I had new running clothes, it was my first race, and I have been running 5 miles so running 3 sounded like a piece of chocolate cake.
This is my friend Brette and I before it started:
The race started and like a true race rookie, I bolted. I was going really fast (for me) and half-way through the first mile, I knew I had made a mistake in the beginning.
Plus, I had on that stupid fleece jacket. Mistake.
I swung it off, tied it around my waist and slowed my pace.
The first mile, as usual, went by very quickly.
I never saw the second mile mark and was convinced I was still on the first mile even when I was almost done!
I finished in 29 minutes, about 9.35 minutes a mile- my personal best!
Me and Brette at the finish line. Don't we look hot?
While working a 10-hour shift and getting hungry, a cheeseburger doesn't seem so bad. Or those cheese-tots over there.
Don't even get me started on wanting to stop drinking Dr.Pepper. I can do it for oh, a week, and then I neeeed it! Diet Dr.Pepper has kept me satisfied, but I would like to knock out carbonated drinks as much as possible.
Exercise. The bane of my existence. I enjoy running but I have hit a wall. I can run about 3 miles before I am done. So done, it's not even funny. I wish I could hire a trainer, but college = poor. I know, 3 miles is better than no miles, and doing that 3-4 times a week is good. I just hope I can push past it! Come on, 4 miles!
The point of this post is to get me more motivated! I'm thinking that if I have to share my updates, I will push myself more. I'm hoping this will be alifestyle change, because fried food and lack of exercise is so bad for you and has no positives.
If I (ever) get skinny I will post before/after pictures. Not feeling quite that confident yet!
Maybe it was the excitement of leaving for Panama City Beach today.
Maybe it was my over-thinking mind.
Or, maybe it was the Dr.Pepper I downed after working the closing shift.
Around 3:30 I decided I wanted to go running. But I couldn't very well go at 3:30 in the morning. I decided 5 was a decent hour.
I stopped counting sheep and started counting minutes until 5.
At 4:45 when I could wait no longer, I rolled my stiff muscles out of bed and stretched my arms wide. My shoulders cracked. I touched my hand to my toes, holding the stretch and relishing in the delicious way my muscles burned.
I donned my running attire and headed out the door. The sky was dark but the air was buzzing. Birds were chirping and preparing for the day. Morning was upon us.
My arrival at the track went as usual; set water bottle down, mentally prepare myself, turn on RunKeeper, and take off.
I turned on a playlist of slow songs and set a steady pace, soaking up my run and enjoying the mornings first peaks of sunlight.
By lap 4, I needed some water. I gulped some down and went onward, my goal to at least hit 2 miles. By lap 5, I was salivating. A lot. My attempt at spitting landed on my thigh instead of the ground.
Saliva on bare thigh cannot, would not, will not stop this girl. Dare I say, beast? Cannot, would not, will not stop this beast.
So I ran on, finishing up and feeling like the true beast that I am.
I plopped down on the concrete, nursed my bottle of water, and turned on this version of To Build a Home. The sun was coming up, the sky was turning blue, and I felt God's presence all around me.
I longed for my Bible in that moment. To hold God's word and hear Him. Because I felt him, very real and very preset.
I really love morning runs now.
Maybe it was the beautiful sunrise.
Maybe it was God's peaceful presence.
Or, maybe it was the Dr.Pepper.
In case you didn't click the link above for 'this version', I have made it simple for you to listen.
If this was the last piece of music I heard before I died, I would slip away peacefully.
At the beginning of the summer when I decided I wanted to run a half-marathon, I bought this awesome iPhone app called RunKeeper and I have been in love with it since.
It cost a pretty penny but I knew I would get my use out of it. It tells you the calories you have burned, distance gone, pace, heart rate, location. Legit, I tell you.
Plus, you can control iPod playlists.
As for my running progress, I can now run over two miles without stopping. For seasoned runners, that doesn't seem like any big deal, but for me, it's a huge step.
I was running tonight and felt so motivated and inspired. If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow was blaring through my headphones when I finally reached my desired stopping point and I just wanted to scream the chorus.
I was happy. And proud. Proud that I am meeting my goals and proud that I am not worried about my pace or how long it will take me to reach a half-marathon.
I mean, I am one step ahead of everyone else that is still sitting on the couch. Right?
I am ashamed that my last post was Sunday, but my excuse is so legitimate.
Monday at work I got a terrible headache that steadily worsened. I couldn't bear lights or noise and felt dizzy when walking around.
I ended up leaving work and went home to try and sleep it off. I slept for about 3 hours and felt better so I decided I didn't need to skip out on my daily run. I went (my run was great that night!), but as soon as I got home and relaxed it came back.
I took medicine and slept for 11 hours, and when I woke up, my lovely headache was still throbbing away. I took more medicine, lay in the bed until 4 when I had to go to work, and it stayed with me most of the night.
The pain wasn't just a throb, either. I would have sharp stabbing sensations that would last only a few seconds. My mom finally said "enough is enough" and scheduled me a doctor appointment.
After waiting in the waiting room for over an hour and a short half-hour visit with my family doctor, I was diagnosed with migraines, a blood-work consultation was scheduled, and I got a sample pack of medicine. I'm hoping all is well from here on out!
In the running world, I can definitely tell that my endurance is increasing. I have completely stuck with this commitment and am feeling so good about it. I may have even bought a fancy running watch and tank top.
Last summer I would go to the track nearly 3-4 times a week and do several run/walk intervals. My endurance strengthened and I eventually could run 1 mile comfortably. For me, the exercise-challenged, this was a huge feat.
Once school started I didn't run anymore. Like, zip, zero, zilch.
But I thought about it a lot. That counts, right?
The more I thought about running, the more I wanted to be able to run so much more than 1 mile. I wanted to run a 5k, and then a 10k, and beyond.
This weekend I downloaded an iPhone app called RunKeeper and loaded the pod up with peppy upbeat remixes. I joined a running newsletter that will send me a running plan every morning and (hopefully) in 3-4 weeks I will be able to run the 5k.
I know, that seems fast. But the only requirements for the newsletter were that you be able to run for 1 minute straight. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
The run today was touch tough but I managed and felt great afterwards! I'm excited about this little plan. If anyone is interested in doing "the plan" with me comment and I'll put up a page of the workout cycle!
Happy workout :)
p.s. girl in picture = not me. As if.
p.s.s. remember saying "as if" 20x an hour after 'Clueless' came out?
