Plugging along - 30k down, 20k to go....

SO sorry I haven't posted for so long...  it's been a long, hot summer.

We did run the Splash -n- Dash 5k on June 20th.  We opted out of the "Splash" part, not interested in running in wet clothes, not even in June in Texas.

Here's how I've done so far:

Event	Date	Time	Pace	50/50 Rank
Melon Run '15	2015-08-22	46:45	15:03	3
Dos Rios 5K Splash and Dash	2015-06-20	43:59	14:09	1-Fastest
Sombrero 5K Run/Walk	2015-06-13	47:37	15:20	5
NB YMCA St. Patty’s Day 5K/10K Fun Run/Walk	2015-03-14	48:02	15:28	6-Slowest
2nd Annual Run Feed Love 5K Run/Walk	2015-02-21	46:59	15:07	4
Selma-Schertz Salute to Service Members 5K Run/Walk	2015-01-17	46:15	14:53	2

It's odd to me that our very first one was the 2nd best...  I'm sure the lack of training has a lot to do with my lack of obvious progress. But you never know - the lady who came in very last in one of the races was also third place in her age division and got a medal!

There is also a lot of variation in the courses.  Selma & RunFeedLove were relatively flat, St Patty & Melon were uphill 1st half and downhill 2nd. Sombrero was a butt-kicker (see previous post) and Splash was also very hilly.

Speaking of training...  It has been decided that we will go for the 10k in September (PLEASE let it have cooled down some by then!).  After Saturday's Melon run, I was really doubting myself.  But I hate to give up without fully trying  So this morning, we got up at 4:45am and were out the door at 5:05 to walk 6 miles and see how it went.  It really wasn't too bad - It took us 1:45 to go just over 6 miles.  We need 6.25 for a full 10k, but we can add the extra quarter easy enough.  Average pace was 17:12, all walking fast and no running.

I am a bit stiff this afternoon, and quite sleepy, but I feel good.  We're going to do it again on Thursday, and try for 2-3 times/week over the next 3 weeks until the 10k.  Not a lot of time, but we'll give it an honest go, at least.

I'm still undecided as to whether or not I'm a true runner.....

#runningtowardsfifty

Guess What? My heart does not explode at 183bpm...

Post Run Update:  We ran the Sombrero 5k at Fischer park in New Braunfels.  Fischer is the city's newest park and it sits on a hillside.  I knew going in that the route would be hilly.  Oh My Goodness was it hilly!  The course was 1.6 miles around and we did two laps, total of 3.30 miles (just more than a 5k, according to our GPS'.  Started out on a nice easy downhill slope - take advantage and run!  CpnRusty took off ahead as it looked like there might not be many in his age group and he's really been doing well on his training.  So it was up to me to keep going.  At the bottom of the downhill slope was a big sweeping curve and a long uphill grade - just steep enough (and plenty humid enough) to keep me from running, but I marched up that suc... (er, hill) and kept up my pace.  Another nice easy sloping, curving downhill and then levelled out and went around a pretty little pond and the final turn into another gentle downhill.  And then... (insert record scratching sound) ...the final uphill.  A VERY steep uphill grade - I'm gonna venture to say even steeper than the one I've been training on - for the last 'kick' to the finish line.  But No! Wait! we have to go around again!!!

As I huffed and puffed back down the first slope, I could see CpnRusty about 1/2 mile ahead of me at the top of the first hill.  I had passed a few walkers, but for the most part, it seemed I was alone on the course.  I marched on - repeating the pattern of the first lap, running as much as I could and doing a good job of maintaining my pace.  Man, it was HOT and HUMID.  We started at 8am, and it was mostly overcast, but it seemed the sun only came out when I was out in the open, not in any shade.  I shuffled along that last straight away before "The Hill" and joked with the traffic guards that we needed a shuttle or chair lift assistance.  Then I marched up to the top and was able to dig deep and find a kick for the last 100 yards or so to the finish line.  As I crossed, I smiled to the lady taking my picture with a big "Holy Crap" face and then sort of fell/sat down and looked at my heart rate monitor.  I was sure it said 185.  Russ came over to get me up and offer me water.  One shouldn't sit down when one's HR is 185ish...  I was only there for a few seconds, but already felt a cramp coming on.  I walked in dizzying circles for a few moments, drank some water, ate some fruit and soon my HR was into a more coherent range.  Just so you know, one's "Maximum" HR is 220 minus your age, so in my case = 171bpm.  

