Warrior Dash

May 2, 2010

The Warrior Dash was an experience of a lifetime. 3.5 miles of running, obstacles, and fun. It definitely taxed different muscle groups compared to a normal run. Between large fans, mud pits, climbs, swims, and fire jumping, this race thoroughly kicked racing into a new level for me.

I did get tired, constantly switching between my running groove to an obstacle. The log roll was difficult because the water got deeper and I had to tread water often to try and lift myself over the log with no lake bottom to push off of. The mud pits were hard, not to get through, just the running in mud after. I am totally not complaining, but it was just something different for me.

My time officially posted as 46:47.50, but this was a fun run and a "can I do it?" run for me. I did stop to help a couple of women and to take a family's picture. I'm sure I lost a few minutes there. I still had a blast, and I'll definitely do the Warrior Dash and other mud runs again.

Check out a few pics I posted.

Pre-race getup in decals and viking hat.















Me jumping fire...the next to last obstacle















Totally loving the mud pit















Finished; Complete with medal and mud bath!



















Post rinse, not that it helped much.














Post race FREE beer

Kilometers for Kodi 5K

April 24, 2010 Kilometers for Kodi

It's amazing what one small race community can do when one of there own is in need. Kodi Tutt is an 5-year-old girl who was recently diagnosed with neuroblastoma, an aggressive type of cancer. The small town of Sanger, Texas, the town I work in, had pulled together all sorts of fundraisers for her family and her treatment. Kilometers for Kodi was the 5K fundraiser for her.

For me, this was the first race of the year. After so-so training, but regular running, I was excited, but nervous. I had recently PR'd on a 5K at 36 minutes, so I was confident. Yet, I was not used to morning heat, and battling soreness from the previous weekend's soccer game. With also battling not-so-great streets, I did end up walking some and having to readjust my shoe twice. I still timed out at 45 minutes with my hubs and kiddos watching me...which was a first.

I felt okay about the time, but it wasn't about the time for this race. The support and money donation were more important.

Months of Running

I haven't posted in about 2 months. I have been busy...running, playing soccer, trying to balance the working mother, do-it-all, would rather be running syndrome, you know, normal daily activities. Hahaha. I have been running though. That's the important thing. I've maintained my lowest weight for 7 weeks, ran at least 3 days a week (4 if you include my soccer games), and have averaged a good 10-15 miles a week. I have been horrible about logging my mileage, but I'm getting back into the groove again. I also like seeing my numbers add up over the course of the week. Oh, and I have been racing. Pics and separate posts on both of those coming later this evening, but I ran the Kilometers for Kodi, a fundraising 5K, on April 24th, and the Warrior Dash yesterday, May 2nd. Stay posted!!!! More stories to come!

Personal Best

Just a quick post to notate that I reached a personal best this evening. After 3 weeks of hardly any training, I increased my times and mileage last week. This week, I not only increased my mileage, but I hit a personal best time for my 5K. 39:30. It's still slow, but considering I was running an average of a 42:00 5K, I'm stoked.

I logged 10 miles last week, and hoping to log at least 12.5 this week. Let's hope!

Stress Run

Now that I'm back on track with 10 miles logged and the weekend isn't even here, I'm feeling great. After 3 weeks of sickness, exhaustion, and life just taking over, I put my foot back into the gym. Switching between the treadmill and the elliptical, I'm getting my mileage clocked and my speed is picking up. My runs have been helping me relieve my stress of a not-so-great start to this year and my little one's upcoming surgery.

Today, I had a pure stress run though. Dealing with allergies, work and mental things I could not get out of my head, I hit that gym with a vengeance. I had to be pushed because I really wasn't feeling it at first, but the moment I walked in, I realized I was right where I needed to be. I only had time to do a thirty minute run, but I pushed myself harder than I've pushed in quite awhile.

I didn't think at all. I turned up my music as loud as my ears would let me, and I ran. I ran through the stress; I ran the pain of my muscles burning, even ran through the cloud of doubt to make an improvement today. I was there to just clear out my mind, sweat it out and make myself tired.

I succeeded too. I left the gym more ragged than a Raggedy Ann doll. Afterward, I came home, drank my favorite recovery drink (chocolate milk), sat down and logged my miles. Within 10 minutes of getting home, I felt clear. I pushed out the stress.

I love stress runs.

Run, Lift, Stretch, Repeat.

Even though I am on a high from my workouts this week, I feel the repetition sneaking up to me...already. Run on Monday, Run on Tuesday, Stretch and Strength on Wednesday, Run on Thursday...you get the picture. I love to run, but I hate repeating...especially on the treadmill.

My favorite new friend? The pre-programmed runs. It makes me work or I fall off. It adds the little bit of variety I need to keep running. The incline, the resistance, the speed changes. I like them. I like them enough to consider running indoors a bit more. Considering I hate the treadmill and would rather run outside, but the weather is just a bit iffy in March, I'm up at the rec center, running like a hamster in her cage. I'm okay with that though.

A Year Later

Lately, I've been beating myself up for gaining pounds instead of losing. It was my own fault. Skipping workouts to relax from a busy schedule. It's no excuse. I need the exercise, and this month I vowed to attack my workouts like I attack on the soccer field.

Yet, as I was updating my weight log, I took a look back to the first time I entered my weight on the log. March 23, 2009. I was at 165 and could barely run without stopping for walks. Fast forward to March 1, 2010. I'm at 148...still 17 pounds less than a year ago, even with the gain. 22 pounds less than when I started in January of last year. I'm playing soccer again. I'm running 3-5 miles easily. I'm running races. I do 30 minute weight sessions. I do an hour of yoga. My "workout" schedule is renamed my "training" schedule. No, I'm nowhere where I wanted to be by this time, which was gearing up to run a half marathon. I've postponed my half marathon a month or two, but I'm gearing up for a 5K and a Warrior Dash this Spring. A half marathon IS in my near future.

So, when I take a long look at the big picture. I have become successful. Losing weight is the easy part.