Squeezing in a Run

Do you ever have those days when it's just impossible to squeeze in a run? (ie, today for me.)

Yes, i probably should have woken up early this morning & ran, but believe me when i say i am NOT a morning person. And pair that with it still being pitch black outside at 6am - well, you have Melissa still curled up in bed.

I always run after work. But today i have to make a stop at the pharmacy after work, and then Tom's mom is coming over to drop some stuff off at our house. Which means if i were to go for a run, i wouldn't be able to until after 7:30 at least. When it is again pitch black. And cold.

It's time's like these i wish i had a treadmill. :P

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In other news, Saturday marked a concert that i have been waiting for since MAY. Roger Waters was on tour performing the album The Wall. If you are a Pink Floyd fan, you know what I am talking about.

Worth every penny.

Can i just say this was the BEST concert i have EVER been to?!!! I.was.blown.away. THAT is what a concert should be like. Amazing, amazing theatrics - music right on point - yeah, it was awesome.

And i leave you with a picture of my silly pup Spencer....doing his best Playdog pose. ;)

Hey, ladies.

Help!

Running break for a moment to talk Christmas....

What in the heck do i get my parents?! This is a question i ask every year...

My dad seems to buy any gadget he has his eye on, and my mom is even harder to shop for....what are you guys getting your 'rents this year?

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Since i'm still blogger stupid & can't figure out how to directly respond to comments on my 10k recap post, i'm going to do it here. :)

@Amanda - thanks so much! If you know anyone at Nike, have them give me a call. ;)
@LookingUpAgain - thank you! Sorry your work outweighed the time to race, but hopefully you got all caught up!
@TyLy - thanks lady! Let me know if you're ever in AZ & we can run together! :)
@DW - thanks! Ha, i totally would have crawled back in bed too if it was that cold here!!
@Allyson - thank you! You are a great runner - i'm sure you'll be breaking your old records in no time. :)
@OneCrazyPenguin - thanks! Yeah, i think i like the 10k distance as well...not too short, not too long.
@Gerry - thanks GerBear! Good luck in Vegas!!!

Turkey Trot 10k!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Mine started off with the 41st Annual Mesa Mi Amigo's Turkey Trot 10k! This was my first year running this particular race.

Unlike the Iron Girl 10 miler, i felt good going into the run. I decided to run this race for *me* and try not to focus on time or anyone else. I think it worked.

Getting dressed in the morning, i realized i was a walking billboard for Nike.

Nike, want to sponsor me??

But i'm glad i bought those arm warmers - it was a bit chilly that morning! (Nothing compared to the rest of the country, i know.)

I arrived at the race grounds just as they were finishing up the 2 mile run. After a bit of people watching, i made my way to the start line.

Chilly T-day morning

This was a big local race, but very well organized. (Tried to look for you, RunningLaur, but we know how that went! :) )Plenty of room for the runners and each mile was marked clearly. A+ job.

The first 3 miles were pretty standard. I kept my normal pace and felt pretty good. I stopped to walk up an incline around mile 4 and for the rest of the race alternated between running and power walking. 

Now, i had a secret goal. My last (and only other) 10k race was last year. I wanted to beat my time and felt pretty confident in it.

I'm happy to report i DID beat last year's time! New PR!

Phoenix New Times 10k 2009: 1:23:05

Mi Amigos 10k 2010: 1:20:38

Yes i realize the times are sloooow, but hell - i'll take it! 

All in all it was a good race. I walked away feeling proud & really that's all you can ask for, right? :)

I'm weird.

I don't know what was up with last night's run, but i was running all sorts of funky. You've heard the phrase "pounding the pavement"? Well, i was literally pounding the pavement. I have no idea what was up with my form, but my feet were a-stompin'.

Also during last night's run, i realized i do some weird things with my hands. Let me demonstrate.

I start out normal, like this:

Thumbs pointing to the sky!

Then, as the run progresses, the two other fingers decide they'd like to break free:

Also known as "lazy".

When that gets old, i usually bust into my "hang ten" grip:

I seriously do this.

And sometimes when a good song comes on, and i want to (pretend to) run fast, i rely on this:

I call it the "terminator".

More often than not, i end my run with this hand gesture:

Hope i don't offend you!

So, there you have it. My running form is obviously one that can be improved. :)

Mesa Mi Amigos Turkey Trot 10k on Thursday morning!

Monday, Monday

I noticed i had a few new followers - welcome! :) In the process of reading your blogs, too!


So, let's talk about the long run this weekend that wasn't. My running mojo basically took a vacation for the weekend & forgot to tell me. (I even tried to read my Runner's World magazine for some motivation, but that didn't work.)

