Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Change of Plans

I'm still here! I've had some time to think and I've come to a hard decision. I have decided to postpone my half marathon. This decision was both hard and easy. Here is how and why I came to this decision.

I got to a point where I was dreading my runs. Last Monday I had a 3 mile run and I was dreading it bad. I texted Kim and asked if she wanted to run, but she didn't respond, so I headed to the park by myself. I set out and turned around fairly quickly. I ended up doing .82 miles and was feeling really crappy when I got a text from Kim that said that she was on her way. So she got up there and we did 3 miles. It is SO much better for me to run with Kim. It makes it enjoyable! When we finished the run, it was almost 10pm! The next run, I was dreading, and ran it on the treadmill. The next run I was dreading and didn't do.

So, my excuses reasons are, basically that it is too hot to train! Where I'm at, it is over 100 degrees every day and I either have to get up and run in the morning, or wait until 8pm or later. My runs are going to get longer, so I'll either have to get up super early or be running until 10pm at night. I don't want to do either. So I decided to do the Prairie Fire 5k and then I will train for the Wichita Half Marathon that is held in April, so I'll be able to do my training in the winter/early spring. I don't feel proud of this decision, but I think it is best for me. Just running in general is a challenge for me, much less running in super hot temps.

So, my focus for the rest of the summer is going to be on weight loss. Since I started running, my focus has been on running and my weight loss has slowed. So running is going to be an aid to my weight loss for now.

Monday, July 23, 2012

The Winner Is....

Leleah! Email me with you address and I'll get the arm band out to you!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Weekly Recap!

Last Monday after the car fiasco happened, I didn't have time to go run before Paul needed to leave for work. I said I was going to run after he got home, but when he got home, I ate dinner and had pretty much given up on running for the day. During dinner, Kim texted me about something at work and I randomly asked her if she had 3 miles to do today, and if she had done them yet. She said that she did have 3 mile and that she had not run them yet. So we decided to meet up at SCP at 730p to run together. We hadn't run together since we'd "broken up"! It was a great run! We chatted and it was really nice outside (for summer)! That day, I really felt like just giving up! But after the run and talk therapy session with Kim, it was better. I felt good and didn't want to give up anymore! There is nothing better than a good run with a great friend! It makes everything right in the world!

I was supposed to run on Tuesday, but I did not. I went to Hip Hop Hustle Tuesday night and there were lots of new people! I was one  of the ones who actually, kind of knew what they were doing and that make me feel good!

Wednesday I almost didn't run, but did at around 8pm. I went to a new park. Linwood Park. It has a 4.9 mile path next to the canal route. I did 2.5 miles and it was hard! I rested on Thursday and did my 2 miles from Tuesday on Friday and they were hard too!

S2F Group source
Saturday morning was the S2F group run. I had 4 miles. When we were breaking off into groups (5k, marathon, and half marathon), Randy, one of the coaches from last session, came up to me and said "I'm glad to see that you are doing the Half! That's awesome!" It made me feel really good! I had a great 4 miles! I was above my target pace of 13:30 min/mile the whole run! I had an average of 12:41 min/mile pace! They took a group photo that I missed because I was running a smidgen late! But it was a cool photo! So many people out to run together on a Saturday at 630am!

Kim Finishing! Source
Saturday, Kim was running the Titan 10k and it had started at 7am. I got done at about 745am, so after the run, I drove over to where they were having the race and started walking the course backwards to find her. I got there at about 8am, and I didn't think she would've finished yet. I was wondering what she was wearing, if she was wearing the race shirt or something else and wondered if I'd be able to spot her. I was at about 5.5ish miles when I saw her round the corner and spotted her right away! I asked how she was doing and she said she was dying! I ran along side her on the sidewalk (I didn't want to be a bandit!) for a while, then headed over to see her cross the finish line. It ended on the high school track and the announcer announced your name as you crossed the finish line, which I thought was pretty cool!

After that I had to go to work. I don't really mind working on Saturday, because it is only for 3 hours. And then at 330pm we went to the wedding of my hairstylist! She is also a friend! She has done my hair for about 6 years! She did my hair for my wedding, for my friend Lindsay's wedding, for Stephanie's wedding... She sang at my wedding and helped decorate! It was awesome to see her on her big day! She looked beautiful!

If you didn't see, I'm hosting a Bondi Band Armband Giveaway right now! Go enter!

Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Giveaway!

After the Bondi Band arm band was stolen from my car, I contacted them to see if they would give me one to review and one to give away and they said yea! So, if you entered Karens giveaway, here is your second chance!

I absolutely love this arm band! I had another arm band made for the iPhone, but I had to take my case off to put it in. With the Bondi Band I do not have to take my iPhone out if the case! It is made of super soft, wicking material and does not chaff my arm like my previous one did with the Velcro overhang! It also stays in place while running! I also love that it is washable. The only con, as far as I'm concerned, is that there is no window to see my phone while it is in there. All of the other things more than make up for it though! The one I am giving away is the forest green color, but they come in lots of colors to choose from!

