Lincoln Marathon

I'm in! 
http://www.lincolnmarathon.org/

I'm better today.

Funk yesterday, I'm better today.  So let's do something fun!

Time to give this cutie away!

Random drawing pulled ..... Shelley Manning as the winner of the Inspired Endurance 13.1 necklace!  Yay Shelley you finally won!!  :)

Here is a bit about Shelley.  I 'met' Shelley on Daily Mile, back when I was *really* good at logging my workouts (not so much anymore, lol)  BUT, Daily Mile is a great place to keep track of workouts & it's social too.  Kinda like facebook for exercisers.  Speaking of facebook, we have even advanced to being facebook friends, & I'm pretty certain if we lived closer we would be causing trouble together.  And even though I think she's super cool, she won fair & square with random.org.  :)

Check out Shelley's blog - http://shelleymanning.blogspot.com/ - she is fun to read & a sweet Georgia peach. 

Shelley, send me your address & I'll get this right in the mail to you.  Merry Christmas to you! 

The marathoner who got killed by 3 miles

Reminder about my giveaway.... winner announced Wed! See my last post.

Ok so, I haven't really talked about my running much lately, & well, this is a running blog, so I suppose I should do that.

I started back running just last week.  I have my sights set on a May 5 1/2 marathon, training will start in February, but since I'm starting from scratch I thought it is time to get moving now.

I decided I would start very slow as to not hurt my hip, etc.  I decided I was ok with only running a few miles for now.  I started from zero before, I can do it again.  Last week was great!  Run felt good & I felt proud of myself for holding back when I wanted to go farther.  I wasn't sore at all, except for my heel, & I think new shoes would really help that.

I know I can get this back & I know it takes time to get there.

But..... just when I feel positive about things I have a run like today. All I can think of is I ran 26.2 last year & today 3 about killed me.

1. my hip hurts.
2. plantar fasciitis in my left foot.
3. my laziness is out of control.
4. my desire to eat very bad food wins almost every damn day.
5. I need new shoes.
6. my workout clothes are tight.
7. my attitude is bad.

I know we all have days like this when starting over & I hate to blog negative things, but I suppose this is all part of it. 

I normally try to be a positive, optimistic person, but today I feel like a big loser.  Grumpy Smurf says it all.

Another 13.1 Giveaway!

Kids it is time to give away one of my very favorite 13.1 necklaces!  I'm so excited about this giveaway!

It's WAY hard for me to give this one away, I want it!!  :)  But the folks at Inspired Endurance gave this to me to give to you ... so I'll just have to put one on my Christmas list. 

Well, actually, I think I will wait until I finish the Lincoln Half in May to wear one.  Even though I have ran 13.1 several times, Lincoln is going to be my redemption race.  I had to sit out of the 1/2 I had scheduled in October due to my pesky hip.  Anyway, enough about that for now.  I'll get you up to speed on that later.

Inspired Endurance sells some really pretty running jewelry. This is my favorite from their site, *just* in case Santa reads my blog ;)  I love the simplicity of it.  It's tiny & cute!

But...  here is the one I'm giving away today!  LOOK at this beauty!!  I love it so much.  It's even prettier in person.  Subtle, simple, classy.

The charm itself sells for $30, you'll also get the necklace shown, $20.  $50 early Christmas present for YOU! 

Here is how you enter.  Leave me a comment for each of these - that's 5 entries if you do them all :)

1.  Become a follower of my blog, tell me about it.

2.  Like them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspiredendurance

3.  List your favorite piece of Inspired Endurance jewelry: http://www.inspiredendurance.com/

4.  Tell me your running goals & what you plan to do to get there.

5.  And just for fun, tell me your favorite Thanksgiving indulgence. (then get your buns out there & work it off!)

I suspect with the Thanksgiving holiday & black Friday shopping you won't have a ton of time to read blogs.... so I'm leaving this one up for awhile, but I'll let you know who gets their early Christmas present soon! 

Run on friends! 

One Happy Stamper Giveaway!

Oh kids I have been a bad blogger!  I posted a giveaway and forgot to announce a winner!  GAWWWW! 

Happy Wednesday to Frickin Fabulous at 40! 
http://frickinfabulousat40.blogspot.com/

You have won a kick ass necklace from my friend Missy at One Happy Stamper!  Go to Missy's Facebook page (link below) and tell her you were the winner of Suzy's giveaway, with your address, & she will get your necklace on it's way!

