The waiting is the hardest part...

Yeah, Tom Petty had it right...the waiting is the hardest part for reals. Yesterday's run, according to my plan, was my last non-marathon training run. Starting next weekend, I will be training for my first marathon. That is, if it happens in October. But, it could happen in December, in which case I have a couple more weeks of technically non-marathon training runs. But, I am waiting. waiting to see if the marathon I want to run in October actually happens, and if so, where, and what the course is like. I am hoping it will be near me and we don't have to get a hotel room (I don't think I could camp before or after 26.2 miles. I like to think I'm a badass, but yeah...I'm not). I do have a backup plan, and that's great, but dang it, I wanna know, and want to plan, and dang it I'm tired of waiting.

Wildflower Trail 25k Race Recap aka I did a thing

tl:dr: Oh this is going to be hard, oh crap hills, oh so many hills, oh god it's hot af, I want a slushie, I can't do this. Wait, I did it. Yay, me, I'm awesome, but I'm dirty and hot. I want a slushie.

There, I put that at the beginning so you don't even have to scroll. You are lazy, huh? Non-lazy people, please continue.

So last weekend I did a thing. It was a very hard thing, and it hurt me a lot, but in the end, I fell in love with this thing. I ran walked a 25k. Although my garmin said I did 16.10 miles, so there's that. 25k and some change, I guess.

I knew it would be tough, and I knew it would be hilly, but when I got there and saw the start line, I knew I was in trouble. I kept telling myself I could do this, just take it slow, but that steep hill really intimidated me. But I signed up for this, and wasn't about to waste my money, dang it! The weather was really nice, a nice breeze and in the high 50s, so that was awesome. We had to take a shuttle into the park, and at 5 am when it's dark af we couldn't find where to park. I was having a small panic attack, but finally, finally we followed some people and found it. We didn't have to wait to long, so we got to the start/finish line in plenty of time. Probably really early, but I wasn't sure what the shuttle situation would be and didn't want to be late. It was still somewhat dark, but as the sun came up, the nerves started.Then I saw the start and knew I was in for an epic day. I wasn't wrong.

Now it's time to start and yay, so much fu.....oh crap. This is hard. Like, really hard. The hills were steep, and I tried to run, but was seriously out of my element by a quarter mile in. Holy crap....why so many hills? Why is this so steep? Why aren't I sleeping in? Oh but wow it's really pretty and the birds are singing and look at the pretty water...but damn this is hard. Ok, enough nature, this is hard...I can't do this. I cannot do this for 14 more miles. yes, i wanted to quit a race at mile 1. I truly thought I could not go on for 14 more miles (turns out it was 15 more miles but whatevs). But I couldn't turn back, I had to just keep going and telling myself that yes, I can and I will do this. I tried to run when I could, but the flat portions had soft beach sand which was hard to run through, so I walked a lot. I fell at mile 4. I just slipped and down on my knee and then my opposite shoulder. I laid there for a minute looking at the beautiful sky, thinking that's it, I'm dead. This has killed me. But no, I was alive, and somehow, unhurt! Although I was dirty and got dirt in my water bottles....mmmm gritty! But I got up, and kept going. I have no clue how. I just...did. Luckily soon after was the aid station with water and snacks and people cheering me on (actually almost all of the runners that passed me, and there were a LOT were so supportive and awesome!), so that helped. And the ice cold sponge bath?! Holy cats that was invigorating! Woo! Only 10 more miles to go....I can do this! Ok, that might have been a little premature, but about a mile later I was at the start/finish line, and my hubby was there, and another aid station, and people helping me and ok, yeah, I'm slow but dammit I will finish! There's a 50k going on as well, so the course was staying open till 6 pm. I have all the time I need! I should stop and take a couple pictures of how pretty it is here. And rest....that would be good.

So loop two starts and youch these hills, the sand, oh man this is tough. So very little running on loop two...maybe a little at the beginning but soon enough I just couldn't. I was gonna finish, and hopefully finish upright, but I wasn't gonna be running. Later on loop two I met Andi, and we talked a little, since I saw she was a member of Team RWB, and out of Houston even! We have a mutual friend, so that was cool. But then I slowed down and Andi kept going on. Loop two was so hard, because I KNEW what was coming....but I slogged along and just kept thinking of how awesome it was going to be to say I did a 25k! After loop two, I saw hubby again (thank God for that man...he supports me and really was the reason I could keep going) and got more water, and salt tabs and some pretzels. I hadn't fueled much, as nothing tasted good. I tried gummy bears and they didn't taste good. The watermelon at the aid station was good, and the pretzels were, but everything else just tasted ugh. One of the volunteers gave me some salt tabs as it had gotten HOT. There was no clouds, and at least there was a breeze, but there was very little shade and it was warm....very, very warm.

