Monday, September 30, 2013

Big Love Cancer Care Fun Run! (((Race Day Report)))

This past Saturday was the “Big Love” fun run, This love was similar to the Chelsey 5k I ran earlier this year. B.I.G. Love was created in honor of Brook Alyson Phillips, as a mother I can not comprehend having a child go through and lose their battle with leukemia. I have a 16 year old and a 3 year old and I love them with all my heart, Christian my boy reminds me of Brooke the most because he has the ability now and ever since he was itty-bitty to love unconditionally and whole heartedly – just like Brooke expressed her love to everyone around her.  To run in honor of children with cancer and to help raise money for a cause like this makes these runs different than anything else, they give meaning and purpose to the hard runs and the longs runs, it gives meaning to what I try to do week in and week out. It makes the soreness and pain, pale in comparison to what anyone with cancer ever has to endure. It’s a little step of what anyone can do to bring light and attention to Childhood Cancer.



The Report: I will start by saying what I repeated a lot that day – I was hoping for clouds – maybe even a sprinkle or two? During the race there was none… only heat and sun.  Either way I was really hoping for a good run, the “Color or Dye” had no PR what so ever, so I was hoping to see something good come out of this race! Thankfully there was a breeze and I’m sure it was not as hot as it was two weeks ago. I got there early and picked up my packet and signed Hailey up for her first ever “Kids Dash” (eek!) – she got her first ever bib and tee-shirt!! I was very excited for her :)

Then I decided to go ahead and pick up Cindy’s packet too since she was still on her way and I had some time to kill.  By the way we both opted for a Medium size shirt, but they looked way too big, I’m sure they were just running large but in the end I decided to trade mine for a small and even though I’m not truly a small it still felt really good to make the exchange!! LOL!

Soon we located a few others that I knew were signed up for the race and then it was time to line up for the start, this was the first time I have ever been chipped for a race! So I was like “don’t forget to step on the mat, don’t forget to step on the mat!”. Cindy made a bee-line for the front of the line… I wasn’t too sure about that but I ended up following her, and of course I could feel myself starting to get the pre-race nerves!  I kept thinking maybe I should move on back, because I know I’m not a fast runner, but before I could make that call it was time to start running!
Mile one was good, of course you get wrapped up in the mix of all the people and I had to remind myself to slow down – I did not want to burn myself out! I was feeling good and I kept checking my pace to make sure it was just right, my goal was to keep it under a 12 min mile, mile one beeped in at 11:37! Then of course I started to worry about starting off too fast so I slowed it down some, by this time I was coming up on my old stomping grounds (the lake behind the PTC) I tried to tell myself that it would be a great second mile, but oh boy the heat and sun really started to get to me, I am pretty sure mile two beeped in at 12:12 or something like that.  Mile three started and I already knew I would have to try really hard to make my goal time, but then it started that small voice in my head that starts to tell me “you can’t do this” “give up” and then I start to look at the people in front of me and I realize that a lot of them are walking! So instead I started to remind myself that, that is what I train for to keep up my pace when others have thrown in the towel.  So I started to concentrate on my breathing and then I started to count my steps- breath in breath out – one… two… breath in breath out…one..two..three -Don’t walk. Then something really cool happened :) I looked up and saw someone, the same someone that was ahead of me at the Chealsy 5k in mile three, at that time I told myself to catch up to him and i never did and now there he was in front of me again. Suddenly I knew I could catch up this time and I could pass him! So I did. At that moment I knew this race was not over and I was not going to slow down! So I just kept up my pace and made my way to the finish, as soon as it was in sight I booked it! And just like that folks it was over! Chip time 37:17 average pace 11:57!! Whew!

Next on the list was for Hailey to participate in her “Kids Dash” the night before I made her a shirt that said “Sammy Supporter” in bling letters. We ate snow cones and watched the kids mile take off, then we made a quick run to potty and got ready for her run! She was so nervous you could see it all over her little face – but just like anyone else as soon as they yelled “GO” off she went no looking back! Crossing the finish they handed to her, her first medal! Hailey was over the moon!


 

Later Saturday night the girls came over to work on our outfits for next week’s 10K Monster Mash Run! Can’t wait to post pics from that race!! Ready or not! Oh my!
Did I tell you the race is on or what!!

Friday, September 27, 2013

Time Much?!


I know I have slacked off here, but I am going to fill you in the last couple of weeks today. Running has been a little challenging – well not the running itself but the timing of it all. Has anyone else found it hard to go from summer lounging to full blast back to school back to crazy? It’s like my days are longer but my daylight is shorter! I get home make dinner, go pick up Chris from practice and get back home eat dinner and its dark outside. Wait I still have to run! The Dreadmill Treadmill and I have become friends, it’s my friend when it’s too dark out and I need a run, when my day is over and I’m not finished yet and surprisingly it has helped with my speed workouts and my time has gotten better. I have also ventured into the dark and run circles around my block – boring yet it’s an outside run. Even my beloved morning run is started later because Mr. Sun isn’t awake as early! Once I made it out to my tried and true tack behind the Pearland Town Center, it was an cloudy rainy day and I had extra time to knock it out, it felt soooooo good to run out there again - I cannot wait for cooler temps!  If I could just get my run done before I got home and crazy hit the fan then I might feel a little bit less time crunched.