If you didn't win this one, I have another right around the corner :)

Find Missy and her cute stuff here:
https://www.facebook.com/HandStampedWasherJewelry

what us mothers will do to run

I've been thinking about this post for awhile, thought I would do a shout out to all you mamas out there who do the craziest things to be sure you get your run in.  I know so many of you out there will relate to this.

I'd love to see some comments on this post about the great lengths you have gone through to get your run in!

Here are some of mine:

One day I left my kiddo at home (she was probably 10) to go get my long run in. I had my phone, she knew the rules of staying home alone .... but I still took every step worrying. What if I'm too far away & she calls? I ran around the block again, again & again .... for 12 miles! Just so I could be a minute away if she called.

Another day I took her with me. She was just learning to ride her bike, so I took her to our football stadium so she could practice in the middle of the parking lot - while I ran the edges of the lot. This was my first 8 miler. I will never forget it. HOT. Black asphalt. Around & around for 8 miles.

Here is probably my craziest.  I ran my first 10 miler ever on a track.  Inside.  All so I could keep an eye on my then 8 year old daughter - who sat like an angel on the side of the track playing with her nintendo & eating her snack.  This isn't so crazy, but here's the kicker.  That track was TINY.  13 laps per mile.  I ran 130 laps that morning!  Can you imagine?  OMG!

I was training for my first 1/2 marathon with a friend.  She had a baby boy at the time & had no choice but to take him along on her runs.  Lots of moms do this.  But what makes Laura crazy .... she lives in the country with only gravel roads around.  And corn fields.  And it's Kansas in August.  Picture this with me friends - here is Laura pushing a jog stroller down a gravel road, surrounded by corn fields, 100 degrees in Kansas.  I can see the buzzards circling now.  LOL.

Run on my mama friends!

Giveaway Time!

Awe, I know you have been missing my posts!  I promised another giveaway, so today is the day!

But first, let's talk running a bit.  I've been sick, sick, sick  :(  no running for almost 2 weeks.  Virus, allergies, ashma, who knows what the hell it is.  I'm still not 100%, but I got like 6 prescriptions from the doc - including an inhaler & it seemed to help a ton.

I got a strong 8 in last Saturday!  YAY!  Still an amazing amount of snot (we can talk candidly here right?!), but I got through it.  I actually felt pretty good considering I hadn't run for so long. 

I was so worried the night before, because I really felt like this run was the decider for race day.  I used to be training enough to miss a week & still pull it off, but I was doubting myself on this one big time.  

(Sidebar - what would I do without my sweet boyfriend as my cheerleader?  He gave me a much needed peptalk before bed, got up with me at 6:30 to see me out the door, AND left a sweet note on my car for me to find when I got done.  I love that man. *sigh*)

Weather was 50 degrees at the start of my run.  Perfect conditions.  It's amazing how much easier a run is if it isn't 100 degrees out! 

I'm not sure if the race on Oct 14 is a good idea with where I am right now in training (I should have done 10 according to the schedule).  So..... I may have to pick a race in November instead - but I'm proud of the 8 miler & I'm pressing on!

Ok.  Now for the goods!

Running is so cool.  I get to connect with friends I probably would never connect with. 

This giveaway is a handmade 13.1 necklace made by a runner friend of mine. She was kind enough to offer a cute giveaway for you today, so here it is! 

You can choose the color if pink doesn't do it for you (which I can't IMAGINE .... but hey, it's your necklace & Missy said you could choose)

Here's how to win this little cutie.  You have 5 chances! (you can leave 5 seperate comments, or just put them all in one)

1.  Follow my blog, tell me you do. 

2.  Like her page on Facebook, tell me you did it.  https://www.facebook.com/HandStampedWasherJewelry

3.  Snoop around her pics & tell me something you like, or what you would would have Missy put on your one of a kind piece.

4.  Tell me what your pre-run meal is.

5.  Lastly, tell me the craziest thing you do/have done with running? 

GO!
P.S.  Shelley M if you are reading this, I tried to post on your blog but that guess the word thing wasn't working for me.  I wanted to say .... Slow & steady wins the race Shelley!  You keep at it!  :)

Peace, Love, 13.1 Winner!

And the winner is....

Random drawing has chosen Danielle of Long May You Run http://www.long-may-you-run.com/  :)  Congrats Danielle!

