an actual 5K race since 2009 (In 2010 I focused on a 10K and in 2011 I did my first half), and that time was something around 34 minutes. In my defense, it was also 96 degrees that day and there was a hill that lasted about a 1/2 mile.

Anyway, so I do this speedwork for four weeks and last Sunday at the Giralda Farms 5k/10k, I finished in 31:26. I still am dying to break under 30, but I'll take what I can get.

I'm also deciding on my next race. Right now, I'm looking at the Shamrock Marathon in March in Va. Beach.

In the meantime, I am going to finish our 2011 still vying for that under 30-minute 5k.

Cheryl vs. Her First Half

It’s been a month since I ran my first half-marathon, but I am finally writing the race recap. Hopefully my brain remembers all the sensations I felt during those 2+ hours.

Race Arrival

I’m really bad with arriving to races on time. I just don’t like standing around pretending to stretch and watch people doing strides. I just don’t do prep. When I go running, I walk outside my house and just go, so I follow the same motto at races. I showed up about 8 a.m. (start time was 8, but I knew I wasn’t going to cross the start line for about 30 minutes). Lots of standing around. I thought I would meet my new running BFF, but I didn’t speak to anyone until about mile 8.

Miles 1-7

So stupidly, when I was doing all my standing around to cross the start line, I had to pee, but I was hesitant to get out of my corral because what if they left without me? So I waited until mile 2 when I saw porta potties without much of a line. I knew I was losing minutes off my time, but it’s not like I was about to win any medals here.

I can’t even believe I am typing these words, but miles 1-7 flew by and miles don’t ever fly by for me. I remember and feel each one. But I was running along and just enjoying it. I also saw my husband twice and he had made a sign (aww!).

Still smiling at mile 5

Miles 8-11

Around mile 8, my left knee started to hurt. And then the right one followed. I was forced to take walk breaks and stretch breaks to try to get a little relief. The course also started to suck at this point because we’re winding along a river trail and since there is basically no parking, there are really no spectators to cheer you on until you get much closer to the finish line.

This is the moment when someone finally spoke to me. A woman turned my way and told me she wanted to die. Not feeling particularly inspired by her energy, I took out a GU and trudged ahead.

By around mile 10, I was just annoyed at my knees. But suddenly all the clouds in my brain cleared and I realized as the 11 mile marker was in sight that I only had 2 miles left. The end was near.

Miles 11-12

These really just sucked. I knew I was near the end, but the pain was rough. I also saw an ambulance coming to pick up another runner, which is always scary.

Less smiling is involved at this point.

Mile 13

I was never so pleased to see a finish line in my life. I hobbled my way across, took my medal, and sat down to enjoy Bret Michaels. (sidebar—does he have hair or is that a bandana attached to a wig?)

Final time: 2:46. Not what I wanted. I was hoping for 2:30. But I learned a few things. One, don’t trust your Garmin. Mine had me finishing miles before they were marked. However, this could be because I don’t run very consistently and veer all over the course, so maybe I added distance on myself.

Two, don’t doubt yourself. The week before the race I felt unprepared and wanted to drop out. I dragged myself there and ran 13 miles for the first time.

Didn't Die During the Half

I really need to write a run-recap. I've been planning on it, but just haven't done it yet. But I did finish! Update to come!

Still Alive, but Maybe Only Til Sunday

I don't think I've blogged in over a month. But hey, things got crazy--I got married, our huge work conference is coming up, and I have my first half-marathon on Sunday. I am EXTREMELY nervous about this race--I wanted to drop out last week and forget running. I haven't dropped out yet, but it's still in the back of my mind that 13 miles is no picnic and maybe I'm not really prepared to do this. I've done 12 miles, but I just don't feel ready.

At least Bret Michaels will be there. Don't try to tell me you didn't watch Rock of Love Bus.

So stay tuned. You'll either get a race recap next week or some excuse for why I didn't run the race at all.

Giving 10 Miles Another Go

The one good thing about thoroughly sucking at something the first time you do it is that you are almost guaranteed to do better the second time around. This was the case with my second 10-miler I completed Sunday. I shaved 17 minutes off my time! (You can write awesome stats like that when your initial time is so bad.)

I'm not sure why this run was easier.  Maybe because I varied my route a bit and ended up running through part of a SheRox Tri. Don't worry,  I stayed on the path and didn't get in their way. It was kinda nice to be running through a crowd and to have other people running around me. And I got to enjoy some of their music.

Or maybe because I had already done 10 and knew I could do it. Or because I dragged myself out the door at 7:30 a.m. so there was less heat.

They say third time's a charm--I'll find out this coming Sunday when I run 10 miles for the third time!