I decided yesterday - since my trusty iPhone told me it was only going to be a high of 67 - that i would run to Game Stop (where i had preordered Donkey Kong) and run back. Around 4-5 miles.

Well so much for the iPhone being accurate - it was freaking warm out at 10:15!! I could honestly feel the heat radiating off my black Nike capris.

Basically i shuffled and wheezed my way 2.5 miles to the store, Tom met me there, we got Donkey Kong, and i rode back in the car with him.

Fail.

But Donkey Kong was/is fun!!

Reasons you should read my blog: I make you feel better about your running - because I'm sure everyone did waaaay better than i did this weekend!

Runnin' just as fast as we can...

I ran my little heart out last night.

I started off at a pretty good clip - i knew i was only going to run 3 miles at the most, so i decided to stick with the pace.

And i did.

Just short of 3 miles, but that time is really good for me!

And not to gross you out, but check out this gnarly blood blister i have from my race last weekend. At least it doesn't hurt!

Grosssssss

Blog help?

Ok, might be a dumb question BUT - how do i set up my comments so that i can reply back? (So the commenter will be notified?) Appreciate the help.

And thanks ladies for your comments on the race & thanks to the couple of new readers i have gained! :)

Knew i forgot something...

Guess who has two thumbs and forgot to stretch after her 10 mile race?


Yeah, that's right. Me.

No wonder i feel like an 80 year old woman. Sigh.

Hoping to get a nice 2-3 mile run in tomorrow night, as long as the hips cooperate.

Next race is the Mi Amigos Turkey Trot 10k on Thanksgiving morning. I've only done one other 10k and i'd like to beat that time....we'll see!

Aflac Iron Girl 10 Mile Race Recap

Whew.

Let me say that again.

WHEW.

This race challenged me through and through. I think it was even harder than my 1/2 marathon last year.

As you know, i was pretty (really) nervous about this race. I just didn't feel ready enough for 10 miles and that feeling carried over to race day.



Nervous smile.

 The expo was held before the race, which i thought was kinda weird. I didn't even get my goody bag because the line was too long & i was getting stressed out. Sad face. So i picked up a couple of samples & headed back to the car to sit with Tom for a bit.



What have i gotten myself into...



I had a headache, felt like i wanted to throw up (nerves) and was just. not. feeling. it.

But i knew i had to try.

So i headed back to the race corral and waited for the race to begin.

This race had a 10 mile option and a 5k option. We all started at the same time and at the beginning of mile 3, the 5k racers broke off. The first 3 miles were fine - i kept a comfortable pace, mostly because i had to weave in and out of walkers & mother/daughter teams. (I was thankful i didn't decide to do the 5k, bc there was no way i could PR in it with all the weaving.)

Once the 5kers broke off, i thought "Well here goes nothing." I started to take some walk breaks and tried not to think about how much farther i had to go...

There were a few hills/inclines in this race, which would come back to haunt me on the second loop. I crossed the 5 mile point, where the course looped around for a second time to finish the other 5 miles.



Yeah, i was totally power walking before this.


Tom was waiting there for me and i seriously, seriously thought about walking off the course right there. My head was just NOT in the right place for this race. But he told me to keep going & not wanting to disapoint myself, i did.



Heading off for the second loop of hell

 Took a quick break for a porta potty stop (which was like a quarter mile OFF course. Not cool.) and headed out to mile 6. (Funny story: you guys, i totally peed my pants. I'm walking up to the porta potty & all the sudden my body decides "We will pee right here, thank you." Haha so embarrassing. Luckily i was able to finish the rest in the porta potty.)

After the adventure with the porta potty, I met up with a girl who was keeping the same pace as me and thank God we started chatting. I was just losing all stamina and she was struggling a bit too, so we walked & chatted for the next mile & a half. Thank God for her because i really needed that boost.

I kept saying to her, "Did we run this same path the first time around? It feels so long!!!" No joke, i thought life was pulling some cruel joke on me. I told her i had a bought of narcissim when i signed up for this race. Why did i think i could run 10 miles this early in the training game?! I definitely channeled my inner 80s power-walker more than once this race.

Anways, we reached the bridge & decided to run across it. I felt good at that point, kept a nice comfortable pace and ended up running the whole bridge and a bit after it. I hit another wall shortly after that, though. Mia caught back up with me and we walked the rest of mile 8 and most of mile 9.

At this point, i didnt care about my time. I just wanted this damn thing over with!!

Exact words to Tom "I hate life!!"

And finally, the heavens opened up and i saw the finisher's chute. I gave it all i could and crossed the finish line with a time of 2:24:24.

