Here is a great picture of Fat-dog- this is actually what I dream of doing to Fat-dog. But I don't. :)

London bridge fell down too!

Yesterday was a big day in MY running world. I was able to push myself to achieve a goal that I thought was actually out of reach. My goal: a 10-mile run. I started off pretty excited because it was going to be my first outdoor run in several weeks/months. (Winter seems to lasts forever around here)  The sun was shining, birds were singing and the heat was up to 67 degrees. A runner couldn't ask for better conditions. Slowly I am becoming one!)  The daunting task is thinking about the 10 miles ahead while filling up my water bottle, wondering what and how many snacks to pack. It just seams like such a long distance.

       They say you should eat/snack 45 minutes into your run if you know you're going to be running longer than an hour. So I have to have some PowerBar /gummy bears (to change my mouth taste) around mile 4-4.5.  Carrying water is always a struggle because it weighs so much and jiggles. But I have a trusty fanny pack for my running luggage. A spot for the water bottle and pockets for any treats. (I am well aware of the fact that I look like a child from the 80's. The pack is very similar to the ones my mom made us wear as children on our seasonal trips to Disney World. Gee-thanks Mom!) 

But just like back then, it is actually very handy. 

       With my fanny pack packed, shoes tied tight and IPod fully charged I was ready to embark on my running journey for the day. It was going well. Five songs played through without me struggling. I usually play a game to get through some of my runs. My first 3 songs are sung by boy artists and the next 3 are sung by girls. It continues to switch through out my workout. Each set of song allows me to finish a mile(give or take). This lets me focus on how far or how long I need to  continue my pace. It also takes my mind off the road or treadmill. So, like I said, 5 songs in and the run was good, until My big event happened. I tripped. I stumbled over the uneven pavement and went down hands first, feet over my head and tumbled to a complete stop on the grass. I must have looked like complete idiot. ( like the blond below)

Thank goodness for grass!!!  I had some grass stains on my hands and knee, but no blood. I could feel a little pain in my hip and wrist but over all I was OK. I got up, brushed myself off and had to make a decision. Do I turn around and go home or continue on my way. Turning around now, I could chalk up that I trekked almost 4 miles. However, that was shortening my goal by more than 6 miles.  Yet, If I continue there is no one to pick me up if I start hurting down the road. Choices.  6 months ago, I would have turned around and not though twice. This is not then. This is a new year with a new attitude. 

There was no turning around. I had a goal to meet and that was what I was going to do. Keeping my time, I had to pick up the pace. Falling down doesn't do much for the clock. I hit my turn  around point, while eating 1/2 my PowerBar, (in 5 minutes longer than I was aiming for-10:55 pace). I took a  short stretch break and noticed my hip was a little tight and this was just too bad, because I decided I was going to beat the time I had and aim for negative splits. (negative splits- less time spent and on the 2nd half than on the first.) So I started booking it. stretching out my strides, picking up my heals so they would be closer to literally kicking my butt. In less words: Running. I was able to cut 9 minutes off and take my pace to 9:30 per mile, which is pretty good for my short stubby legs.  I finally made it home. 

Shortly upon arriving home, I was tired, the run was over and I sat down. I quickly had a revelation; either my age was catching up to me quicker than ever before or my adrenalin was wearing off. Either way my hip began to throb. I grabbed my medicine cabinet favorite (Ibuprofen) hoping it would solve my problem. Then just hung out for the rest of the day.

 Hubby came home from work and got his laugh out of the situation because he couldn't figure out how I just tripped. jerk. (not really, he is a nice guy, he just laughs at everything-especially me) We went to bed. Sleeping was painful.

 I woke up this morning feeling like an old man. My hip joint was as stiff as _______(fill in what ever simile you feel would fit best.) I could barely get out of bed, walk down the stairs or bend down to get the Sunday paper for my coupon clipping. So today I will not be running. I know this does not bode well for my goal, but I will have to make it up this week. For now, I am on the injured reserve list, hanging out with Kitty and Fat-dog. Happy Sunday! Today will be different than any otherbecause I don't have ANY "miles to go before I sleep."