I also did a “Run or Dye” 5k on the 14th – it was last minute and it was hot. I had fun though mostly before and after the race! Before the race I got to hang out with Hector as we waited and waited and waited to get started, we went out in the third wave and it was close to 9:30 by that time which equals to = HOT SUN. I normally wake up at 6am to get my Saturday run in just so I can be back home before Mr. Sun can make a full on appearance but at this Race Mr. Sun was out and shinning bright, the end of the course was just up and down a parking area for Reliant and I just felt like we were just out there in the heat… because of this my first mile felt good, my second felt great and my third felt like I was going to pass out! Oh well no PR for this race just felt good to do a 5k since the last race I did was back on July 4th :)


This past week has been interesting to say the least, I started going to a girls only “gym” called FIT 4 HER by my house. It’s a little like curves but with a few extras, like the TRX system they train you on and spinning bikes as well as stationary bikes. The best part about this is the trainers that work with you and walk you through each workout every time you go. I know I was just complaining about having time and now I’ve added this to my routine – the truth is that along with my training to do a half-marathon I know I should be doing strength training and cross training too. I find it so hard to do this at home, I start off strong and fade out of it quickly, so this is what I am trying out. I have to be creative with my dinner prepping for quick dinners and it's right outside my subdivision less than 5 min away, if I’m lucky I can get my workout done and get Hailey – still making it home before 6pm. SO! I am giving it a shot – so far it was great and I was in pain like I have not felt in a long time! My legs and abs were sore and are barely recovering today :) So here is a couple of pictures of yours truly!

 
Tomorrow I have a 5k on the books followed by a 10K on October 6th! So I have to get ready – no matter what - January 19th will be here before I know it! In other words - the race is on!

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Disconnected.


This past weekend was Labor Day, for most it’s the last BIG weekend of summer although summer doesn’t really end until September 21st. Trust me once school gets started and schedules get crazy that’s pretty much it for us.  Occasionally we will make it out to the pool or the beach during Labor Day and even might make it a couple of times during September before they close the pool for good. This Labor Day weekend we had a camping trip planned; this trip was planned maybe 6 months ago. I’m sure my dad did this to make sure that we got the campsites reserved in time but OH MY! I don’t think that anyone thought about the 100+ degree weather back in February when we all said agreed that it would be fun and a great idea!  

We went camping at Perdenales Falls, just outside Austin, TX and it turned out to be a really good trip – despite the heat. Alma and I planned to go hiking with no kids and me with no hubby just so we could get some good girl time in. Of course neither of us knows what a true hike is, after all we run. So when a hiking trail tells you it’s gonna take you an hour to hike a mile, it’s hard to wrap your head around it.






Sunday morning we decided to head out and find a trail before it got to hot. We decided to go to the “Perdenales Falls” a canyon craved out by the Perdenales River, because of the drought in that area the “falls” isn’t much more than a few trickles of water flowing over the rock yet it was still a beautiful site to take in.

We took off on our hike and ended up at the base of the falls, where we found my uncle :) he was exploring too! So we joined him or he joined us and we had such a good time. As it turns out it was just what I needed. I can’t describe exactly what it was like - but I will try… We started by climbing and jumping across rocks to get from the bottom to the next layer of rock higher up. We sometime had to slide down rocks only to turn around a climb up the other side, this went on for about an hour and a half each time the drops got bigger and the climbs did too. I have to admit when we first set off to go for a “girls” hike this was not what I pictured. I had in my head that we would go for a nice long walk and talk about all the stuff we are dealing with at the moment. I thought we would be able to air out all out inner thoughts and frustrations, verbally to each other. Wrong. It was better than that.

We were too busy taking everything in, we were too busy encouraging each other, and we were too busy trying to figure out our next step.  And no, it was not just girls, my uncle was there and it made things better. When we got to a spot we were unsure of he went ahead to make sure it was safe, he held back the brush when he thought we might run into it trying to climb up, he gave me a hand when I need a pull up a steep rock. He was there enjoying the hike along with us and it was comforting. Remind anyone of anything?

At the end we had to climb up a rock wall – I was standing there thinking #1 I couldn’t climb it AND #2 If I was going to, I sure was glad I am 30lbs lighter. I did climb it and if felt so easy, HA! These good ole’ running legs are pretty strong!

We got there Saturday afternoon and came home Monday evening – from Saturday afternoon on I was disconnected from my phone and the internet :::GASP::: by Monday once we were on the road back home I started to check my email and my Facebook and then I decided against it.  It felt good to be disconnected, I was able to reflect on myself and how far I’ve come. I realized how much I’m capable of and how much more I have yet to conquer. So I opted to leave those things for Tuesday and I’m glad I did :) So much more was done around the house and so much more relaxing took place afterward.
 
By the way… I think I might try rock climbing one day! Anyone want to join me?
 
The whole family went back in the evening to get another look and we captured this sunset!