Loop three...oh thank you baby Jesus....only about 3 miles more to go. I can do this! Slowly, but man I can get it done! But holy crap those last 3 miles. The turn off was before the aid station, so there wasn't anything to look forward to but the end. That was pretty motivating though.... About mile 1 or so (of the last 3 mile loop) I came across Andi sitting in the shade. She was tired and had run out of water. I gave her some of mine and stayed with her for a little bit. She said she was ok, so I started off and she caught up with me. That girl. If it hadn't been for her, those miles would have sucked so much butt. They were still hard, and I had to dig deep to keep going, but man, she sure helped. I helped her too she said, as she was having a rough go as well. We talked and laughed and dreamed about slushies. We cussed a little (or maybe that was just me), and she said I kept saying "Carpe diem" which was my mantra for the day.

The last mile was all uphill, and when I got to that I kept saying, I can't...oh my god, I can't. My legs were so tired, and I was out of water, and Andi was cramping, but somehow we freaking made it up, and over and then, oh glorious day...the road! THE. ROAD. The finish line is right there.....and then, together, Andi and I cross the finish line. No, I didn't run across it, but I damn well walked across on my own power. I didn't cry when Rob (the RD) put the medal over my head but probably only because I was dehydrated.

I finished. And I didn't die. I probably just smelled like I did. But wow, what an epic thing. I am so proud of myself for pushing myself, and for finishing. It took me 6 and a half hours to do it, but so what? I did it. I fucking did it.

I will have to give a huge shout out to Trail Racing Over Texas....the volunteers, the race director....everyone involved made this race so amazing! It was well planned, the trails were easy to read and follow, the volunteers were out of this world, the information was timely and all questions were answered quickly. I would do another race with them in a heartbeat, no matter how hard it looked. This is a an amazing organization to do a race with!

So. Yeah. I did a thing. It was hard, and I still have blood blisters, and I couldn't hardly walk Sunday or Monday, but pain is temporary, but these memories will last forever. I'm ready to do it again! It was hard, it was tough, it was amazing, it was fun, it was my first 25k and I am ready for the next one! Boom shaka laka! EPIC SHIT DONE. MEDAL EARNED.

13 miles training run....nbd

Uh, yeah tell yourself that because it IS a big deal, missy! I've only ever run 13 miles when I was doing a race...with aid stations, and volunteers, and porta potties, and I knew there would be a medal at the end. Yesterday? No medal. No volunteers cheering me on. No aid stations with Gatorade and water, and cookies. Just...me. In my head, getting tired, but telling myself to KEEP going, you got this. It's going to be so awesome when you're done! So it's a lot harder to run 13 miles when it's not a race...good to know for my marathon training for sure!

But it was a good run until about 11.75 miles and then I got super tired. But I'm okay with that. I was slow, real slow, but I'm okay with that too. It was still a good run because I planned to do 13 miles, and I did 13 miles. No major blisters, no GI issues, just a good training run. My last long run before the 25k in a couple of weeks. I'm feeling a little better about that. I'm still nervous but am excited to take on this new challenge!

I had some tightness yesterday, and two teeny blisters but I can liquid bandage those places and be good I think. I did take an ice bath, and a nice hot bath before bed, and today just my quads hurt a little. But I know I need to stretch more, and foam roll, and that will help a lot. Plus, the new shoes and new toe socks feel real good!

So, I'm feeling better, and am ready to tackle that 25k!

This little piggie went ow, ow, ow!

Oh! Hello! Bet you thought I forgot about all y'all...nope, I'm still here, still running....

I'm training for a 25k...not sure if I mentioned that, but, yeah, I am. 25k is 15.5 miles, which is only 2.4 miles beyond a half marathon (13.1), and I've done five half marathons. So 15.5 should be easy peasy, right? Yeah. I don't know if my brain has heard that, and my body sure as heck doesn't think so. I have had some really crappy training runs the past couple of weeks, and I'm getting a little worried. Although last week, I had...um...*cough* hormonal issues; this week I had..um....*clears throat*....bathroom issues. So I have had some legit issues but dang, really...now? Ugh. Last week I was supposed to do 11, and I barely eked out 10. This week I was supposed to do 12 and got to 11.10 before I had to go...like GO!

I guess this is good training for if I have any issues in May (the race is May 6th for those of you playing along at home); I will know what I can do and what I can't do, and when I HAVE to find that porta pottie.

My other issues have been blisters. I wear ASICS and the newest model are killing my feet; I am getting blisters between my toes, on the tops of my toes, on the outside of my toes, on the bottoms of my toes..... I think the newer model must have a narrower toe box and it's just squishing the little piggies all together and they are not happy about that! So, with only one long run, and one short run left before the race, I need to get me and my piggies to the running store and get their advice. New socks? New shoes? New piggies? Either way, my feet are getting beat the F up. They've never been pretty, but now they are ugly and painful.

