Succumbing to Injury

Ten days PM (post-marathon) and I finally decide to see a doctor about my leg. Not sure how much detail I've shared so far, since I've sorta been in denial about it.

What I can tell you is that every year for six years, I have run the Union Street Tavern Trot in Windsor. For the past three years I have done so reluctantly. It falls on a Sunday in late September, right in the prime of Hartford Marathon training.  In training season, Sundays are my rest days. So duh, when I run 20 miles on Saturday, my body can recover the following day.

Three years ago, I incorporated the race into my long run. I ran 10 miles, then did the 3.5 mile race, then ran home. Last year, I can't remember what I did, but I'm thinking I may have skipped the long run that weekend because I placed 2nd in my age group... and I probably wouldn't have done that with a tired body. This year (only 5 weeks ago), I was stupid.  I ran 21 miles on the Saturday prior to the race and tried to place the very next day in my category again.

Did I place? NO! Which makes it all that much more stupid. I was 5th in my age group :o( and I injured myself in the process. It was during the Trot that I felt something go askew in my hip.  I shook it off thinking it would be passing pain. I continued running through the pain and even did 21 miles the following weekend.

Then I started to limp... and the limping has yet to subside.  My last long run prior to the Hartford Marathon was three weeks ahead of the race. I took it easy until the marathon then ran it anyway. It twinged with almost every step.

3 days PM, I ran five slow miles and felt every excruciating step. My hip/leg was killing me. I realized after that fiver that maybe I should cease running for a bit. Maybe even go to a doctor?! I haven't given up a workout routine, but have definitely modified it. Biking/spinning and elliptical is all I know right now. Weights and abs too...

So yesterday I saw my Orthopedist. He is an ex-runner and soccer player.  Still fit and appreciative of athleticism. I like him because he will not discourage a patient from stopping doing the sport they love. A lot of doctors are against running because of a few ill-effects. Well F them! LOL.  Dr. Y knows the benefits of running far outweigh the risks.

What is the diagnosis you ask? An ilioinguinal strain. Fancy talk for a groin strain.  If in 3-4 weeks of NO RUNNING, there is no improvement, he will order an MRI and check for a tear.  He is confident it is a strain though.

So in these 3-4 weeks of no running, I can't run my fifth marathon (in Philly). I can't even run to the end of my street. He prescribed physical therapy and exercise such as yoga, swimming, elliptical and biking.

I'm sad, yes but there's nothing I can do other than deal with it.  I'm that person that feels like I haven't gotten a good workout in unless I've run, so let's see how creative I can get in these next few weeks with trying to burn those calories.  I'll tell you one thing... I'm NOT getting fat! And I WILL run Hyannis in February.

Resting my hip will take me right up to Thanksgiving. I figure I'll start training for Hyannis the day after Thanksgiving. That's a good day to get back in the swing of things.

In other news, I'll be on vacation soon. I can get my swimming in while in St. John.  Looking forward to a week away with the fam in the warmth of the Caribbean.  The countdown is on...

Now to find someone willing to run with my Philly Marathon bib... I'd hate for $125 to go to waste.

A Beautiful New England (almost) Fall Weekend!

25 days until the Hartford Marathon! What better way to celebrate, er train, than to run 21 miles!? Did that this weekend… plus some…

Due to a pop-up weekend work day coming up at the end of September, I had to shift my training schedule. I had not planned a 21-miler until 2 weeks from now (on a day which I’ll need to now work) but pleasant weather, an open schedule and a sense of motivation led me to doing my longest run (pre-marathon) this past Saturday.  I left the house at 6:00 a.m. and headed east for Simsbury. A quaint beautiful town, while even though only 12 miles away, seemed to be booming with the feel of autumn, even more so than Windsor. 

Miles 1-5… left the house in the rain. I knew it was a passing shower so I headed out anyway. Fluorescent singlet, check.  Head lamp, check.  40 ounces of water and Gatorade, check.  New running shoes, check! Around mile 4, I recognized a smell. It was sweet and unique. It was the smell of drying shade tobacco. The town’s fields had been picked over the last few weeks and the crops hung to cure.  I believe The Farmington Valley is the only area in the country which still grows shade tobacco. It originated here and I THINK is still exclusive to this area.  I do not condone tobacco use but the smell is wonderful and reminiscent of late summer and early fall. Just lovely.