 

Snow Days

As you could figure out, if you were interested, I am writing from Charleston, SC. Chuck-town is an amazing place filled with manners, southern hospitality, shrimp and grits and after last night... SNOW. It hasn't snow here, I mean real snow, in over 11 years and it was 11 years before that when it had happened before. I'm a true Florida girl and have never experienced something like this. 

Friday night is movie night with my SC-BFF. It is just a night to watch chick flicks, drink wine, and just BE. I don't know if I had ever realized this was an imperative phenomenon. But it is! So like any Friday night, when there are no cheer coach responsibilities, Kristy and I are down for a flick. Last night was at her humble abode which meant I was given the task of driving in the snow for the first time. Dodging the snow flurries from inside my windshield was... weird.  It had just begun to accumulate, but was already pretty. 

After the "A-Okay" flick Love Happens, I experienced, for the first time, brushing snow off my car. While taking part in this yankee ritual, I took a brief glance down the cul-de-sac and was instantly blown away by the breath taking beauty. The clean, pure, calmness of a blanket of white was before me. The snow was still coming down glistening in the street lights, but I have never seen anything this awe-inspiring before. Driving home gave me a new love for this wonderful town. I took fat-dog and kitty out in the snow, took pictures, and tried to catch flakes.

  

Hubby assured me it would stop soon, but fat-dog woke me up at 7am today and the amount of snow had doubled.  I can only describe the the calm and new found appreciation of winter to that which Parents describe when watching their normally hyper, romping, sugar filled little loves...SLEEPING. It is just nice. Of course like any other day, the world wakes up and we have to get things done. Headed to the gym for an empty class of Tred-n-shed but it resulted with hitting the 200 mile mark for the year. This is 50 miles shy of the amount I ran for the entire year of  2009. So I'm pretty stoked. However, I am 17 miles behind where I should be for my goal. So I'll try for a repeat performance this evening for a 5-7 miler. Slowly, I will make them up, but I realize that I have many, many "miles to go before I sleep."  

T-shirts :)

The best part of  a race is the T-shirt-These are the designs that are on the front and back of our "offical" race shirts. Thank you Kathy, for the back slogan. It really captures what we are doing.

Another Reason to Run

If I didn't have enough reasons to run before, today another reason presented itself. You may or may not understand my reasoning, but basically it is because of my twin.

This all began with my friend Kristy, who joined my challenge of completing a 1/2 marathon. We have been pushing each other, over the past few months, to get in shape and make it to our regular play dates on Saturday mornings at the gym. (This is hard enough when cutting into Saturday morning sleep-in sessions, let alone waking up early after highlighting  as the local high school cheerleading coach for Friday Night Lights.) However, we faithfully met for Tred n' shed week after week and here we are, over 10 weeks later, sneaking up on our first 1/2 marathon. As surprising as it sounds, this kind of goal can be contagious. Hubby has also joined our crusade for 13.1 miles.  

I bet you're wondering where the twin comes in. 

Well, she would have loved to join our field trip across the finish line too, but she is locationally-challenged. At this moment, she is one of the many brave soldiers fighting for our freedom in Iraq and the 1/2 marathon is located in Virginia Beach.

This means she cannot attend. 

This is heartbreaking for two reason, the first was previously stated  and the other: because just over a year ago, she and I finished our first full marathon together. There is something to be said about twin powers, especially over a 26.2 mile test of what you're really made of. This brings us to my newest reason to run. 

Lisa has come up with a great idea: to run a 1/2 marathon, simultaneously, on a separate continents. We will be running together the weekend after the 1/2 in Virginia. The Air Force is sponsoring her run in Iraq the very next weekend and I will be running on a make-shift course in Chuck-town. We will work out the logistics over the next few weeks, but the basics are 13.1 miles, same day, with matching t-shirts (of course!!!) and maybe you can help!

If anyone is reading this measly blog, I would like to solicit your creativity. I need a slogan for our t-shirts. It must be something catchy. Here is the info you may need:

My location: Charleston, SC

Her location: Balad, Iraq

Date: March 27, 2010

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Just submit a comment with your idea and I will post the final product when the time gets closer. I have about 3 weeks before I will order the shirts, so get those creative juices flowing :) Happy Posting and good-bye for now. I have "miles to go before I sleep."