So that's my running life right now. Pain and sorrow. But, I can't let it get me down, because I truly believe the quote from Henry Ford, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right." It's going to be my motto from now until the race! (What's a motto? Nothing...what's a motto with you?!)

So, yes, I think I can, I know I can, I will make that 25k my bish!

Seabrook Lucky Trails Half Marathon race recap

Well, I promised a race recap, and I’d hate to leave all 5 3 of you hanging!

It started off really well; it was cool (for Houston, that is) although very humid and foggy, and my coworker and I were doing good. We had a good run/walk going, and we were actually passing some people. The trails were fine, and everyone was in a good mood. What a great run! What a great Sunday! What a great life! This would have been an awesome 7 mile race! Unfortunately for my coworker, it was 13.1. Because after we crossed the halfway point (there were two loops), it all fell apart for her. She slowed down, ran less, walked more, and was having a really tough time. We weren’t last until about mile 10 or 11. Then we got passed by a few walkers, and by one little old lady who walked the whole time with a full McDonald’s Styrofoam cup. Coworker said it was iced tea. I thought it was rum. Either way, it had magical properties as she passed us. Her and her cup! Then we got passed by the people who had done the marathon the day before. Oy.

So, yeah, I finished next to last and my coworker finished dead last (she wanted to…honest! You think I would pass my pal on her first half marathon?). The time limit was four hours and I finished at 3:59:03 and my pal finished 3:59:07 or so.

But ya know what? Who cares? We finished, and we finished running, and upright! We lapped everyone on the damn couch and we she toughed it out! I know she wanted to quit more than once after mile 7, but really there wasn’t place for her to go, and she’s a beast!

I felt good after, a little disappointed in the food and warm beer, but hey, most races aren’t BOTP friendly anyway, and I am glad there WAS food and beer! Plus, I got a shiny medal so ha!

I didn’t have any knee or IT band issues, although my shins were a little sore the next day. But no soreness, and no blisters. I may lose the toenail on my right big toe though, but meh, whatevs. It will grow back.

So I really feel excited about doing the marathon in October. Of course ask me how I’m feeling in August and the answer may be different! But I am ready to keep running, and doing some fartleks (that word makes me giggle because I have the sense of humor of a 14 year old boy) and strength training. I do want to lose some weight too, as that will make things easier, but I struggle with that because of the rungries.

All in all, it wasn’t what I expected, but it worked out and I got a medal, and pizza and beer and cupcakes after and there ain’t nothing wrong with all that!

Running is hard, y'all.

Maybe not for everyone. I see so many people that run every day and they look fantastic doing it. They're fast, they're swift, they look fabulous...me? Not so much. I'm slow, I'm lumbering, I look like I'm dying, but dang it, I'm determined. Running is hard for me. It will never be something that comes easily to me. And that's okay. I don't have to be a swift cheetah, because I am a determined turtle. I am determined to be the best I can be. To be better than the other day. To keep running for the old me, the fat me, to run for my inner fat girl that keeps telling me to just sit on the couch and eat donuts. All the people that give me "that" look when I say I'm a runner. To run for those girls that don't think they are runners because they are bigger, or slow, or whatever. Honey, if you run, you're a runner! No matter how slow, or how far, no matter if you walk some too. You are a runner; I'm a runner. WE. ARE. RUNNERS. It's hard, but truly, nothing in life that is worthwhile is easy. And this, this is so worthwhile. So, be a cheetah or be a turtle, just get out there and go!

Half marathon #5

And I totally sang that in my head to "Mambo #5", btw. You're welcome for that earworm!

So, yeah. This may be a blog about me training for a marathon, but part of that training includes a half marathon. On Sunday, to be exact. It's a trail run, and I've never done a trail race, so I'm not sure what to expect. A slower time to be sure, but I'm pretty slow anyway, so that's nothing new. I proudly rep the back of packers!

I'm a little nervous, not only because I think it's natural to be nervous before a big event,but because I haven't done a half since November of 2015. And I kicked butt in that one. I had a great PR (personal record), and felt fantastic that day, even though it got super hot at the end and I walked more than I wanted. So, I don't want to compare races, as that was over the Fred Hartman Bridge and was a pretty tough race. See photo.

But, understandably, I'm nervous. I'm running it with a first timer, and I am excited for her, so that helps with the nerves. But still. There's a 4 hour time limit, and even during my first half, I wasn't close to that cut off. But as a slow runner, it's always in the back of my head. Will I finish last? Will anyone be left to cheer for me? Will the food be there? I've done other races by the race company and they have all been fab, and very BOTP friendly, but still...

So I just have to do what I need to do to prepare....like eat spaghetti tonight. With garlic bread. Ohh yeaah. Drink all my water. Try and get some sleep. And go out and have fun, and the remember all of it so I can give you a great race review after!

And so I leave you with Lou....trumpets!