Miles 6-12… Sun came up, head lamp went off.  From my head to my waist it went. The thing only weighs a few ounces but it feels heavy after a while on the noggin.  I exited Windsor and entered Bloomfield, but only the little “forgotten corner” which happens to contain one of my most favorite stretches of road.  Route 189 in this little nook, I consider a corridor. The walls are high with cliffs covered in maple and oak trees and some were already turning to shades of yellows and reds. The corridor runs parallel to a portion of the Farmington River, known as the Tariffville Gorge. A white water “elbow” in the river which was home to various mills and factories at the turn of the century.  I took it all in as I entered Simsbury.

I took a left up Route 315, a big hill which felt strangely easy to climb. Up the hill, through the woods, to the Greenway to Starbucks in the center of town. I had planned on meeting another runner there and she was to take me on an 8ish mile loop through Simsbury and back to Starbucks where my husband would pick me up from. I was right on time. We introduced ourselves and we headed east. 

 My view as I headed over the bridge onto the Greenway.

Miles 13-21… Up and down the streets of the center of Simsbury is beautiful. Flags on antiquated lamp posts line the road. Potted plants don brick sidewalks. Small town shops, restaurants and “haunted” hotels are an added bonus for those that choose this little town to “leaf peep” during a New England autumn. As we ran through town toward another part of the Greenway, I embraced it. A chilly, sunny, early morning run through a gorgeous town are the qualities which make a long run so enjoyable. Then to be so cliché, once we reached the Greenway, two deer crossed our path. 

One of two deer I captured on camera.

Our route then took us over the steel bridge, past the largest tree in the state, the Pinchot Sycamore, onto Simsbury’s East Weatogue Street.  With Heublien Tower behind us we ventured past vineyards and farms showcasing pumpkins and squash.  Past a “second chance farm” for animals whom were not wanted by the previous owner. We said hello to donkeys, ducks, horses and goats. Onward by the old militia training fields then followed the Farmington River back into town. 

My whole run, which I rewarded with an iced coffee at Starbucks, was an enjoyable 20.8 miles. Yes, I’m rounding up and calling it a 21-miler!  As if the length of the run wasn’t enough to make a girl feel empowered, I averaged a 9:45/mile pace. My confidence was restored with regard to leading the 4:25:00 pace group for the Hartford Marathon. All summer I’ve been running in shoes I knew were worn out. I knew the lack of padding and support was contributing to a slower pace all summer; that mixed with heat and humidity, ugh! But finally, on Saturday, I was faster than my goal speed for the marathon. Great weather, new shoes and a companion for the last 8 miles were all contributing factors.  What a great run!!

Later in the day, I met up with one of my oldest friends at the pumpkin patch, and let the kids run around like crazy. Then I took Justin to the driving range. We ended the day with white pizza topped with shrimp and veggies. Was a great fall day!

My little cutie at Brown's Harvest.

Sunday was great too! I started the day with my two favorite guys. It was snuggle-fest with hubby and Justin until I decided to enjoy a cup of pumpkin coffee. I relaxed with my mug on the couch surrounded by the crisp, cool air flowing in through the windows. Only a few more hours until the Tavern Trot!

The Tavern Trot is a 3.5 mile road and trail race has run for 6 years. All proceeds go to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, and organization which raises money to fight children’s cancer.  Last year I placed in my age group. This year, I did not. 

My sister Missy came over around 11:30 a.m. and we ran down to the start of the race. It was the biggest turn out the organizers had seen in all the years. 700 registered runners!! 

12:30 p.m. gun time… on your marks, get set, GO!  It was a hot run.  Though hot, not humid. But the sun was beaming down hard.  I hate running in the heat.  My mouth was dry and I could feel the sunburn setting in.  Heat mixed with the sore muscles from my long run the day prior had me doubting a placement in my age group. I learned at mile one though, I was pacing 7:36. Wow! That’s not bad I thought, maybe I would place.  Mile 2, I was at 16:08. Hmmm, I’ve slowed down, I thought. Mile 3 was 24:00. Finish time was 28:05 or something. No placement, but the stats showed I was 5^th in my bracket. I was pleased, but still a tad disappointed I couldn’t have been at least 3^rd. 