To enter:

1 entry- If you are a follower of my blog
1 entry- If you "Like" Bondi Band on Facebook
1 entry- If you blog about this giveaway
1 entry- if you follow Karen, since she is the reason I had the arm band to begin with

Leave a separate comment for each entry. I will pick a winner July 22, 2012 at 1pm central standard time. Good luck!

I was not paid for this review. I was given free product for me to review and giveaway. All opinions are my own honest opinion.

Monday, July 9, 2012

100

I just realized that I wrote my 100th blog post! I'm going to celebrate it with a giveaway! Details to follow soon!

Creep!

Friday night I ran my fastest mile ever! I went to the YMCA and intended to do 2.5 miles. I got on a treadmill and only lasted 0.6 because the treadmill was acting funky. I got off and got onto another one and decided that I was just going to run a mile as fast as I could. I did it in 11:54!

Saturdays long "run" was horrible. I did 3.5 miles and had to walk a LOT. At first I was stopping my Garmin when I would walk, but eventually stopped that. When I ran, it was much faster than usual. I did my 3.5 in 51 minutes... Not impressive...

I woke up this morning and intended to go for my 3 mile run. It took me an hour to talk myself into going. I looked at the forecast and the temp was 72, but the humidity was 90%! I finally decided to get my butt out of bed to go. I was going to drive the new, old Toyota that I just bought from my brothers girlfriend, but my new Bondi Band arm band that I won in Karen's giveaway was in my Saturn, so I went to grab it out. I couldn't find it, then I realized that things looked awry and I realized that someone had "broken" (the doors weren't locked) into my car. They took my Zune, my daughters diaper bag, my daughters travel DVD player, her Nickelodeon DVDs, and my brand new Bondi Band arm holder with my ear buds in it that I hadn't even been able to take on a test run yet! I was SO mad! By the time I finished looking through to see if I could figure out anything else that was taken, it was too late to go run, because Paul needed to go to work. It makes me so mad! Why didn't I lock my doors? And why the HELL did they take that arm band! That is no value to anyone! They left the two other crappy chaffing arm bands that were in there! Why did they take my brand new one! The arm band is what made me the most mad, that and the diaper bag. What are you going to do with my arm band and my 2 year old daughters books and toys. You can sell the Zune, the DVD player and DVDs, but the other stuff... WTH? Stupid creeps!

I decided that I wasn't going to let that ruin my day. When Elliott got up, I asked her if she wanted to go to the park or the zoo, and she said that she wanted to go see the animals. So we went to the zoo. We didn't stay very long. It was so freaking humid! I wore jeans that are too big and I was sweating a lot and my thighs were chaffing on the seams of the jeans.


Caution: the next paragraph may be considered TMI...We were in the chimpanzee exhibit and they have a baby (2 year old) chimp that we have seen many times. He's very cute and getting big. At one point, we were watching him and he grabbed his penis and started... you know... pleasuring himself! Do chimps do that?! Right when that happened, me and the rest of the parents standing there were like "Okay, time to go!" It was really weird! I think the zoo is going to be a source of some very awkward conversations as my daughter gets older.

We got home and Elliott starting acting like a crazy child! I feel so frustrated for her sometimes, because she will be trying to tell me something, but I just do not understand her! She fell asleep shortly after her meltdown and is soundly sleeping still, on the couch! Maybe we will go check out the park later...

I got a new old car this weekend. From March until June we just had my Saturn because Paul's old car had finally quit. In June he bought a truck from one of his buddies. Before that happened, my brothers girlfriend was telling us that she was going to Massachusetts (where she is from) in July to buy a car from her parents. I asked her what she was doing with her old car. She said she wasn't sure, but then messaged me on facebook saying that I could check it out if I wanted to. So we finally bought it from her this weekend. We don't need it right now, but in the last two years, we have had to go with one car for an extended period of time, 3 times, so it will be nice to have a back up. It's a 1998 Toyota Avalon, so nothing fancy, though she took good care of it. I'm going to drive it and check out how the gas mileage is compared to my Saturn...


Thursday, July 5, 2012

Dear Dad

Dear Dad,
     It was been 7 years since you've been gone. I would say that it seems like it was just yesterday, but it really doesn't. It seems like a lifetime ago. When you left the story, Paul and I had just moved in together a few days before. Since then, we have moved back to Wichita, got engaged, got married, got pregnant, had the most amazing daughter, just to name the big ones.
     I still think of you all the time, and you still visit in my dreams, but not as often. I miss you so much! I wish you could be here to meet your granddaughter! She is more amazing than you could ever imagine! She knows who you are, even at her young age! When she sees a picture of you, she says "Papa!" And speaking of Papa, Granny and Papa love her to the moon and back. I remember your words and still try to call them once a week and visit as often as I can.
     I am finally doing something to get healthy and lose weight. I got much bigger than you ever saw me at. But I'm getting smaller and healthier and doing things I never thought possible. And in doing all of this, it makes me mad at you! Why couldn't you have done these things? If you would've not eaten crap and sat on the couch, you may still be here with us! I am NOT going to have a heart attack and die when I'm 47! I refuse to except that as my fate! I will be here to see my daughter grow up and get married and have children!
     I hope you don't take this the wrong way... I love you and I miss you and you are my inspiration to not be like you! I hope I still make you proud!

