M.I.A.

Well not really missing in ACTION. Haven't had much activity going on lately. My mom and I competed in our second 5K last weekend. It was a very hilly run and after 2 weeks of virtually no running with what few runs I did complete being pure misery it was a hard race for me. Not so bad for my mom! She placed 3rd in her age group and won a medal!! I was 7th out of 10 in my age group. As my dad says "major improvement since high school!" At least I beat 3 people! Just before the half way mark I told her to just go, just run. I had to walk and I didn't want to hold her back. She fought me on it but eventually took off. In the end I finished only a minute behind her. She shaved a good 5 min off our last time, I shaved off 4. I doubt we'll ever be able to say that again!

Since then I haven't done any running. I tried but these shins just keep giving me grief. I think they're better, try again and find out they are worse than I thought. I'm getting very frustrated and discouraged. My heart and mind want to run! My body does not. My littlest boy goes for a follow up appointment with the audiologist in a few weeks. Said audiologist just happens to be located near my running store so I'll be making a for sure stop there to see what I can do about making my shoes a better fit for me. Hoping I can get some comfy inserts to keep these flat feet a movin'! I've heard this can be a daunting task though, maybe for once, just once I'll get lucky first try.

I'm hoping to sign up for a 5 race 5K series happening here this summer. I really want to do it and look forward to the accountability and having a set date goal to train for. But I'm scared I'm not ever going to heal properly! I've been doing the elliptical on the regular now to hopefully heal while still building cardiovascular endurance and leg strength. I don't want to lose ground just because I can't really run right now.

That's my whine for today.

And here's my funny for the day. It is how I feel lately!

My friend Jen over at Runner...Maybe shared this with me today. Love it!! I'll always be slow but I'll always think of this!

Back in Saddle

After a week of no running I've gone out to run twice now. The first was a miserable 1 miler. Every inch of me ached. I wanted to go home and sit on the couch and veg. Liked I'd been doing all week.

More ice.

More rest.

Try again today. 2 miles was the goal. I completed 1.6 miles before my body was done. The first mile felt WONDERFUL. I was chugging along, enjoying the morning, the hint of chill in the air. I was running on air. Birds were singing!

After that first mile though it went downhill. I started to feel aches here and pains there. Weird things that have never bothered me before. My right knee. My right hamstring. Not pain really but I could feel every.single.step. The beautiful morning suddenly became hot and humid. The road became hard. Birds were fighting.

But I did it, I got up and ran so I'm back!!!!!!!! I can never quit running. For the first time in my life I actually have defined calf muscles forming!!!

To run or not to run

that is the question! I have been icing and wrapping my shin splints since Sunday. No running. I've walked a few times but at a stroll pace and not an intense one. I'm really itching to get back out and run. I'm ready for that runner's high again! I think I'm going to give it a go tonight. Maybe just a 1-miler to ease back into things and see how my shins feel.

I wish I knew WHY I got these. The main reasons I've read about for them include:
Over training: I don't feel like I've over trained at all. I hadn't even made it past 2 miles! But I am a new runner so maybe I did push too fast.

Sidewalk running: I do a lot of that but I'm rearranging my typical run course so I'll eliminate or at least minimize those. I so wish we had a great jogging trail here but that is one thing the area lacks.

Flat feet: Definitely have those! I overpronate for sure. Thought I had good shoes for that. Debating if I should hit the running store again and see what they say since they are the ones that fitted me for the shoes. I'm also pondering whether I should invest in a Zensah Calf/Shin Sleeve. I've read great reviews on these and they aren't too outrageously pricey. I already feel like I've loaded up on gear and yet I'm not even a good runner yet! But if it helps solve the problem and can keep me running it would be worth it.

What to do? What to do? What would YOU do?

#1 in my first 5K!

Okay I didn't actually place #1 but I did get to wear bib #1. Yay for alphabetical listing and an A last name.

