My 13.1 in 2013!

I decided back in October that I wanted to run a half marathon. I signed up shortly after and gave myself a lot of extra time to prepare. I had 19 weeks from the start of my training to the race.  Most training plans are around 12 weeks.  But I never wanted to have to skip a long run due to other plans.  I also knew that I had some knee problems in the past.  So I planned for not being able to run sometimes and an injury... Just in case....

I never missed a long run. I followed a  combo of Hal Higdon's novice 2 training and a Women's Health Half Marathon training plan.  The thing I didn't like about the Hal Higdon plan was the 5 mile runs during the week.  I would run before work.  Even with a 3 mile run I needed to wake up at 5 am.  There was just no way I would wake up any earlier.  So I liked the Women's Health plan b/c it only had me running 2-4 miles during the week.  So I followed the WH during the week but used the HH for the weekend runs...

I really feel like the speed work on the treadmill helped me a good bit. I started out running 10:45-11 minute miles. I know that's slow. But I never had a plan to be fast. And towards the end of my training I could run a 9:30 mile- which was good for me. I would sometimes do the interval runs on the treadmill during the week. I always ran a long run outside- mostly on Saturdays. I started at 4 miles and every Saturday I added a mile until I got to 11. A couple of Saturdays I either didn't feel like it or the weather was bad, and I ran 6 miles. 

Towards the end of my training I got pretty burnt out. I would dread running. I started running with a friend in different locations on the weekends, and I think that helped.  My last couple of months I ran around the LSU lakes or another campus to change the scenery.  But we don't have any friends that live near us.  So running with a friend during the week at 5 am wasn't really possible. And it did get boring towards the end.  I honestly dreaded my short runs way more than the long runs.  The long runs were always a new challenge for me.  But the short runs- I had done it a million times and didn't wanna do it again. So I did skip those sometimes. 

My friend, Amanda, decided to sign up for the race with me towards the end. She had been training all along on her own, but didn't sign up yet. She just didn't know if she would be able to do it that weekend. I was so incredibly excited when she signed up!  I had already booked Matt & I a room to stay the night before.  So she just decided we'd both stay the night before & our husbands could meet us at the finish line the next morning. 

We went to the expo the day before the race to get our bibs then checked into our room.  We had a little visitor on the wall behind our bed too... It was quite the adventure trying to kill the roach.

We ate Mexican for dinner then hung out in our room.  Of course I couldn't sleep!  My alarm was set for 4:45 am!  We were only 2 blocks from the start line. But it started at 7.  I think I only slept about 4 hours that night. I was just too anxious.

The next morning we woke up on time, drank a cup of coffee, had a banana & peanut butter sandwich, and got ready.  We checked out and headed to the start line. It was really windy. And I freaked out b/c I don't like running in the wind.

We put ourselves in a corral with 1:45 finishers b/c I heard that if you put yourself towards the back you will be with a lot of walkers. I freaked out for a little while and regretted doing that b/c there's no way in hell I could run that fast. But I figured maybe the people would give me a boost and I'd try to keep up. My goal when I started that race was to finish in 2:30. I just wanted to get to the end.

Just from the time we were there from 6-7 the sun started beaming and I regretted wearing long pants and a long sleeve shirt. I wore UA compression heat gear pants and a Champion dri-fit long sleeve shirt.  The gun went off and they waved the 1st corral then the 2nd then us... We started running.  Immediately I felt like shit... My legs felt like lead. And I had really tight calves. I started to get discouraged in the first few miles. Amanda ran with music. I chose not to b/c sometimes I get annoyed with my earbud strings flapping. Plus, there was supposed to be bands and music playing throughout the route. She knew I was discouraged and offered her music to me. I was just pissed b/c I thought how am I supposed to do this for like 2 hours?!  I kept pushing though...

The route was amazing. I freaking love New Orleans. There was plenty to look at. The crowd was phenomenal and so encouraging. I absolutely loved looking at the signs and the babies and puppies! Eventually I noticed that the stiffness kind of melted away. And it got much much easier. I felt like the time was flying by!  I kept a steady eye on my watch to make sure we stayed under a 10 minute mile.  I think we ran the first mile in like 8:45 or something... But I kept telling Amanda and myself- we have to pace ourselves!  We don't need to get burnt out quickly.

mile 7

We got water pretty much every chance we could. I ate shot blocks at miles 3, 6, & 9... I did walk for a second through some of the water stations. And I think I had to tie my shoe once...

I can't remember much of miles 7-11.  I think at one point I teared up a little thinking of how damn proud of us I was!  We both started running a little less than a year ago.

Miles 11-13 were really pretty tough.   My knees and my toes hurt really bad. I kept pep-talking to both us... Saying we're almost there we only have a couple of miles. We've done this a million times!  We had a plan to hold hands and run through the finish line together so we could get a pic. When we got towards the park- where it ended- we had like .5 miles left. We saw a photographer and grabbed hands and took a pic.

