Half of the Half + 10 Weeks.

There you have it, my goals for this last week and the upcoming week. Since I am starting to train for my next half marathon, I decided I should start setting goals and run a further distance than 4 miles. Therefore, I am going to start taking more 'rest' days and longer miles. In my last post I talk about running to my brothers house and I plan on doing that next week as well. I only gave myself 8 miles in case I walk a little bit.

Last weeks running went really well. My friend Britney started running, so I was able to run extra with her after I finished my long runs. I ran with her on Sunday and also Thursday. On Friday I decided that I could either run 5 miles and 2 on Saturday or 7 on Friday and have an off day Saturday. I know when I go home it's hard to run, so I chose the 7. It actually went really well and I now know that I'm able to do 7 miles, half of my half.

I got an e-mail from the Rock 'n Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon and it said there was only 10 weeks left, TEN SHORT WEEKS! That freaked me out, I need to get a move on the groove! I hope I do not have any injuries while training this time. My knee is starting to hurt when I put pressure on it, so I am just going to 'ignore' it...until after Labor Day that is!

This coming week is really busy, so my running will be a lot different than the previous weeks. I plan to start a training plan similiar to the one for next week from now on! Ahhhhhhhh....ten weeks until I'll be running on the beach!!! Maybe even in my VFF!!! :)

Peace.Love.TenWeeks.

This is the run that never ends..

I've always wanted to run to my brothers house but it is about 10ish miles away, and I have not ran that far in over a month! Well, one day I convinced myself that if I didn't run there I would regret it all weekend. Which I would. So, I decided to run it.

Well, first I couldn't find the road that led me straight to his town. I ended up calling him and was a mile from the road I wanted. Saying that, I already overachieved and am 5 miles away from the most I've run since May 1st.

I eventually found the road and decided to take the country roads that way I wouldn't look like a freak running on the side of a road. I'm in the country and think the town should be getting close so I go down a road to get on the highway and head into the town. WRONG. I thought I was a lot closer than I actually was. I kept running thinking I would be there in like 2 miles, nope! It took me 5 more miles than I thought! Ugh, I was so frusterated!

I finally got to his town, it only took me a total of 2 hours. Maybe late August I'll do this run again. It was a nice run but I just didn't realize the distance.

So what shoes did I wear? My VFF!! I wore socks with them and put blister rub-stuff on and only got one blister! One horrible blister! Not bad compared to what happened last time!

This week my running goal is 20 miles-the same as last week but I'm not going to run 10 miles in one day...maybe 6 though.

The day everyone runs..yeah, even YOU!

When is a time that the world runs? Well, you know those made up national holidays like 'National Running Day' or even 'National Work Out Day'..yeah those days are pointless and they aren't national. Lazy people don't look at their calendar and say, "Oh, it's running day I've gotta put these chips down!" No, they don't--so what is the day everyone runs?

Those days are the ones like yesterday...rainy days. I am also a victim of this and I'll tell you about my little sprint yesterday. I was leaving work (and I walk home because I don't have a car on campus) so I decided just to walk to the bus stop and go from there. So I'm talking on the phone and it's drizzling outside, no big deal. All of sudden I yell OHHHMYYYGOSHHH!! and it starts pouring down rain (literally like the kind that hurts) so I sprint toward a tree where I can stay semi-dry for a few moments before braving my way to the bus stop!

Everyone seemed to be running and I'll just let you know that was the only exercise I got yesterday!

I have 11 miles left to run this week and plan to get at least 4 in tonight, I wish I could do more but I don't have time since I'll get home at like 6:30 tonight.

Peace Out Girl Scouts..

Candy Buttons..

You know, like those small dots on the large piece of paper that you use to eat as a child. Yes, those dots and maybe I shouldn't write 'candy' as a running blog title but as I was with a friend this weekend we were eating some of those. "Sara...we're just like these dots: random and obnoxious."

I felt my run today was another comparison to those candy dots. First off, I made a deal with myself that I would run a total of 20 miles this week. Since my weeks are usually all different and sometimes I don't get the time to run, I'll just make a distance goal.

Well, I ran 4.3ish yesterday and I knew I should run today but didn't feel like it. All of a sudden a thunderstorm came rolling into the area around 3 or 4ish today. I obviously wasn't going to run in the rain because I have my iTouch, so I would never do that! After work I just read part of my book and ate some dinner, then all of a sudden it was 730 and I just had this motivation that if it wasn't raining I was running.