Celebratory drinking commenced anyway.  Missy, Joe and I drank the day away in a crowd of smelly runners, entertained by live music.  We were there for hours. Too much Guiness!!  I never drink beer and yesterday I had like 8. I’m still feeling the bloat today.

This was pre-race: Missy and I all smiles

 Missy headed for the finish line. Strong finish, up hill!

All in all, a lovely weekend was had.  I can’t wait for next weekend! 

It's been a while...

Was just reading my last entry to see where I left off. It’s been a while since I last blogged (for the record I hate that word) so I figured some catching up was due. I DID place in my age group for the Burn Calories for Fuel 10K last month. I was second in my age group which is exactly what I thought I would do. Yay! Cheers to victories! Justin did amazing in his fun run that day too. It was priceless watching him run and cross the finish line. We framed his number and he was given a medal. Something to cherish for many years!!

(Here is me and my little guy pre-kids fun run.)

On the topic of victories, I participated in the Valassis 5k last weekend. It was the inaugural race, put on by the company I’m currently contracting for. There was a small group, and I feel like I must say that as a disclaimer. There were about 25 participants, but of those 25, I was the third overall finisher and the first woman finisher. Woot Woot!!!

(Here I am with my fancy trophy)

So, I know I’ve mentioned Girls on the Run in the past-- an organization which I have decided to support this year. This past weekend while I was running the Valassis 5k, a group of about 15 people met for the second Hartford Chapter “start up” meeting. I couldn’t be there, but want to report the success from our first meeting which was a few weeks prior. We established that the basic steps required to start up the Hartford Chapter are to create a Board of Directors, find about $10k in funding (ugh) and attend a weekend long training at the GOTR Headquarters in North Carolina.The training teaches the 12 step curriculum which will then be shared with the girls that enroll in the program—girls that are looking to be empowered and feel confident. I’m unsure of how much of my time I can commit to the program. The start up requires a huge commitment and I’ve got a lot on my plate already. What I’ve tried to do is register as a SoleMate with GOTR. What that means is I would basically raise awareness on my own time and encourage friends and family to donate money to the overall cause.I would promote the program prior to each race I run, sort of like a ramp up. I’m awaiting direction from a Chapter Leader in Fairfield County. I think I keep telling everyone to stay tuned… but I’ll say it again… STAY TUNED!! LOL. For more info click: Girls On the Run

Onto other things… since the title of my blog is “A Mom’s Journey in Today’s Runner’s World”, let me talk about some mom things and I suppose general life things… For those that don’t know, my sweet Justin will be three years old in July. When I decided to return to full time work six months ago, it was a big deal because we were putting Justin in daycare/school for three days per week. The other two days each week, he goes with my mom or my dad. Rarely is it difficult to leave him with my parents, but dropping him at daycare has proven to be challenging. More times than not, he cries when Joe or I drop him off and it’s heart wrenching walking out that door. Though drop off is hard, he enjoys his days there and has developed quite the vocabulary and thirst for knowledge. Seeing him interact with other kids is sure priceless too. Daycare has been ultimately wonderful for him. Now, the contract that I’m on (basically the source of funding for Justin’s school) is up in two weeks. I worry because after my contract, if I don’t find another job, I’ll have to pull him out of school. Though he’ll love the thought of being home with mommy every day, I do believe he needs the structure of school.

Enter interview at Travelers Insurance today!! A previous boss of mine reached out to me a few weeks ago and hooked me up with the interview for the role of Assistant to a VP. Wish me luck!! Sure hoping this happens for me so I can keep Justin in school, and well, pay my other bills too!! It would be awesome to work with Tricia again too.

So, in an effort to get a good start to today, I ran a rainy 9 miles this morning. I’m feeling fresh, clear and good about my interview skills and what I can offer this VP as an assistant. I’m glad too because Tricia said the VP is currently training for a marathon. Something in common with a potential boss is always great!

Wish me luck! Only four more hours to anticipate…

Hyannis Marathon Recap

I ran a good race on Sunday. I missed my goal by about 6 minutes but I felt real good and strong the whole time. The fact that I felt I could have kept going at the end, gives me the desire to kick it up a notch. Not only have I begun researching additional marathons to complete this year, but also options for an ultra marathon. There is one in April—a 50K. It’s a 31 mile race in Carmel NY (gasp).