Love,
   Carrie

Teddy Gene Batt Jr.
September 7, 1958-July 5, 2005

Brave

My back has still been hurting a little bit since Tuesday. I went to Hip Hop Hustle Tuesday evening and it felt pretty good, but I still feel it and its a little sore.

My SIL, Jennifer had a BBQ at her house on Tuesday, but I didn't get to go because Elliott had a fever. They had another BBQ and fireworks last night too, and Elliott was better so we got to go. Elliott loves the fireworks! She got to do some sparklers and she LOVED it! When the sparkler would go out, she would stick it in the water bucket and immediately go get two more for us! Jennifer lives outside the city where they are allowed to have bigger fireworks and they always do in her neighborhood. It's always a fantastic show right from her driveway! I was disappointed in myself because I ate FOUR cookies, gah!

source
I also took Elliott to see Brave yesterday! I think that Princess Merida is the one of the first princesses of Elliott's generation! I loved her! Everything about her! *SPOILER ALERT!* I was telling Paul about the movie and he asked if she married a price and lived happily ever after and I said "Actually she didn't!" And that is exactly what the movie is about. He said that it wasn't a real princess movie then. I told him it was awesome that she didn't get married and live happily ever after! She got to choose if she wanted to or not!


We are supposed to go to the waterpark at the YMCA today. This could either be really fun or really horrible! With a two year old, it could always go either way!

Hope everyone had a great Independence Day!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

A Long, Colorful Post

I am on vacation from work until July 11 and I couldn't be happier! My mom and one of my little brothers, Leon, are coming up from Oklahoma today! I can't wait to see them!

I got up early this morning and went to the Y to get my 2 miles in. I got there and decided that I was going to do my mobilefit strength workout. I was on my last work out, which is a machine for your back, on my last set and I did something to tweak my back. I had felt like the weight (75lbs) was a little much the previous set, but still continued. Stupid move. I didn't finish that set, and went over to the treadmill. I had to think twice about whether or not I could run, but decided to try anyway. The run actually went pretty well considering the sore back.

I got home and iced my back and had Paul rub it a little bit. Then I took an 800 Ibuprofen. I feel much better now.

We had S2F group run on Saturday at 630am. I was really dreading it. I didn't want to get out of bed, but I did. Then I was driving there and I really wanted to turn around and go home, but I didn't. I got there and the run was awesome! The best run I've ever had! It's so weird how you never know how a run is going to go until you get out there! I think there is something magical about Saturday morning group runs! I suffer through my runs all week, then Saturday is awesome!

Saturday was the first time Kim and I didn't run together in a group run. She ran with Brandi, her boyfriends' SIL. They are MUCH faster than I am! I ran at a good pace for myself, listening to some good music, and had a super good run! When I was done, I sat and had some water, talked to a couple of people new to the program, then went back for Kim and Brandi. They did 5 miles, I did three. Kim was dying on the way back. I ran back with them, then we saw Parrish and talked to her a bit.

Tony Clark, the local guy doing the Badwater is trying to get some media coverage and Parrish is a reporter for one of the news stations, so I told her about it. Here is a video of Tony, you should check it out and donate to Gallant Few if you can! It's a great cause!



After Saturday's run, Elliott had pictures and they turned out super cute! I'll share the sneak peeks I got!
After pictures, Kim, Stephanie and I left for Kansas City for the Color Run on Sunday! When we got to KC, we checked into our hotel, then went to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. I had a Mexican salad from their Skinnylicious menu and a piece of cheesecake that probably had 1000 calories! I was going to look it up, but Kim and Stephanie wouldn't let me! lol!



Before
After


Sunday morning was the day of the run. We got to Arrowhead Stadium at 6am for packet pick up. I'm glad we got there early, because there was a ton of people! They said it was the biggest Color Run yet and there were 15,000 people on our day. Since we got there early, we got in the first wave. Thank goodness, because it would've been torture waiting any longer than we had to! It was pretty fun, but it should've been set up differently. We walked 90% of it because it was almost impossible to run. There were a TON of walkers, which is fine, but they were walking 7 people across and between getting around the big groups, plus dodging the other people trying to get around them, made for not a fun run. So we walked it. It was supposed to be a color at each kilometer, but it wasn't measured out accurately. I decided before hand that I was going to run it for fun since it was untimed anyway. I almost wore my Garmin, but I'm glad I didn't. The first color was yellow, then orange, so it looked like everyone had rolled in Cheeto dust, lol! Then it was blue, then pink. The finish line was the best part. They have color throws every 5 minutes and it was really cool and fun. It was horrible after it was over though. We couldn't find the station that you are supposed to get blown off at. We were SO colorful! We sat on towels to get back to the hotel, then showered and went home.
 

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Short and Sweet!

I'm in Kansas City right now with Kim and Stephanie. We are getting ready to go to the Color Run! It's untimed, so I'm running it for fun! I'll post pictures later!