Overall, we did very well.  CpnRusty finished 9th in his age group, with a time of 40:48, pace 13:08. I also finished 9th in my age group, with a time of 47:37, pace of 15:20.  The last couple of events have grouped the ages together in 10 yr increments - 40-49 and 50-59.  The first couple had us in 5 yr increments - 45-49, 55-59.  Odds for placing are better when there are less people in your age group. The Sombrero 5k had been postponed from May, so there were only 67 runners total.  I was #56 of 67 to finish.  I really thought I was last, as for most of the course, I didn't see anyone in front of or behind me!

{Oh, and we continued our day with yard work and then the Folklife Festival in downtown San Antonio.  I went to bed on Saturday with over 22,000 steps on my VivoFit.}

We do it again this Saturday - I'm sure it will be hot and humid and hilly.  Wish us luck.....

#RunningTowardsFifty

6/11 = 49.5 = 6 months (and a long ways) to go

Sheesh - this blogging thing is just not going well.  It's going about as well as my 'training'.
My Momma taught me if I can't say anything nice, don't say anything. My lack of blogging should speak volumes!  hahaha

OK - something nice:  I have added "The Hill" to my training.  It's 1.75 miles over to the Guadalupe river and a pretty significant downhill grade the last tenth of a mile.  Which means a pretty significant UPhill grade after I turn around and come back.  Not only does The Hill add difficulty to my training, it also increases the distance to 3.5-4 miles, depending on how far past it I keep going before I turn around and how many loops I make along the way.  So far, I go this route once a week. The next challenge is to pick up the pace so I can actually 'run' down and then back up the hill.

Also - I have successfully 'ran' (without stopping) for three-quarters (0.75) of a mile.  That is a new PR for me.  (PR means Personal Record)  I run as far as I can and then walk until the next 1/4 mile marker and start running again.  Continue alternating run/walk as long as possible, then walk as fast as possible for the duration.  When I do run, I am running about a 13.5 pace.

Those are the good things I have to report since last blog of April 13th.  We were getting ready for Relay for Life then.  We were not able to do the non-stop 5k during, but did log a LOT of steps and I ran one lap (1/4 mile) without stopping at about eleven pm.  We hung around a while longer and then called it - didn't stay all night.

Overall my April training went pretty well - I logged 29.5 miles for the month.  I was getting pretty fired up for the May 16th Sombrero 5k, and then it started raining.  ...And raining, and then it rained some more.  ...And the mold counts skyrocketed and I had an allergy issue.  I don't typically have a problem, but this time my sinuses and a hacking cough really knocked me down.  So I went to the Dr and got a steroid pack and that fixed me up.  I was doing better, but knew I wasn't going to set any PRs for the 5k.  But then it was postponed because of all the rain and flooding.  Yay - I think.  May training also not so good - very soggy.  We did go camping/hiking at Davis Mountains in West Texas and I felt much better out on the trails than I did the last time we went in August of 2014.

Back to the 5k postponement - it was postponed to this weekend, and next weekend is the one for June.  So that means two in a row - Yay.  And we didn't do April, so I'm one behind - Yay.

It's six months until the big 5-0 and I'm only up to 15 of the 50k (5k x 10 races) for 50/50 2015.  In two weeks, I'll be up to 25 of the 50, so I guess that's a good thing...

In other (non-running) news...  I went to an awesome spiritual retreat called The Walk to Emmaus in early May. Contrary to the title, there wasn't much walking involved.  Lots of spiritual exploration and discussions and it has helped me gain focus in my life.  I just may have figured out what I want to be when I grow up.  Now - to apply those precepts to my running disciplines...

Thank you for your patience throughout my ramblings.  I know this doesn't seem like a very "positive" or "uplifting" blog.  These are my honest thoughts and feelings.  I do not have strong discipline or consistency or motivation and it really does help me to blog about it.  My situation is typically not as bleak as it initially seems after I put it out here in writing.  I am able to sort through and find some things that are going well and recognize other areas to improve.