We knew ahead of time we were in for a windy race weekend. Missy and I arrived to Hyannis the afternoon prior to race day and spent an uneventful evening at a series of places: the race expo, Olive Garden, Home Goods and Christmas Tree Shops—Woo! I know, such crazy ladies we are! We retired to our room and got to bed early in preparation for the big event. Missy had not participated in any races since a little one a few months back. Maybe you’ve heard of it… the NYC Marathon? Though completing the marathon with flying colors, her heart wasn’t in the Hyannis Half 100%. She registered for it then had some doubts. She even convinced herself that upon arrival to the race, she would do the Hyannis 10K instead of the half marathon. A little bit of coaxing from yours truly and she changed her mind back to the half. And it’s a good thing! She had her 2nd best half marathon time ever! Kudos to Miss!!

I, on the other hand had trained for this race whole heartedly. At my stage of athleticism, I’m not willing to attempt a full marathon without proper training. Though I spent weeks running and cross training in doors and out, in the elements and also on the monotonous treadmill, nothing prepared me for the 40-50 mph wind gusts that would not let up during miles 17-23. Oh My Gosh!

Enter play by play…

Pre-race, 9:00am - We arrive well rested and fed to the Hyannis Conference Center, aka, the start and finish line. Having parked about ¼ mile away, we were quickly aware of the wind we would face out on the route. Dressed in my wind proof gear, I wasn’t cold per se, but the force of the wind was tremendous! I begin to worry I won’t finish in my goal time. It doesn’t help that I’ve lost a token that has been passed between my sister and step-siblings for each marathon. It was my turn to wear the little golden eagle pin and apparently it’s fallen off my jacket since I affixed it in the hotel room. I had pinned it to my jacket’s pocket which was zipped, so even though the eagle fell off somewhere, I still had the backing in my pocket. Sigh, this half token would have to suffice.

We ran with these on our backs. It was my dad's 65th birthday and since he is the reason I ever laced up running shoes, I gifted him my medal.

9:15-9:35- We wait in a line to pee. Why do girls take so long to pee???

9:45- Line up at the start. I look around for Kate, my friend with whom I’ve been running for years. She is there with her hubby for his first (and her third) half. There are too many people!! 4,300 half marathoners, 400 full marathoners and lots of relay-ers too. No luck. We’ll catch up later.

10:00- the Gun!! Bye Miss! See you later! Have fun!

10:01-11:00- miles 1-7… Feelin’ good here. Looking at my pace bracelet, I realize I am 4 minutes ahead of my goal time. Okay, time to slow it down. I do NOT want to expend too much energy now and have the need to crawl across the finish line later. Pacing in the 8’s is not what was agreed.

11:01-12:00- Wow, what a beautiful day it is! The sky is blue, the sun is bright. The ocean is gorgeous! Look at the size of that house! Hmmm, I’m getting hungry. When’s the next water stop? Where is a port-o-potty? Does a Kennedy live there?

Noon time- I approach the finish of the half marathon. The full is a double loop course which is kind of a mind fuck. As half marathoners are approaching the finish and getting cheered on to veer off into the chute because they’re “almost there”, I have to push forth and do it all over again! LOL, it’s what I signed up for after all!

1:00- Where is mile 20? If I can just get to mile 20, it’s all down hill from there. As soon as I hit the 20’s it’s all good. Just a little 10k to go! WOAH! How about that WIND!!??

1:01-1:30- Hmmmm… can I get a tail wind!?? Why, if I am doing a loop, is this head wind constant? If I’m traveling east then shift west, shouldn’t the wind be at my back at some point?? And it’s 40 friggin mph nonetheless??

1:31-1:45- WTF Wind!!??

1:46-2:00- Ok, almost done…Not making my goal of 4:10, but it’s going to be close. Kick it up a notch! I’m strong! I feel great! Woo! Mile marker 24!

2:01-2:16- Woo! Mile 25!!! Getting there!! Keep running. One foot in front of the other… Ooohhh, I see the home stretch! And there’s mile marker 26! I hear the crowds!! Hey, there’s Missy! Smile, she has her camera out!

2:16:12- DONE! Hmmm… my legs feel good! Even great! Let’s keep going…LOL! Nah, where’s my medal? Let’s get outta here. Check out at the hotel is at 3:00. We still need showers. Oohh, is that a smoothie shop?







