Overcoming

I ran in a 4 mile St. Patrick's Day race yesterday. I woke up with dread about the race for a few reasons. My runs had been lacking for the week. I had been feeling discouraged about running for days. Elliott's birthday was the day before and I was stressed from that. I had a nightmare about the race. I saw on Katie's blog the other day that she had 4 (A B C D) goals for her race and I decided I would do the same.
A) 44:44- I thought it would be cool to finish a 4 mile race in 44:44, but I wasn't holding out hope because that would be an 11:11 min/mile average and that is pretty fast for me.
B) 46:00- An 11:30 min/mile average. Tough, but doable.
C) <47:17- PR
D) Finish

My friend Kim had said that she wanted to run the whole thing without walking, so I made that a goal as well.

Before I get into the race report, I'll talk about the feelings of discouragement I have been feeling this last week. A girl that Kim and I work with started running in January. She has been doing a couch to 5k program. Kim went to run with her the other day, and Kim said she was surprised that she was able to keep up with her. It made me feel completely discouraged, because I can barely keep up with Kim, and I've been running for over a year. Kim was talking about it with another woman we work with and she said that the girl has a "runners body" and is a "natural." This kind of offended me. The way I took it was this: I'm not a "natural." I don't have a "runners body" so why do I even bother. I felt really badly about this for days and even thought about quitting running.

I talked to Paul about it and he said that, yes, some people are just more athletically inclined than others. Then I started crying. I've worked SO hard for this! I want this SO bad! I spent the first 28 years of my life believing that I was not athletic, when I obviously am because I am a runner! And the message I was taking from all of this is that I wasn't athletic after all.  Then Paul said this "Carrie, there are some people who are going to start out better than you, but you can be just as good or better than those people, you are just going to have to work harder for it."

Then every where I looked, instead of seeing reasons to quit, I saw reasons to keep going.

The start of the race. #197

Now onto the race. The race started at 10am. Kim texted me and said that she was planning on getting there at 930a and I said that I was too. I ended up running a little late. Paul had to work that day, so I had to take Elliott over to my brothers fiance, Mary's, house so she could watch her for me. I got there at about 945a and Kim had got my packet for me. We went and lined up at the starting line. We wished each other good luck and we were off. The first quarter mile was very crowded and I had to dodge a lot of people. I vowed not to be a slave to the Garmin and just ran. I also had my run keeper going and set to alert me at each mile. I heard the RunKeeper come on at mile one and it said I had run the first mile in 10:25! I was shocked! My fastest mile ever is a 10:20 and that was going all out!
Just after the first mile there was a little hill and going up I told myself 'You don't get better at running hills by walking them!' and got up it. I saw Kim ahead of me and I was thinking 'She is flying! I bet she did that first mile in under 10!'
On the way down the hill, I saw this guy with fake tattoo sleeves with shamrocks on them. I made it my mission to pass him. I did and kept going. Then he passed me. Then I passed him again for the last time. Then I came up to the water stop and grabbed a cup, poured most of it out, took a little drink, and poured out the rest, all while still running. Then I passes mile 2 and my RunKeeper told me I'd ran the 2 miles in 21 minutes! My fastest previous 2 mile was 24! I felt great and was making great time, so I kept going!
At 2.5 mile or so, I saw Kim ahead of me. It looked like she was kind of leap frogging this lady in a hat, but then she eventually passed her. Then I passed the hat lady.

At almost mile 3 I was really close to catching up with Kim and made it my mission to get up to her. I finally got up to her just over 3 miles and said "Finish this!" We chatted for a bit and then I went ahead, she was right behind me the whole rest of the way, but I was just in awe that I even caught up to her! At the 5k point it was about 33 minutes and I was blown away by that. My current 5k PR is from November and its 38:01! When we got to the finish line, the clock said 42! I had a huge smile! I couldn't believe it!

Finish Line! Both me and Kim

My official finish time was 42:27! I crushed ALL of my goals! And I PR'd by 3:40 from the 4 mile I did the beginning of February! I couldn't believe it! I CAN do it! I am a RUNNER! Even if I'm not a "natural!"

When I went to pick up Elliott, I saw my reflection in Mary's glass door and I couldn't believe how small I looked! That blew me away too!

Training, Party Planning, and Racing!

Hi all! I'm still half marathon training. I did a 5 mile run yesterday with Kim. It was awful. Last week I missed my Wednesday run and Thursday bootcamp because we got 14.2" of snow! We haven't had that much snow ever in my life! It was the 2nd most snow on record and the most snow since 1951! It was doing great at melting away, but we are in a blizzard warning right now, so I hope it doesn't interfere anymore with my training!

February 9, I participated in my first relay race! It was a 5 mile relay that Kim did with me. I was going to do the 5 miles alone, but convinced Kim to do the relay. We each did 2.5 miles. I went first and Kim finished! It was really fun and I did really well! My 2.5 split was 28:11. The course had to have been long though. I forgot to turn on my Garmin and when we started, it was still searching for satellites. I started it about .25 or so in and when I got to the exchange it read 2.47 miles. It was a cold and super windy day, but it was so much fun! It was called the Cupid's Combo and the baton was a fake rose!

Me and Kim! We wore matching outfits!

Action shot of me running! Next to our empty river!