My mom came to spend Friday at our house. Lucky us she had the day off. After dinner she and I went shopping sans kids which was awesome. We both picked up a new pair of running capris to wear on race day. Then we headed out to spend the night at her house 1.5 hours away but much closer to the race site. After a decent night's sleep we got up around 6am to get ready for our race. A few minor setbacks later we arrived at the race site just after 7am. It was a gorgeous lake outside Florida Southern College. At first sight we decided there was no way the lake was only 3 miles. We estimated it at around 10 miles, at least!

Thanks Google Images! I forgot a camera.

After a long wait in the registration line (I think everyone at this race had an A-H letter name!) we got signed up, bibs on, race t-shirts acquired and bathrooms visited. It was race time!! We decided to line up towards the back of the pack since we had no idea if we could even run an entire 5k. It was a blast talking to all the race participants and seeing such a wide variety of runners. Before we knew it the gun went off and the race had begun! Such a rush!

The lake was gorgeous, the path was perfect and nicely shaded (always a bonus in Florida!). We quickly established a nice pace and just enjoyed the day. We spent most of the race laughing and talking! Not really race pace but fun for sure! A great way to spend our first 5K.

Seriously! How gorgeous is this trail!

Despite our initial observations it turns out the lake really is about 3 miles around. When we saw the finish line we both decided to pick up the pace and sprint to the end. My mom took off! Speed demon! I had to call her to come back cause we had promised to cross the finish line together! It was a great moment crossing that line knowing we'd just achieved our first FULL RUN 5K! Our time was a slow 45 minutes but the race was a blast and we can't wait to run again in our next race! I think we're both hooked.

#1 baby! Thanks cell phone for this ever so lovely photo of me.

My shin splints held up well and are quickly healing. Whew. I'm itching to run again but I'm giving them some time off to heal properly. Next 5K is April 2nd so I want to be totally healed up and hopefully will be able to beat our slow 45 minute speed from this race.

Want and Need

Tomorrow is my first 5K! I'm excited and nervous. So far in my training the furthest I've gone is 2 miles. I'm okay with having to walk if I NEED to but I hope I can run the whole thing. I read in another blog that there is a big difference in want and need in running. That really stuck with me. I often WANT to walk but don't NEED to walk. The mental game starts to play in. I start telling myself it is only a want, not a need. When I need to walk I can but until then I push through. Those thoughts have helped me to push a little further, a little harder.

Since this is my first race I'm trying to really figure out what I need to do for preparation. I know hydrating today is key. Eating right as well and having the fuel my body needs to push through to the finish line. Trying to decide what to wear is the hardest part of all. I had no idea finding good, affordable running clothes would be my biggest running challenge so far! I have a few different things pulled out and hopefully I'll be inspired in the morning with the perfect non-chafing outfit. Hoping the new Bondibands I ordered arrive today. I can't seem to find the one I own and I need it! I'm guessing one of my boys took it and sent it to the black hole we have that causes things to mysteriously vanish.

The race is closer to my mom's house, she's running with me so I decided to save myself the drive time tomorrow and spend tonight at her house. I'm very interested to see which of us ends up pushing the other to finish. She is a new runner, but is more physically fit than I am. However, she's never run outside, she's only run around the inside of her home. According to her Wii Fit free run she's running 3 miles. I'm curious to see how accurate that is or how it translates to an actual outdoor run. Whereas I've never run a full 3 miles but I always run outside in the elements.

How do you prepare for a race? What are your go to foods for fuel the day before and the day of a race?

Kids say the darndest things

During my nap time work out my oldest son (he's 3) came out to see what I was doing. Of course he wanted to join me so I let him. I love promoting a healthy lifestyle to him and if he wants to exercise I'm going to encourage it! I know he isn't going to sleep anyhow so might as well have fun. About 10 minutes in he turns to me and says "Exercising is fun and good for you!" The rest of the conversation went like this...

Me: Yes! It sure is. Good for your weight and your heart!
N: What? No! Boys don't have hearts! Only girls have hearts.
Me: Oh really? Boys don't have hearts?
N: Nope boys only have brains!
Me: Do girls have brains?
N: (long thoughtful pause followed with a somewhat reluctant) Yeah girls have brains AND hearts.
Me: Good answer.