Then something came over me and I took off! I thought about my husband waiting at the end. And more than anything- I really just wanted to impress him. I wanted him to be proud of me- like I was of myself! I wanted to say I finished strong. And I did!

I crossed the finish line at 2:11. I was ecstatic. Amanda was right behind me! I waited for her and then we looked for our husbands! They brought us flowers. Matt said he was yelling my name as I was running through. I never heard him or saw him.  I was so focused on that clock! 

We got our medals and didn't stay very long after. It was windy. I was disgustingly sweaty and my toes hurt like I had never felt before. We grabbed something to eat then drove home.  When I got home I noticed severe chaffing on my inner thighs. I never noticed it while running. It was from the seams of my pants. It was terrible! My knees were aching and my toes hurt so bad!  So I took my first ice bath. It didn't last very long. But I managed to stay in for 15 minutes. 

It took a couple of days to feel back to normal. I've run a few 2-3 milers since then. I'm happy to not feel like I HAVE to do it... And I won't beat myself up if I walked or went a little slower.

The sense of accomplishment that I feel when I talk about this experience or even think about it is unbelievable. I really feel like its something everyone should feel!  Its crazy for me to think about how far I've come in a year. I participated in my first 5k on March 31, 2012- I walked a lot and it took me almost 40 minutes.  Then on February 24, 2013 I ran the New Orleans Rock N Roll Half Marathon in 2:11 with no walking! 

Now I need a new fitness goal!

My first 5 mile run

Saturday morning I woke up around 7, laid on the couch, and drank a couple cups off coffee.  Around 7:30 I decided I go on a 4 mile run.  I ate a think thin protein bar.  Then laid around for a little bit to let it settle.  (I usually do not eat when I run before work b/c its so early.  I just have water).  Then changed my clothes, stretched, and set out around 8:20.  It was extremely foggy out so the sun was hidden.  It was nice and breezy.  I normally don't run with music b/c I think its extremely peaceful when I run in the dark in the mornings with no noise.  But I brought my phone and put it on the Pandora Alternative Endurance station. 

My street is exactly .5 mile to the end from my house.  So I ran there and back twice.  I felt good.  The first 1-2 miles when I run is always really hard.  Its so funny that I even say that b/c I normally only run 3!  But the beginning is tough for me.  When I got back to my house after the 2 miles I turned around and ran around the neighborhood block, 1.5 times is a mile.  I still felt pretty good.  I wasn't bored yet.  I did have some stomach cramps.  And I am blaming it on the 2 cups of coffee.  But I had tons of energy.  My legs felt great.  Eventually I passed the 3 mile mark, then the 4.  At that point I thought about a post I had read from Mama Laughlin last week.  And I asked myself, how do you feel?  How do your legs feel?  Are you hurting?  Are you tired?  Why not go 5?  I've never really thought of running that way before.  I kept telling myself... since you feel good... Just make it to the end of this song and then go back in.  But then I kept going.  I finally looked down at my watch when I was coming to the end of the block.  I had just ran 5.3 miles without stopping.  And I felt amazing!  I decided to go inside b/c my stomach was still cramping up a little, and I didn't want to overdo it.  I have the Komen 5k this Saturday, and I didn't want my knee to start bothering me.  
I ran inside and showed my husband my watch.  Panting... "Look what I just did! I just ran 5.3 freaking miles! I ran the whole thing!"  I think he was also a little stunned...

I did a few things different this time that may or may not have helped.  I drank coffee before, I ate, and I ran with music.  All of these things probably worked in my favor.  I always have to remember to stretch afterwards.  Normally I just want to lay down for a while.  But I did about 10 minutes of stretching/yoga.  I was so hot it took a while for my appetite to come back.  I shouldn't have waited so long to eat, but the thought of food made me want to throw up.  Around 11 it hit me how damn hungry I was.  I wanted carbs!  Hell, I just burned 525 calories!  So husband went to Quizno's for me to pick up a tuna on wheat.  I inhaled it! 

I took a shower and laid around for a couple of hours.  Then around 3 we left to head to the LSU game.  It was my first LSU game.  We went to a local bar/restaurant near campus, Walk-ons.  It was actually voted America's #1 sports bar!  I love this place because the atmosphere is great and the food is delicious!  The game wasn't until 7 so we had a lot of time to kill.  I didn't want to be stuck eating nachos or something random for dinner in the stadium.  So we decided to just eat there.  I honestly don't know that I've ever been so hungry.  My appetite was so spiked!  After drinking a few beers I ordered a fried shrimp po-boy with french fries.  I never order stuff like this.  But I was so hungry.  I ate every single morsel of food on my plate.  I haven't eaten fried food in several months, much less that much food.  But oh well!  It was a special occassion...

The LSU game was ok.  I'm not really a sports/football person.  I do love going to Saints games though.  I think they are way more fun! 