Overall this race was great! This was the review I posted on Marathonguide.com—

This was my second time in Hyannis for this event. In 2011, I did the half and this year, the full. I'll agree with most comments about this race that the main event is the half, with the marathon being secondary. Over 4300 ppl did the 1/2, and 402 was the final count for the full.

Reading reviews of previous year's fulls, I was weary. Some comments reported insufficient water stops and not enough water for marathoners on their second lap around the double loop. Being a 'middle of the pack' runner, I surely hoped this wouldn't be an issue for me. I train with a water belt, but don't like to race with it. I jokingly told race volunteers at the water stops on my first loop to 'be sure they're there on my second lap!!' They were! and with a full water table. I didn't get the impression they'd be running out any time soon, even for the 'back of the packers'.

People were friendly for sure! The route is beautiful. I enjoyed it more on my second loop, only because the pack thins out tremendously and I was able to view beautiful houses and the ocean/beaches unobstructed.

Roads to traffic barely close for this race and if I had to complain about one thing, that would be it. I don't doubt residents were made aware of this race far in advance, however we'd run past lines of cars with angry drivers behind the wheel waiting to be let through the crowd and it made me uneasy. There's one portion of the race where they cone off one lane for runners and keep the other open for drivers. Drivers were speeding past in anger and was annoying. I mean, geeze, we're stimulating their economy by being there!!!

This is a great race to PR, as the course is flat with a few rolling hills. I tried to finish in 4:10 but wind was a huge factor. From miles 17-23 or so, I had a head wind which was reported later as being as gusty as 40 mph. I ran with my wind gear so I wasn't necessarily cold, but the force of the wind cut my speed tremendously. I finished in 4:16:12. I felt real strong the whole race and at the end I could have kept going which certainly adds to the fact that I had a wonderful experience with this marathon!

So, I raced on Sunday, hit the gym on Monday with the hubby. Massage was Tuesday. It’s Wednesday and time to hit the pavement again…

Contemplating the Sybil Ludington 50k in April.

CHA CHA CHA CHA Changes

So the past week began with my last day at Burton's and ended with my first day at Valassis. For those of you that don't know, Burton's had been my part time gig for the last 18 months or so. It's an upscale restaurant that I worked mostly lunch shifts. My parents were each able to help out and watch Justin while I worked, and my hours were so few that I never unclaimed my title "stay-at-home-mom"...until Friday anyway. Friday I started working the ole 40 hour, 9-5 again.

Over Thanksgiving, a past co-worker reached out to me. He is with Valassis, a company which laid me off while I was still preggo with the Noodle. Joel asked what my current job situation was and if I'd be interested in working with him in an Event Planner type role. I was immediately interested. I told him I'd have to give notice at Burton's and with Triple Helix (another company in which I worked up to 3 hours per week as a virtual assistant to the CEO). Thank goodness Joel contacted me so many weeks before I started for him because there was a lot of prep I needed to do. In addition to giving notice at my two jobs, I had to secure daycare for Justin. Not only secure it, but mentally prepare for it...

I've always been very apprehensive about getting Justin into a daycare setting. I think germs, first and foremost, then guilt settles in. Justin is MY KID, why should I hand him over to a bunch of strangers while I work? I thought this until just a few weeks ago when I realized he is at an age where he should be interacting with other kids. The daycare we looked at, and later chose for Justin to attend is great for Justin to interact with other kids in, learn, play, explore, etc.

So, though I initially never thought Justin would attend a daycare, I now think it's good for him, albeit the germs are still a concern of mine...

Friday was the big day. I surprisingly slept well on Thursday, woke up on my training rest day and began getting ready for work. Joe was in charge of getting Justin dressed and ready. He will be, going forward. We successfully got ourselves out the door and to daycare and work with no tears. I'm leaving out details of my mini-breakdown on Thursday evening after Justin went to bed ;o)

I called the daycare twice during the day to check in on my little guy and both times they said he was doing great. When I picked him up, I learned he had napped, ate, and sat on the potty twice!! WOW!! That's more progress than I make in a week, LOL! He had a wonderful day and wants to go back, thankfully. He'll only be there three days per week. The other two days, he'll be with my mom or dad. They are able to watch him and I think it's still important for him to be with family.