My hope is that you can read about my journey and realize that I am not perfect, nor do I strive to be. I hope my struggles encourage you to simply keep putting one foot in front of the other.

#RunningTowardsFifty

Can't Stop Me!

First, let me say this is not the best photo!  lol

But I got new workout clothes and wanted to share my fun shirt.  It says, "Can't Stop Me".  I was thinking while I was running earlier that I need to add a "You" before it and then write "but I can" on the back in little letters with a sad face.  Aren't we our own worst enemies?  And then I smiled to myself, said, "Self - we can DO this!" and proceeded to run one half mile and a little more without stopping, and at a decent stride, not shuffling.  And I wasn't completely winded when I slowed down, either.  I considered going a little further, but I was at the corner and had to cross a busy street.

As usual, I have jumped into the middle of a story with both feet.  Let me back up a bit.  It has been a VERY long time since I've written - since Feb 20th - 7 1/2 weeks.  Some things have happened since then.  On 2/21, we ran the Run, Feed, Love 5k at Gruene with a pace of 46:59, and then we ran the YMCA St Patty's 5k on 3/14 with a pace of 48:02.  You may remember the first one, Salute to Service Members on 1/17 with a pace of 46:15.  It's not hard to see that I am progressively doing Worse, not Better, on chip-timed runs.  *bleah*  However, the 3/14 course was half up-hill and a veteran runner told us that "we did good, considering...".  Thanks.  lol

I also seemed to be consistently GAINING pounds, not losing them.  I thought I was doing everything right.  I guess I wasn't - I was fudging more than I realized and have pulled it all way back.  That means watching my eating (and snacking) much closer, getting out the door (almost) every day.  The weather has still been a challenge on that one, but I've gone a lot more since 3/14 than I did before.  One other thing we have realized - On a regular, training basis, CpnRusty & I do not/can not run the same pace together.  His legs are longer and when he tries to keep my pace, it hurts his knees and muscles - he needs to stretch out his step more.  When I try to keep up with him, I get too winded too quickly - just not there yet, as I take about two steps for each one of his.  So we are now training separately, and will start the chip-timed races together and then meet again at the finish line.  We are still doing it 'together', just not necessarily side-by-side.  That's Okay!  Some things must be individual journeys, even if it's along the same path.  (And maybe, just maybe, by the end of this year, I will be the one waiting at the finish line for Him!) [Stop laughing, Honey - it could happen!]  

Summary:  # of Training Runs for Jan 5k = two.  # of training runs for Feb 5k = four.  # of training runs for Mar 5k = zero.  # of training runs since Mar 5k = twelve.  The scale has finally started moving the 'right' way (down), I do feel better and it seems things are finally starting to click.  My step counter is close to or over 10,000 most week days (still not conquering Sat & Sun).  

We do not have another chip-timed 5k planned until May.  Next up is the big Relay for Life event that we do each year to raise funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society.  It is an all night walking vigil, not a 'race', but CpnRusty & I are going to try to 'run' a 5k without stopping, if we can. We do laps around the track at the football field, most walk, some run, etc.  We will 'try' because there are also special laps and ceremonies taking place and it might not be possible to go enough laps for 3.12 miles without stopping.  We'll do our best.  We also need to pace ourselves for the "all-night" part.  lol  

Bottom line:  We must each do what we can, when we can, as long as we DO!

#runningtowardsfifty

Tomorrow we find out what happens...

...when you don't 'train' for a race.  Yup - that's right - no training.  I have hit a rut, and I now NEED to get through it.  I have given myself Grace, but now I think I'm pushing it and it's time to give up my Self and get to it.  It is Lent, afterall.  It is time to evaluate WHY I want to do this. I still want to, but I have lost my momentum.

I do know that my Interest Span for most things is about six months.  I had this great idea for 50/50 2015 last fall, about six months ago.  It is 'naturally' time for me to be 'over' running and on to the next thing.

But that's not why I want to run...  not just to mark something off my bucket list.  I want to do this because it is supposed to help me establish a NEW routine, a NEW habit, a LIFETIME habit so I can stay fit and healthy and bendy and bounce when I get old.  I never want to be old and frail.  I want to still be able to climb stairs and sit on the floor (and get back up) and get in and out of the kayak and fight off colds and not take lots of pills and recover quickly if I do get some major illness.