Please send your address to me at hay1s@cmich.edu and I will get your Peace, Love, 13.1 necklace to you! 

Now, if you didn't win, don't be sad!  I have two more awesome jewelry giveaways coming!  I will post my next one early next week.  You're gonna like them  :)

If you are running long this weekend, have a great run!  I will be going 6 tomorrow - no choice, no excuses!

Week 3 & Peace, Love 13.1 Giveaway!

A bit behind on the blogging here friends, sorry about that. 

Week 3 Training:

Honestly I can't remember yesterday much less what I ran last week.  LOL  I need to start blogging first thing on Monday morning.

I do remember this - long run Saturday, 6 on the schedule - abort at 2 with a barf. 

Take 2 on Sunday - 4.5 is all this one could muster.

This weekend I'm trying the 6 again.

Ok now.....the giveaway!




















I will announce today at 2:00  :)  you still have time to get in on it if you haven't already.

Here is the post: 

http://countdownto13.blogspot.com/2012/08/week-2-awesome-giveaway.html

Week 2 & an Awesome Giveaway!

First, let's take care of business.

Week 2:
Mon : 3 miles
Tues: rest day
Wed: ooops, I didn't run today
Thur: 3 miles
Fri: rest day
Sat: 5 miles
Sun: rest day
Total for Week 2: 11 miles (a little behind schedule on mileage, but feeling ok about that)

Sum it up:  Sat run was awesome.  The other days, not so much.  I'm remembering that my best miles are done after 3.  I've kind of always been that way - it takes me a few miles to get warmed up and feeling good.  This has me looking forward to my longer runs again :)  My Saturday run was a real confidence booster.  It left me feeling GOOD!

Ok now for the FUN! 

I will have a jewelry giveaway each week for the next three weeks!  YAY!!  Each will have the 13.1 theme since that is my race of choice.

First up is Metal Stampin Mama.  I am super excited to introduce you to her.  She has really cute stuff!  She can personalize, she is lightening FAST with delivery, & your item comes to you in beautiful packaging.  She even put a personalized handwritten note in the last package I had sent.  :)  I love that special touch.

Here is what you can win!  CUTE right?!

Details of this giveaway....
You must do a few things to be entered (you have a chance of 4 entries!). 

Leave me a comment for each one you do, I count each one as an entry.  #1 & #2 are required:

1.  Follow my blog, write a comment here telling me you do.

2.  Like Metal Stampin Mama on Facebook, write a comment here telling me you did it.  https://www.facebook.com/metalstampinmama

3.  Look around on her page & tell me your favorite thing.

4.  Have a Facebook page? Post a link to my blog & this giveaway. Now tell me you did it.

Easy Peasy!  Giveaway winner is announced Tues 8/21.  Good luck!  :) 

Training... Week 1

First week of training, here's how it went:

Mon - 0 miles.  Day 1, slept in.  Not a good start!
Tues - 3 miles with the dog.  Won't do that again.
Wed - rest day
Thurs - 6 miles - in the dark.  Won't do that again.
Fri - rest day
Sat - 5 early morning miles.  Good :)
Sun - rest day
Total for week 1: 14 miles

Sum it up:  Week 1 was challenging for me. 

Getting back into the routine of running, eating to run, finding time to run, finding a place to run, etc.  I live out on a highway, but only 1 1/2 miles from a great park for running.  I tried running from my house, but by the time I got to the park, it was time to turn around since I only had 3 on the schedule. 

Highway is NOT a good place to run - especially at night.  I couldn't get a consistent pace going because I was constantly hitting the ditch. 

Lessons learned this week:  1. Even though I would much rather run from my house, I need to drive to run in a safe place.  2.  The dog will trip you and break your face.  Dog stays at home.

Giveaway coming SOON my runner friends!  Jewelry!!  :)

I'm in!

It's been awhile since my last post.  Not much to say about running lately, other than I just haven't been doing it.  I am lacking the time, energy and motivation.  Summer is slipping by.  No excuses, it is time to get off the tush.

I decided what I needed to get it going was to register for a race, so I did today :)  This will be my 6th 1/2 marathon for the books.  Time to start training next week!

Enjoy a giggle, at my expense

I really had a blond moment recently & only my runner friends will truly appreciate the ridiculousness of it all. 