Work for me was good too by the way. I'll enjoy my role there. It was good to be welcomed back by so many familiar faces.

So, it's winter in New England and I'm training for the Hyannis Marathon in 6ish weeks. Friday was my rest day and yesterday was supposed to be a 17 miler. Wind and bitter cold pushed me into postponing the long run to today. A sleepless night and still single digit temps are pushing me into postponing to tomorrow. Justin woke up vomiting three times last night. Twice I stripped the bed and stuck him in the tub. Poor guy has never been sick like that before. Correlation with daycare...I dunno... :-/ I'm tired today but still am contemplating running 17. Tomorrow is MLK day, a work Holiday and temps are supposed to be back up into the 30's. I may be stupid not to take advantage of being able to do it tomorrow. We'll see. If it's not above 20 degrees by noon today, then I will go tomorrow. It's a shame since I hydrated so well yesterday in preparation for a run today. I'm a planner after all and if things go askew, it nags me.

Well, laundry beckons... need to take one comforter out of the dryer to get the next set of bedding in then the next set. argh. An all day affair :o(

Racing For A Cause - Youth Suicide Prevention

I am not one to ring in the new year with hopes of keeping a resolution. I am one to continually make goals, regardless of the date and adhere to those goals, no matter the obstacles. If I'm committed to something I will RARELY do anything but stay committed. I don't like the word "resolution". I'd much prefer "goal". I'm a goal setter. I'm a planner. I specifically plan to reach the goals I set. If you fail to plan, you must plan to fail, correct?

In the year 2012, these are the goals I will accomplish:

• Hyannis Marathon (2/26) in 4:10 or less
• Bradley 10K (April) with a placement overall or in my age group
• Iron Horse Half Marathon (June) in 1:50 or less
• Hartford Marathon (October) in 4:00 or less

While meeting the above goals, I will raise money for a cause. I've been running for years now, all for the purpose of ME and ME alone. I guess my family benefits too since running keeps me sane. But generally speaking I have been selfish. Why not run for a cause?

Now, if you know me I'm a bit of a conspiracy theorist. Among other things, I think several non-profit organizations out there are not in it for the awareness raising and the "finding a cure". Organizations like Susan G. Komen hit the proverbial lotto when they introduced that trendy little pink ribbon of their's... Now everyone wants to wear pink. Where does the money they raise actually go though? $500,000 went to the former president's salary in 2010. For a non-profit, that bitch sure is profiting. Komen's total revenue in 2010 was $311,000,000!!! Wow! So why is there no cure for breast cancer yet? Because fat cats at the top of the Komen ladder bank too much off of the revenue. Their jobs would be obsolete without cancer. So would the oncology units in hospitals, and the pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies and not to mention the swag manufacturers that brainwash you into thinking you're making a difference when buying that stupid pink key chain. The list goes on.

Ok, so the most of the money they raise goes to raising awareness and to research. Did you know that the Komen Foundation has been around since 1982, but there have been no significant advancements in treatment or screening breast cancer since 1981? I dare you to enlighten yourselves. Do the research...

So I digress... What I am trying to convey in my long rant is that I don't want to raise money for such an organization that is nothing more than a pyramid scheme. I'm not a minion in pink, or yellow or purple or blue. The money I raise will go directly to the cause.

My sister Melissa is a PAL (Police Athletic League) Officer in Las Vegas. She works with kids (most are under the poverty line and under privileged) in the community to enrich their lives, encourage, empower and teach them. Being so close to the kids in her community, she is reminded daily that childhood is not always rainbows and butterflies. These kids are poor, bullied, abused, undereducated. Only a few will finish high school and fewer will graduate college.

In Las Vegas, the youth suicide rate is among the highest in the country. Only a few weeks ago, Melissa shared with me that within days of each other, a 10 year old and a 13 year old in Las Vegas took their own lives. They were just babies! But old enough to believe their lives were never going to improve. Was it depression? Bullying? What led them to thinking there was no other way out?

Knowing of these two kids and what they did hit me hard. I began to think that maybe I can make a difference to help eliminate this epidemic. It's still a taboo issue in some communities which perhaps isn't a good thing. Education and awareness to this issue needs to be priority.

So, let it be known that the money I raise in 2012 will all go to a foundation synonymous with educating communities on the signs and prevention of suicidal behavior, supporting victims effected by familial suicide, and other initiatives.