Yesterday I was pretty sore.  After running, walking a lot at the game, going up and down stairs, etc... My hips were hurting.  I didn't do anything yesterday.  I ended up going to the grocery store around 6 last night.  But that was the extent of my day. 

I picked up food to do the 5 day slim down again.  Not really because I want to lose more weight. I just noticed the Tone It Up Girls, Karena & Katrina, posted they were doing it on Twitter.  So several of the other girls on the TIU plan said they were too.  So I figured why not?! 

Have a great Monday everyone!

XO-Heather

  

My Running Journey & Future Plans

I feel like these days 5k's & races are so popular.  I'm not sure if its because I read a lot of healthy living and fitness blogs or because I see people document so much on facebook and instagram. But I think its great!  

I always said I wanted to be a runner.  I wanted the chiseled legs of a runner.  See, I've never once considered myself or thought of myself as big.  But my thighs... I think they're big.  I've wanted to shrink them for so long!  I wanted to feel comfortable in short shorts and bathing suits.  But I never stuck to anything long enough (fitness-wise) to see results.  I have a very close friend, Heidi, who I meet up with usually at least once a week to walk/run around the college campus we went to.  I can remember telling ourselves ok, we're going to run to that stop sign and then walk.  And it would only be a few feet but it felt like forever.  We always wanted to run, but never really pushed ourselves very far.  But then her mother, who lost her sister to breast cancer last year, decided she wanted to run the Komen Race in Lafayette, LA in honor of her sister.  So she walked out the door every day and pushed herself a little bit further and started running.  She then signed Heidi up for the race too, and they completed it together in honor of Heidi's nanny!

Heidi told me how amazing the race was and how great she felt afterwards.  So then she signed me up for a race that the company she worked for was sponsoring in March of this year.  I was so freaking scared to try to run this 3 mile race.  I didn't sleep the night before. I considered not even going.  But I did.  And I want to say I ran the first like .25 of the 5k then walked/run the rest.  Its so silly but when I got to the end it was such an awesome feeling knowing I accomplished it, even if I didn't run the whole thing.  At that moment I made myself a promise that I would run a full 5k at some point.

after my first 5k

So I told some of my other friends about how awesome it felt at the end and suggested we do one together.  So we all signed up for the Run Forest Run in NOLA in April.  I worked so hard getting up at 5 am to train for this race.  I wanted to run the whole thing so bad.  But I hurt my knee right before the race and had to stop running for a couple of weeks.  So needless to say I didn't run much of that one. 

the girls & Forest

me and my husband right behind me in the grey

So then I signed up for 1 in Baton Rouge and it was miserable and hilly and hot.  I barely ran at all. 

And after each race I remember thinking.... You could've done better.  Why did you stop to walk so soon?  So I've done 3 5k races so far, and I have yet to run one all the way. 
But it was about 3 months ago that I decided I wanted to get serious about running.  So I started setting my alarm for 5 am and running before work.  It worked out so much better for me that way because it is freaking hot in Louisiana!  So even though the heat and humidity were still really bad early in the morning it was nothing compared to the 90+degrees after work.  So every other morning I would run around my neighborhood aiming for 2-3 miles depending on how much time I had.  I remember the first time I got to 2 full miles without stopping.  I had a huge smile on my face in the dark alone at 5:30 am.  It was the best feeling EVER!  So I just kept pushing myself.  And then not that long ago- maybe a month ago- I pushed myself to run the full 3.1 miles without stopping.  Then a couple of Saturdays ago I decided to go 4 miles without stopping.  And I did it!  Once again, I had this big goofy smile on my face while I was dripping in sweat.
I figured out that I loved that feeling of accomplishing something.  I've never really pushed myself physically before.  I've always been a pretty healthy eater, but I hated exercise.  I find myself wanting to run because I want to see if I can do better.  Its like a mini-competition with myself because I can always improve.  I have been focusing on adding mileage and not getting faster.  I'm pretty slow.  I run an average of 11 minutes/mile.  But I'm ok with that.  I can remember doing the C25K and panting, barely breathing, while trying to run a minute or 2... And now I can freaking run for 45 minutes!
So on Monday I signed up for the New Orleans Rock n Roll Half Marathon.  I'm scared shitless.  I wanted to die after my 4 mile run, and I will need to be able to do that times 3 plus some... But thats ok.  I'm gonna do this shit.  And I don't care if I have to walk most of it, or if I am the last freaking person.  Dammit, I will run that half marathon!

So I have roughly  19 weeks, I think.... But I'm starting my training next week.  I have a really weak knee that gives me problems a lot.  So I want to plan in case of an injury or something.  Below is the link to the training program I am going to use.  I am just going to start from the very beginning in hopes of improving my time just a little. 
Self Magazine Race Training

Any advice anyone can recommend for a first-timer would be greatly appreciated!  Oh, and I might need some words of encouragement along the way too...  There's so much info out there about training and log-runs and gels and sports beans and sodium... I don't even know where to begin.  But I've got to start somewhere, right?!

XO-Heather