I read a couple of articles this week about being fat vs. being thin.  One lady said she was much happier fat (size 18ish? her words) than when she was a size 4 because it was constant maintenance for the size 4 and it wore her out. She was happier being bigger and more relaxed.  Her arguments made sense, sorta.  Then I read another article about a 'big girl' who LOVES to run. She doesn't run fast and hasn't lost any weight at all, but she enjoys her time and running has become a part of her that she prioritizes and has no desire to give up.  She doesn't consider it work or torture, but an enjoyable activity that makes her feel good.

Size vs. Happiness.

I'm not 'plus size' anymore - I used to be a 20+.  I'm not a size 4, either, altho' I was a 6 for a very brief time in 2007.  These days, I'm closer to a 12.  I'd like to be an 8-10, mostly because I have some supercute dresses in my closet that I'm not ready to give up on.  So - was I happier at a 6 than at a 20+?  Definitely!  I had gained that weight because I was depressed and my life was out of control.  But - was I happier at a 6 than I am now at a 12?  No, not really - that was a very busy time of our lives and things have calmed and settled since then.  See- and now I've gone down the "weight" rabbit hole.....  This is where I do NOT want to be or go.  It is nice when my clothes fit correctly, right now I'm sorta between so things are too loose or too tight, which is frustrating. {Full Disclosure - I have the means to resolve this issue.  I am a seamstress and make my own clothes, so this whole weight/size thing is truly a "smoke and mirrors" argument... for Me - We're all different!}

So - what makes Me happy?  Being Healthy!!  I think that's why running is appealing to me as a lifetime form of exercise and movement.  It's not hard, simply put one foot in front of the other.  If I want to enjoy the sunshine, I take my time and soak it up.  If I want to feel my heart beating and the blood pumping, I step it up and go faster.  I listen to the birds, ponder the mysteries of life, listen to a good book, admire the neighbors front yards and porches (okay - the neighbors in the next neighborhood over, their houses are so cute!), refuel and revive.  Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?

So why am I still on the sofa, typing this instead of outside?  Good question, and I am writing this blog with hope to discover the answer.  Today's post feels a bit rambling, but that's what my thoughts do, ramble around. I want to be honest with you, thereby with myself.

Please share in the comments below if you have questions, motivations, suggestions....

Stay tuned for tomorrow's results!

#runningtowardsfifty

Back in the Saddle, sorta

WooHooHoo!  It was a gorgeous sunshiney day and guess what?  I went for a walk!  Nothing spectacular, 2ish miles in 40ish minutes, but it was lovely!  If tomorrow is like today, I'll do it again... Faster!

#runningtowardsfifty

Blah on the Blog

Okay Mr Sunshine - you need to get back to work!  These cloudy, dreary days are really pulling me down.  And today, I woke up with a stuffy head and sore throat.  Bleah.  I've tried to be very good about avoiding illness, so hopefully this is allergy related, or I just need a nap.  I haven't been outside (unless I'm going somewhere) for almost two weeks.  My recent eating has included too much bread and biscuits and oatmeal cookies.  Bleah.

Why is it when I tell myself it's time to get with the program and to get moving and to eat better that I seem to do exactly the opposite?  I don't get it....  

But I'm not giving up, I'm giving myself a break.  I am hoping that it is okay to just BE for a bit.  I say hoping because I hope the 5+ pounds will come back off.  I know they will, but I also know I will have to work harder.  Tomorrow - I will work harder tomorrow.  

See the fence I sit on?  Do all these cliche's come to mind?

• Just Do It!
• If Tomorrow never comes
• The Sun will come out Tomorrow
• This is the Day

Contradictory, huh?  So here's where I sit... at least for a minute - Cpn Rusty just presented me with an urgent errand, so I'll be going out after all.  Hmmm....  there might be a quilt shop on the way? 

Happy Friday, Y'all.  Please be Gracious to your Self and don't beat yourself up when you're just not feeling it.  God Loves Us, no matter what.  We should Love our Selves the same way!

Huggs!    #RunningTowardsFifty