I'm still researching which organization I will end up with but stay tuned! My first race is at the end of February. I expect to narrow in on an organization before then and get the ball rolling with fundraising!

Staying With It

People often take a stab at a lifestyle change by adding a fitness routine and/or eating better. It's not always easy to maintain a new lifestyle if A. You are not 100% committed, B. You do not have a support system or C. You have a combination of A and B.

The people successful in making positive changes in their life are those determined to see their goals met at all costs. A rainy morning will not prevent a determined person from getting their run in. A late night at the office, a child's baseball practice, traffic, a bad day... The list of excuses is long. A successful goal setter will ensure they do not let the obstacles become excuses.

It helps too, to have people in your corner. That friend who tells you to skip the gym because she wants a buddy at happy hour is the personality a successful goal setter will want to avoid. Sure it's fine to have fun with friends, but plan those happy hours on your rest days. You'll enjoy them even more!!

I will share a few things with you that keep me successful in my training. People often wonder how I stay motivated, but motivation may not be a factor. It boils down to commitment. Being driven to stay committed.

1. Enjoy. Do what you like to do! Don't run because you think you should. Do it because you are passionate about it. If running isn't your thing, then bike, yoga, kick box, power walk, weight train, zumba, or do all those things! If you don't like your workout routine, you will not stay committed.

2. Prepare. Know what the week ahead holds. If you don't know, then find out. Build your workouts and meals around your life. Or if it works better to build your life around your workouts, that's fine too. Always lay out your clothes the night before for an a.m. workout. Bring your gym bag to work with you for a p.m. workout. If you are meeting friends for dinner, plan a morning workout. If you need to be to work early, workout in the evening. Change your clothes at work then go straight to the gym. You're less likely to follow through on a plan to hit the gym if you stop at home or run errands.

3. Eat well. If you eat like crap, your body will react like crap. If you don't feel well during a workout, you will enjoy doing it less, thus being likely to stop.

4. Be accountable. Track your workouts and monitor progress. When I realized my running pace was 60 seconds faster per mile than a year ago, I wanted to make it 90 seconds faster. I'm now working on shaving off another 30 seconds per mile. Runkeeper.com is awesome for tracking cardio progress and Fitness Tracker 90 is good for resistance and weight training.

Talk about your progress with others. If you tell someone about your plan to run the next morning it may encourage you to follow through. Or BLOG about it!! LOL. Use Facebook... Update your status to say "Gone Running". Personally, I feel like if I say I've gone running, I MUST go running. It's following through, which I'm all about!

5. Set goals. Always wanted to finish a 5K? Better yet, in under 30 minutes? or even under 25? How about those half marathons all your girlfriends have been doing? Want to jump on the band wagon? Set your goal, create a REASONABLE plan and get it done!!

Okay, so there are some secrets. When people ask me, "how do you it?" and I reply with, "it's just one foot in front of the other, over and over and over", I guess I'm being cynical. There is MUCH more to it. And much more to it than what I just wrote about. It's got to be IN YOU. You've got to WANT IT. We each have our own secrets to success, and I'm glad I could share a few of mine with you.

Stroller Running

Most days I feel great during and after a run. It's no wonder why I enjoy the sport! If I had to run every day with Justin, my 25 pound kid in his 40ish pound stroller, however, I don't think I'd keep running. During and after my 4 mile run with hills today I felt incredibly unfit. Maybe it was the 65 extra pounds, maybe it was the hills, maybe the humidity, maybe a combination of it all.

I don't run with Justin too often. Maybe twice a month at best. If he's able to stay home with hubby or one of my parents, I'll opt to run solo, but today I had to bring him. Don't get me wrong, I love that I have the option. I'd just rather my arms be free and I not push a load up a hill.

I averaged a 9:15 pace which isn't great but still not bad. I love to be in the 8's for anything under 10 miles. The sense of competition I have with myself is awful, I know!!! Why cant I just go out and enjoy the sun on my face and the wind in my hair? I suppose I do, but it seems to be secondary to beating past run times.

Nonetheless I got my workout in for today. I hit the gym yesterday and got a 5er in on Tuesday. Rest day tomorrow then 8-10 miles Saturday morning...minus the stroller thankfully ;-)