I'm registered for quite a few races right now. Next up is St. Patricks Day 4 mile on March 17th. I'm not registered yet, but will be doing a 10k March 30. I thinking about doing a 5k March 24. I'm registered for my spring half May 5, a 10k June 1, and another half September 14!

Training is going well,  minus the snow we've had. I got a new pair of shoes last week. The new Mizuno Inspire 9s. I ran in them on one 3.5 mile treadmill run. My toes went numb, but I'm not giving up on them yet. I love my Inspire 8s.

I'm SO looking forward to the time change in a couple of weeks! I want to do more evening runs!

I've been planning Elliott's 3rd birthday party the last couple of weeks! She's going to have a cowgirl party! We are renting a building at a park here in town and they have pony rides and train rides! I think she will have a lot of fun! I can't believe she is going to be 3! Crazy!

I'm still losing weight also! Yay!

Til Next Year

Yesterday was completely exhausting! It started with my 730a group run, which sucked again! I don't know what is wrong with me. I feel like I'm getting worse instead of getting better. I actually started crying towards the middle of the run. And not just a few tears, I was ugly crying! I was crying because it was so hard! I hope I have a better running week next week. Especially with the race on the horizon.

After the run, I came home to finish the cookies and cookie bark I was making for Elliott's party. That's when my SIL, Jennifer, called. She was going to meet me out the building to set up. I had told her 9am, but I was thinking 930a. I had Paul load my car. While he was doing that, the dog got out! Ahh!

I finally got there to meet Jennifer close to 10a. We had been talking on the phone because she couldn't find the building. It was supposed to be building #5, it had green trim. I reserved it online, so I didn't know much else about it. She said that she went to one with a #5 on it, but it didn't have green trim, and it was locked. When I got there, we found one with green trim that I thought looked like the picture AND it was unlocked, so it must be the one... We took the food inside and set up tables. The park called me to confirm my reservation on Friday. They left a voicemail that they would unlock the building at 8a, and if that didn't work, then call them. Well, that was fine, but when we got there, I figured that someone would've left a key, which they did not. I figured it would be fine, so we left the food and stuff. Her daughter had a soccer game at 1130a and Paul and I were taking Elliott to the St. Patrick's Day Parade at 12p, so we left around 11ish.

I went home and got Paul and Elle and we went to the parade. We watched the parade for about an hour, and then left. We went and got some lunch at Wendy's (I had a grilled chicken sandwich, no side...) and went to Party City to get a few last minute things.

Paul and Elliott at the parade

Stephanie was meeting me at the park at 145p to finish setting up. Also, my MIL wanted to take Easter pictures with all of the cousins so she had everyone meeting there an hour early. So they all went out to take pictures and Stephanie, Jennifer and I were finishing set up. I went to put the food out on the table and I couldn't find the cookies I had made. Then I started to realize there were several things missing. The cookies, the chocolate button pretzels, a box of Lucky Charms, and the cups. I realized someone must have come in and stolen my stuff. I was SO MAD! I wanted to cry, but I didn't. We called my FIL and asked him to bring some cups and some mint oreos. Jennifer's husband, Mark (Paul's brother) brought some girl scout cookies. They left the stuff to make punch and the smaller container of the pretzels. I was so angry. I worked so hard on all of that stuff.

After my FIL got there, the party pretty much started. Everyone ate and then Elliott opened her gifts. She had a good time. We were starting to wrap up the party when an older man came into the building and said that he needed to talk to the person who had rented this building. So I went outside with him and apparently I was not in the correct building. He was kind of accusing me of doing it on purpose. I told him that the lady called me and told me it would be unlocked. Jennifer said that she had gone to the other one and it was not unlocked. He tried to call the lady, but got her voicemail. He finally started to be nice and realized that I wasn't trying to cheat them (the building we were in by accident cost 2x more) and said that it was okay.

There was kind of a lot of horrible things that happened, but it was my girls birthday, so it was a great day! She had a lot of fun! We came home and she played with her new toys and then we pretty much collapsed on the couch at about 830p. I'm glad it's over until next year!

I also have an updated progress picture. I had Kim take this yesterday morning after our run!

March 17, 2012: 213#

Birthday Prep!

I weighed in today. I had a loss of 1.4. It's better than I thought it was going to be! One step closer to my goal! Elle went with me to the meeting. She was kind of a grump and I see now, why it is better for me to go on Wednesday alone!

I went grocery shopping for all her birthday party snacks. It's kind of dangerous. I've already eaten 3 cookies. This party planning stresses me out. I should have trusted my instincts and not had a party. Oh well, tomorrow evening it will be over and I won't have to worry about it again until next year.

I sent Elliott's picture in to the morning news for the birthday section of the show. They pronounced our last name wrong, but it was cute to see her on TV. She was oblivious!

I have a little bit more food shopping to do for the party tomorrow. I have had her birthday presents for months! I got her these twin dolls, a My Little Pony, and play food for her kitchen at the grocery store in December when all of their xmas toys were on clearance. I also got her a Curious George T-shirt and I also am counting Sesame Street Live as a birthday present. She really doesn't need anything. She has tons of toys and clothes. I'm kind of dreading her getting more tomorrow! But she is going to have a good time! That's the important thing! This year she will be able to participate a lot more!

That's all for now.