It was a tough one, guys. It really, really was. And honestly, i'm not too disappointed with myself. I know if i could have gotten out of my head, i would have been able to run more but truthfully i am just thankful i finished.

Thanks for all your comments of support! I can definitely feel the effects of the race today. Luckily my feet & legs feel amazing. My hips & ass? Not so much.

On to the next...

Tomorrow....

At least i feel prepared clothing-wise.

:/

Shout Outs!

Thanks to those of you who commented on my last post...i appreciate the kind words!

Now, for some shout outs:

One of my longest blogging buddies, the amazing Katye, has a kickass raffle going on at her blog. This chick is a PHENOMENAL runner and does such awesome work raising money for charities.

Please check out all the super cool products she is giving away & donate to a great cause! (I'm on my way to do it now!)


A new bloggy buddy, the hillarious SuziStorm, JUST MADE HER WEIGHT WATCHERS GOAL TONIGHT! You guys, she has lost 92.6 pounds!!! Can you imagine what dedication and overall amazingness she has?! I'm sure she'll post about it soon (i know i'd be screaming from the rooftops!) so go over and congratulate her! (PS. She's an amazing runner, too!)

Self Doubt

When i started this blog a year ago, i was very new to running - and the running community. I had done a 5k race and ran a couple miles here and there during the week, but never anything more than 3 miles.

Hell, in my first 5k race i wore a cotton shirt AND socks. That's how new i was.

Once i began training for my first half marathon, i learned more and more about running and found amazing blogs written by amazing runners.

I love reading their posts about new products, a good run, their training, and race recaps.

BUT.

Sometimes what is a great post about an amazing accomplishment, i find a way to turn it into something negative to me personally. Like, "Holy shit, she ran a sub 2:30 on her first half marathon?!" or "A sub :30 on a 5k?!"

Because i know that will never be me. And then i think about some of my posts and how i ran 3:03 on my first half...and i just start to get down on myself. "Ohmygosh i hope they've never read my posts - they probably laughed out loud at my times."

Ok, ok, i know this probably hasn't ever happened. But i start doubting myself as a runner. And can i even call myself a "runner"? Do i not belong in the running community because i am more of a jogger? And still get winded after 3 miles?

But then i tell myself to shut up and quit thinking that. So what if i'm slow? I am still able to run and that is more than some people can say. Yes, i might completely collapse and have a horrible time during my 10 miler on Sunday. But i am going to TRY. That's all i can do.

Just don't expect a bragging post race recap post. ;)

Now, if you'll excuse me i am going to watch disc 2 of The Vampire Diaries that just arrived tonight. And drool over the hotness that is the guy that plays Stefan. 

Dayum.

Begin Freak Out.

Before i get to the neurotic part of my post, i went to the Arizona State Fair this weekend. Let me tell you, PRIME for people watching. I honestly could have stayed there for hours just soaking in the craziness. Instead, i had my first-ever deep fried twinkie.

Pure.
Heaven.

Granted, it was not Weight Watchers friendly, but i had to try it!

I ran 6.5 miles the next morning, so i'm hoping it burnt some of it off. ;)

View of my morning run.



Now, on to my freakout.

The Aflac Iron Girl 10 mile race is Sunday. THIS Sunday. I just don't feel prepared for it - i was sooo tired after my run yesterday, i just kept thinking "How in the hell do you expect to run 10 miles in a week?!"

So, i have two options:
1. Suck it up, try my best, feel like i might die, but still attempt the 10 miles.
2. Start out doing the 10 mile, but if i'm not feeling it, call it a day at the 5k race stop point.

I'd really like to do #1, just because i know i will be very dissapointed in myself if i don't complete the 10 miles. But i'm not gonna lie - I'm scared sh*tless. Plus, it's a loop course - i hate those.

So we will see how my running goes this week...and RunningLaur, i'll be looking for you too! :)

I miss Halloween!

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween! I was "Where's Wanda" (Waldo's girl counterpart). Funny thing - the party we went to, there was a Waldo there too. We tried to hop in the background of everyone's pictures. Like this:

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays - i usually have a blast. But for whatever reason, i was feeling "off" this Halloween. Probably bc i felt fat in my costume. :P

Just so you know, i only made them dress up for the first trick or treaters. :)

Tom was a McPoyle brother (from the tv show It's Always Sunny) and my friends Ben & Corey were the charcters from Misery!

Anyways.

My running has been going ok - with the exceptions of my long runs. I am SO not a morning person and i can really feel it when i get up for my long runs. My energy is just shot - for whatever reason, i always do much better when i run at night. Which so doesn't work for races...

Mentioning races....the Aflac IronGirl 10-mile race is next Saturday! HOLY CRAP. I don't feel ready.
:( Debating switching to just the 5k....