Candy buttons are obnoxious, well what was I wearing? A tie-dyed t-shirt that the cops decided I looked like a stoner and stared at me as they passed by. I'm about the opposite of a druggie..but whatever works!

Well, I walked outside and sure enough it wasn't raining. There I go with a distance goal of 5 miles. What?? I haven't set five miles in at least two weeks. So first off, my run was spur of the moment & longer than I have run in a few weeks.

Then..I decide to run my route backwords, it was fun and definitely a change! I then saw a good friend of mine running too! Just when my motivation was going down..he high five's me, and I don't know what it is about high five's..but they put me in a good mood and I can all of a sudden run again!

For the next 10 minutes or so I wouldn't say my run was anything like candy buttons, it was boring and repitive. Well, then I decided to go down a street and cut through some blocks. One reason I enjoy running is you get to see sights in town that you would not have known were there otherwise! I found a restaurant I usually drive 10 miles for, right down the street from me!! Who would have know!

Well, I finished with a strong 5.4 miles and am very happy with the 554 less calories that my body is carrying. I hope my next run will be just as good as the candy buttons!

135 miles in 60 hours!

Yesterday, I decided to go for a 4-Mile run around campus. With my blister burned feet, I slid on my Asics (yeah..the VFF had to take a rest!). It was an odd feeling running in 'real' shoes again, but I did it and felt the same pain as I did before getting my VFF. My knee felt twisted and my ankles swelled but I kept going..why? Because I was going to watch a movie that night about running and didn't want to lay on the couch feeling like a lazy wimp. So here's about the movie..

Well, from another blogger I heard of a movie that features 40 runners running the badwater. This is a race that is 135 miles in distance and temperatures can increase to 140 degrees F in less than 60 hours. Wow! Let's just say, I will no longer complain about running my 'small' races. These individuals train with tactics you and I would never think about, let alone ever volunteer to try! One lady was running on the road (during training) with a tire tied to her, that way she was use to the weight dragging her behind. Another guy turned the dryer on and moved the dryer tube thing that blows hot air over to the treadmill where about his chest would go...with a rainsuit on and dryer tube in place he took off on the treadmill in his stuffy basement.

Then comes the race. The movie is very realistic (because it's a true story) but it shows the runners throwing up after running themselves too hard, toenails that have fallen off, blisters on the entire foot, and even a guy who lost his leg while in the military had a prosthetic with blisters where his 'real' leg moved into the prosthetic! These runners don't give up! A lady had blisters so bad they had to cut the top of her shoe off..but she kept running.

As the race went on, many people ended up having to drop out because they had to get treated with an IV or any other disqualifying act. Do these runners go home? Nope, they voluntarily help out the individuals still in the race!

I'm not finished with the movie, I still have a little to watch but these people are very inspiring. I now will be thankful when I go on a run and get to come back to an air conditioned building!

ouch!

So...I'm an idiot and have horrrrrrible blisters on both my feet. They even hurt when I wear flip flops!! Looks like I will be checking into the five finger socks or...just going back to the Asics. Hopefully I can find some way to still wear the five fingers without blistering my feet. :(

I'll post later what I figured out---until then all you healthy feet people, run your little hearts out! :)

Peace!

Up and Over.

Yesterday I ran to a friends house which is exactly 5.5 miles away. It was perfect because that's the distance I was going for. Well, 5 at least..the extra .5 was just for good measure I suppose. So I ran in the FiveFingers because they are so comfortable. However, those blisters I blogged about yesterday, yeah not so good! My feet were still rubbing against the shoe and I not only irritated those blisters but I got more! Ugh, I love these shoes but I don't know what else to do! I might try the socks that fit with these shoes but other than that, I may have to try a smaller size.
Besides the blisters, my run was really good! I ran through town, in the country, and over an interstate!! The view from the interstate is the picture I posted. It was really pretty and just an a fun way to put a twist to the run!
I can now say that I (think) I'm training for my next half marathon! (Virginia Beach--Sept. 5!!)

BTW: I'm thinkin' of my 22nd Birthday Bash--If you're my friend reading this, let me know your sugesstions!

Peace Out!

But...why?

"Why do you run?" This is the top question I get asked. I ran for a few months before I was asked this the first time and it caught me off guard. Why do I run? It's fun..why do you play sports? It's the same concept. That was my answer and exactly why I run. I'm not out there to stay in shape, although it is a plus. I'm not out there for competition. I am running to set goals, challenge myself, and prove that I have the strength and confidence to pursue anything.

