I can’t even begin to say how happy I am that it is Friday!!! This week has been LONG!!!!
But, today my world will be right side up again because Chris will be home!!!I’m always happy when Chris is back home with us – life is just better all around.
And, he is bringing home my birthday present –
German wine – nice and sweet just like I like it!!!
So many reasons to be happy today!!!
I have 2 whole days before I have to iron tablecloths again – definitely happy dance worthy!!!
Friday also means Friday night football and marching band!!!
Jordan is on the close end (trumpet)
This weekend the weather is supposed to be awesome – in the 80s!!! I’m not quite ready for the cool weather that we had last week!!!
I am no longer doing a Daily 44. I’m happy to say that I completed 365 Daily 44s.
Today I will do my first Daily 45. What’s one more rep?! Or one more year??
I’ve been playing around with making some changes to my daily moves but I keep thinking that I really love having this daily goal and knowing that every single day will include some sort of activity.
BTW – the past 3 years I’ve kicked off a new year by running my age on my birthday. I’m not running 45 miles today – too soon after my race and the fact that Chris is out of the country right now makes it hard for me to have a full day to run and recover. I will save that for another day and another 45.
Want to make my day really great? (it is my birthday you know!!!) Give me some new ideas for exercises!!! I’m still trying not to duplicate moves but I figure if I change it up in a small way it is OK.
I’m open to trying just about anything – sometimes I try a move several times before it actually counts as the daily move.
Feel free to leave links for exercises. When I do your suggestion I will make sure and link to you!!!
Sometimes there is a fine line between being stubborn and knowing when a goal or dream isn’t going to be a reality.
Many of you know that I have started a 50 mile race 2 different times and 2 different times I ended up not finishing.
(October 2013, May 2014)
This past week I tried a different approach to running a 50 mile race. I entered a timed race with the goal of running 50 miles in the time. (9 hours 11 minutes)
I loved the idea behind the race – it was all about remembering and honoring those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
I started this race full of big plans – 50 miles was definitely part of the plan!!!
The first 13-14 miles were great!! I think I came through the half marathon right around 1:46 or 1:47 and I felt good.
Ummm….I don’t think that was a good pace for running 9+ hours but it felt good. My legs were ready to run (I guess resting does that) and my breathing was great. I felt good running – smooth and easy the way running should be.
Around mile 14 I stopped for a minute to eat some grapes and let Chris use the stick to try and work a cramp out of my right hip. That ended up being a bad plan because it was only 55 degrees and cloudy (very cold in my world!!!) and stopping gave my muscles a chance to realize how cold it was.
still running
When I started back up there was a lot of running/walking going on. I still did OK through about mile 20 and then it went way downhill.
I took advantage of the free mini massages they were offering during mile 21 and didn’t know if I was going to be able to start running again.Thankfully Hunter did a couple slow laps with me (he skipped school to come be part of my crew with Chris and I loved having both of them there!!).
I made it through mile 25 but I was miserable. My hips did not want to keep turning over, my feet were cramping (I tried peanuts for salt but….), I was freezing and getting crankier by the minute!!!
Chris finally dragged my ass out of the tent we had and made me finish a couple more laps so that at least I finished marathon distance.
Chris asked me if I wanted to keep going and get to 30 (and then 40 and then….). All I wanted was to find a hot tub and get in it so that I could be warm.
I know Chris just wanted to make sure that I didn’t regret my decision (he’s been through this a couple times, too!!).
Here’s what I told him – my head says “YOU CAN RUN 50 MILES.” But my body say “NO!!!!”
Cardio-wise I don’t have any problems running and running and running. My joints and bones and muscles are a completely different story.
And, the biggest thing – I have attempted 50 miles in a race 3 times and not once have I loved the experience. In fact, it is usually the opposite – I hate it with almost every fiber of my being!!!
So, I don’t know that I will ever run a true 50 mile race and I’m completely OK with that. I just want to run and love it. I don’t like having to take over a week off to rest my legs before or after a race.
I just want to run when I want to for however long I feel like going and enjoy it!!!
That being said, I will do the race again next year but I will just sign up for the marathon. I loved the set-up, the support and the reason behind this race and will definitely go back and run again!!!
I think Kenny Rogers summed it up –
“You’ve got to know when to hold ’em
Know when to fold ’em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run…”
Have you ever had a dream/goal that you ultimately realized wasn’t going to happen and let it go? Were you OK with your decision?
A huge thanks to all y’all who tweeted, face booked and sent happy thoughts in other ways. Big shout out to Kristina (Blog about Running) for the hourly tweets of motivation all day Thursday!!!
The past couple of days I’ve been in a bit of a funk and a lot of the reason is because of all the negative garbage in my head.
I’m doubting my ability to finish an ultra and I’m trying to put an end to that doubt. I know I’ve trained. I’ve tried to rest – not easy and not my normal!
The fact that I’ve started a 50 mile race not once but twice and still haven’t completed it isn’t helping my mindset.
But, this race isn’t a 50. It is a timed race – since it is on 9/11 it is 9 hours 11 minutes (starting at noon and ending at 9:11 pm). The fact that I’m hoping to run 50 miles (or more) in that time is probably what has me all tied in knots!!!
There are lots of differences between this race and the 50 I’ve attempted in the past. For starters, it is not on a rock road full of hills –
mile 33.5
I won’t be running by myself in the middle of nowhere either!!!
This race is a small loop (0.67 miles) around a park –
There will be other runners all day (there is a half and marathon besides the ultra) plus friends, family and volunteers all around the course!!!
The weather is looking awesome – high of 66 and partly cloudy!! So much better than the 90 degree temps that we have had recently!!
Now, I just need to stop doubting myself and get out there and do what I love –
The other day Deb at Deb Runs tagged me to do a Random Fact Post – 10 Random Facts. I asked for some input from Chris and the boys for my random facts because I sort of feel like I’ve shared a lot – they just sort of rolled their eyes – RUDE!!!
So, here are some random facts that you might not know about me.
1. Even though most of the pictures I post on here are me in workout clothes, I actually wear “real” clothes most days, too.
a summer day
2. When I was growing up, my mom used to make me wear dresses/skirts only (no pants, jeans or shorts) – I hated it. Now in the summer I prefer dresses!!!
3. I refuse to buy green peas – even when the boys where babies it was one of the few baby foods they never had. I hate everything about peas – the color, the smell, the texture and the taste!!!
4. I don’t believe in throwing up!!!
5. I am a minimalist with make-up – a little mascara and some lipstick and I’m set!!
6. In college, I had long hair (which I kept spiraled permed) and I always pulled it back into a ponytail with a large bow. In fact, I usually got special bows for big races (like Nationals)!!!
can you tell which one is me?
7. After grad school I coached cross country and track at the same university I graduated from for 2 years.
8. When I was about 24, I went on a college ski trip (it was one of the years I was coaching) and right before the trip one of the girls on the track team gave me hair extensions (it took about 8-9 hours).
I loved having extensions even though they only lasted a couple weeks
9. I love my boys with every fiber of my being but my 2 favorite men will always be these 2 –
Chris and my grandpa
10. My boys think that I ask them if they are OK way too often.
I’m always happy when Chris is back home with us – life is just better all around.