As endurance runners, you all probably know about Nuun Hydration products.  Well, I'm always searching for on-the-go hydration that doesn't upset my tummy, isn't too sweet, but does what it should do.  Hydrate.  I sweat alot, so I really need salt on my runs.

A friend of mine suggested I try Nuun.  I bought a cute little bottle of lemon lime.  Portable, easily carried in my belt, didn't take up much space - so far so good.

I couldn't IMAGINE why anyone would like these. 

I got home and threw them out.  Then called my friend and told her how awful those were.

She was shocked - she loves them & couldn't imagine why it was so awful.  We laughed a bit about it & decided, well, we all like different things - I guess that's why they have so many things on the market.  Left it at that.

A few days later I talked to her again, still puzzled at how she could possibly like them.  I described why I didn't like them....

"After 5 miles in the heat the absolute last thing I would ever want is to have to chomp up a chalky lemon limey tablet. It was like eating a pack of tums all at once."

 It then dawned on her that ....

What I didn't realize about Nuun is .....you have to mix it with water. I thought they were chewable tablets - not mix ins.   I chewed the stupid tablet without mixing it in water!

I guess I learn my lessons the hard way  ;)  I am entertainment for my friends that's for sure!

Spin Spin Spin!

Well, my hip paid for that 4 miler I did last week.  SO.  Plan B.  I rejoined the gym & have turned to spinning.  Running is going to have to take a back seat for now.

I am giving in to my injury at this point - not forever - just for now.  Spinning helped me lose alot of weight last year while I was rehabbing my knee - I know it's a great workout. 

I know if I try to jump back into running at this point I will be frustrated & hurting, & I'll quit.  I will run again, but I need to get back into low impact cardio, strength training & do some PT on that hip before I dig back into training.

Saw some of my old gym friends who were happy to see me back :)

Trying now to get the exercise habit back.  Got my buns up Friday for 6am class, Saturday 8:30 & today again at 6am.  I'm sleepy.  lol

It feels good to be back to doing something good for myself!  Funny how we forget to do that.  :)

Wednesday Morning Run

Well, I did it.  Got my buns up & out for a 4 miler before work.  My hip is sore & I'm tired .... but it surely was nice to see the sun pop it's head out this morning.  Have a great day friends!

Truth Is ....

I'm barely running anymore.
Or anything else for that matter.
I have gained pounds since my marathon in Oct.
I'm not saying how many.
My hip has bothered me since the marathon.
So has my knee.
I quit the gym.
I lost contact with all of my running friends.
I feel tired.
And I know why.
I haven't been eating right.
Or sleeping enough.

Truth also is this. In the last 9 months I have:
Gotten divorced.
Sold my house.
Moved out of that house.
Downsized to an apartment.
Started a wonderful new relationship.
Ran a marathon.
Quit my job of 16 years.
Started a new job.
Moved again.

Now I didn't make these lists to have anyone feeling sorry for me or to justify my lack of running & fitness. That second list is nothing but good.

But when I reflect on the last 9 months, I see alot of big lifechanging events there. Even if they are good - they are still stress. It has been very hard to focus on running.

I have been so hard on myself for not keeping up on my running. I ran 26.2 a short 7 months ago, and 5 is my limit today - and I'm super inconsistent in pace. Now that things are settling a bit, it's time to get back on track.

So .... today is a practice what you preach kind of day. If my friend came to me today with this list, this is what I would tell her:

Start over.
You had knee surgery, started over and ran a marathon.
You've gotten it back before, you can get it back again.
It won't be easy and it won't come overnight, but give yourself a freaking break. Not an ice cream break, just a break. ;)

Today I am starting over. Tomorrow my butt will be out the door by 5:30 am to run. No excuses.
Hold me to that people! It's time to get moving!

The Hardest Part is Getting Out the Door

4:30am "I hate to run, I'm going back to bed"
4:45am "Well, I'm up, so I'll get ready"... "maybe I should go back to bed"
5:00am "I'll regret not going"
5:15am (mile 1) "I should of stayed in bed"
mile 2... "oh, hey look at my pace"
mile 3..."I need to sign up for that 10K next month"
mile 4... "I'm so gonna kick arz in that race"
mile 5... "I AM a running goddess"
mile 6..."that was freakin' awesome, can't wait to get up tomorrow and do it again!"

Just need to make myself put those shoes on!