When I am taking those steps to form miles it is a time to think about everything. I usually compare how running is like life. The hills are the challenges faced in life, we struggle and complain but eventually overcome them and run a stable flat road. Relaxing after goals are complete is like running downhill, you've done your best, worked your hardest and it's time to let gravity push you along all while time is still ticking and the run is still in progress. The wind gets in our way, but we push through. Life to me is like running. Why do I run? To prove myself that everything is possible!

For those individuals who don't understand the fun in putting one foot in front of the other for a two hour time frame, I can also relate to you. I started my hobby three years ago, my freshman year in college. I was surrounded by friends who enjoyed going to the gym, and was asked to go along. I went and set a goal to run two miles on the treadmills. Little did I know, months later I would be participating in 5k's and training for a half-marathon!

Running has become a part of me, it's who I am and who I want to be. It has proven to me that anything is possible and to keep trying until I succeed. I may not be the best runner out there, but I don't intend to be. So enjoy those sunny days and go outside a run. It's free, you get a tan, and the feeling after that first mile is priceless!

FiveFingers...or should I say FiveToes?

Well, I've ran with about every brand of running shoe. I started with Nike and got the sensor chip and itouch to go with it. Then, those wore out and I got some Asics which can I just say, comfortable? Now I have moved onto a new type of shoe: Vibram FiveFinger shoes. I have done so much research on these shoes that when I went to buy them a lady was asking the employee questions and I just wanted to jump in and answer it how it is.

I wore these shoes for the first time today (because I just bought them today) on a four mile run. The felt like socks, literally. I really enjoyed running in them, especially since I have horrible feet to begin with. I did not have any pain except where I got blisters. On the inside of my arch, I got one large blisters on each foot as you can see on the picture above. Because of this, I am going to put some mole skin padding in the shoe to prevent it from happening in the future. I did run into some rock paths, and I could feel the rocks but it did not hurt. To be honest, it felt good on my feet! I can't wait to run in the sand with them on the beach!

Overall, I am very happy with my purchase and really enjoy them! I plan to run my next half marathon in them!

How'd this Craze Start?

So as this blog may represent, I like to run. Have I always? That's a big NO. Sure I ran track in grade school and was involved in sports in high school but somewhere between moving to college and currently I decided to start running races. Why? Because it's addicting!

So I'll start from the beginning. I moved to college in 2007 and I've always been active, so when my suitmate Jenny asked if I would go on a run with her I agreed. About a quarter mile into the run, in the most exhausted state ever I asked, "How far are we going?" She then decided to let me know about her cross country team in high school. Cross Country?? I can't even run across campus!! All in all, I pushed hard and that is the first memory I have of actually running for fun.

Freshman year, I was active with a competitive cheerleading squad in college therefore it was necessary to stay in shape. I hated going to the gym for anything but practice but all my friends went, so I hopped on the bandwagon.

Soon it was summer time and I started running in the neighborhood that I lived in. It was about a .6 mile circle, so I ran around that several times a night. During the winter months, I would go to the gym (usually Kaci dragged me there) and I had a goal of running 2 miles on the treadmill each time. I then ran my first 5k late April 2009 and ended up doing extremely well. Above is a photo of me with my 2nd place trophy!

In summer 2009, I ran a total of five 5k's including the MLB All Star 5k in St. Louis. Each race I ran, my time decreased. I finished my very last 5k with a time of 26:15, my PR. Three days later I had foot surgery and therefore had to re-learn how to walk and running was not even an option to me for at least four months.

On Thanksgiving Day, I asked my Aunt Melissa for an entry to the Illinois Marathon 2010. She agreed and I was registered- which forced me to train for a half! In January 2010 I finally started training. I followed the Nike + training schedule but ended up getting shin splints horribly, so I had to tone it down a notch. I quit running for four weeks and picked it up again two months before the half marathon. All in all I finished the half marathon with a time of 2:09. I was very pleased with my time since it was my first one, even though my goal was under 2:00.

All in all it was a great experience, and I am now signed up for the Virginia RnR half marathon on Labor Day weekend!! Something even better about the Illinois Marathon? My aunt decided to run it too!! She has never really ran in her life, and something motivated her to do this! I am so proud of her and she has honestly inspired me to believe the overused saying, "anything is possible."

So what else motivates me? Runner's World daily quotes.

So you saw a picture of my first race ever...now there is a picture of my aunt and I after completing the Illinois Marathon a year later.