Goal Accomplished

Last week, I made a few goals. My first goal was to be able to completely run one mile. We also wanted to start using the weekend to do a long run.

Saturday, was filled with softball. My daughter's team is having an awesome season. We had two games on Saturday, won both.

Sunday morning, Mother's day, was also filled with softball. It's a good thing I love the game. Zumara and I decided to go for a long run. We mapped our run before hand. I looked specifically where the 1 mile mark was. We picked a destination to run to, just outside of town. It seemed so far.

I pushed myself to run, until I hit that 1 mile mark. And you know, it really wasn't that bad or too hard. We ended up run/walking 4.5 miles. Felt amazing to hit my goal. Next week, we're going to run further :-)

Triathlon Training

So funny, but so true. Had to share =)

Accountability

I know I need to use some type of training schedule to keep myself accountable and not over do it. Zumara and I were talking last night during our run about setting a schedule and just sticking to it - NO MATTER WHAT. Good idea but I'm always a little scared of time commitments. I know that if we push ourselves we will be back and running in no time. I think we're going to shoot for Mon, Weds, Fri nights running with a longer daytime weekend run.

Last night we ran/walked about 4 miles. I ran the first half mile, no breaks. I was able to run a bit further than the Monday night. Running makes me be more accountable with all my other food choices. When I run, I just feel better, less stressed and more confident.

We talked about our upcoming runs. How excited we are and how we want to Rock the Nike Women's Marathon. We know it's going to be very challenging. San Francisco has LOTS of hills. It will be a great experience but I DO NOT want this to be my first half marathon experience. We want to find something less expensive, closer to home and gain some confidence and experience first. Then Rock San Francisco.

And in case you were wondering what I hope to follow up Nike with.... I'm already looking for more runs, more goals and more challanges. For now, I've set my eye on this, one of the most beautiful places in CA, Big Sur.

Running Season

Zumara and I went running the other night. We ran/walked 3.5 miles. It felt good but again, we walked about half of it. I know I'm holding Zumara back. I didn't even make the first mile running. Kind of sucks, lossing so much ability.


The bright side, I'm rebuilding and I know I will get there. My goal for now, to be able to run 1 mile. Yeah, the same goal I set January 2010. Then - build on it.


I have previously mentioned I am excited about this running season. This is what I'm looking forward to.

Women's Fitness Festival.

The women's festival was my favorite 5K last year. Nike is one of the sponsors, Kaiser has a huge pressence and Whole Foods!! Gourmet buffet breakfast by Whole Foods. Love them! The atmosphere is amazing and the swag was awesome. I'm looking forward to this event.

Wharf to Wharf

Running from Santa Cruz to Capitola, with ocean views? Who could ask for anything more? This 6 mile run will be breath taking and fun. Bands and street performers are along the route to keep you motivated. But really Santa Cruz is beautiful, what more could you ask for. This run sells out every year. When I heard about this run last year, it was already sold out. This year, I made a point to register early. It sold out in about 3 weeks! It will be Crazy Fun!

Of course, I will be running in other events too but these + training will get me prepared for the event of the season.

The Nike Women's Marathon.

ETA: I'm participating in the HALF Marathon. Full marathon is still MUCH further than I want to run... haha

Two sold out events. Races that I've wanted to run for more than a year. I couldn't be more excited.

Starting Over

I'm starting over. From square one with running. It's a little overwhellming know if I am going to be prepared for the 2011 season, I have to start running now. My ankle feels healed, but my muscles are weak. I have to ease myself into it.

After softball last night, I decided to go running. I uploaded Imapmyfitness into my iphone. It's an app that was highly recommended. I met Zumara at her house and we ran together. It was really a run walk. About a mile into it, I could really feel my ankle and my knees. I want to make sure I don't re-injure myself. So I have to be careful.

We ended up walking most of it, but at least we were still moving. According tot he gps on mymyfitness, we went 4.74 miles. Not bad for starting over. In fact, even though I'm starting over I know I'm ahead of where I was last year. That is because this year, I KNOW I can do it and NOTHING is impossible. Before, I was always pushing the envelope and the goal into unknown territory. This time, I know I can do it. I just have to commit. And with my running goals, I am committed. =)

Oh and did I mention, today I'm sore... yeah my hamstrings are a burning!

Nike Women's Marathon

20,000 women, running the streets of San Francisco together. Running with Nike sponsoring the event. Raising awareness for a great cause. Great Nike Loot and a Tiffany's finisher's neckless. Who could resist? Every year the run sells out so quickly, Nike has created a random drawing to select it's participants. I have many runner friends who have entered and never been selected.

I entered in to the Nike Women's Marathon random drawing. I haven't been running much lately and I know the chances of being picked in the random drawing are slim. I entered anyway but... you just never know...

I was picked!

I opened my email this morning, just like any other morning and I notice something in there from Nike. I opened it up, read it twice.... I'll save you from the whole email but here is the nitty gritty... "You're IN, baby!" And I'm so excited!

Motivation... I'm running the half marathon and I've gotta get running! :-) I' m so excited about the 2011 running season, I've got several great races I'm looking forward too!

pleaser

The last few months I've been dealing with a lot of emotional stuff. Starting with my injury and impacting my exercise routine. But it goes deeper than that. Theres been a lot of drama in my life too. It keeps me up at night, it's always on my mind. I'm contently thinking about it/them. It's consummed me. I've prayed about it many times in attempt to give it to God. Yet it's still here. Can't really explain it. So this got me thinking. I've never thought of myself as a pleaser. I've never thought of my self as needing approval from others. I'd like to think of myself as strong and independent. I'd like to think that I don't care what others think about me....I don't care how many friends I have. I know exactly who I am. But this situation has me thinking otherwise. I put my whole heart into everything I do. Therefore, when things turn out badly I always question myself and what I did wrong. What could I have done differently. I reflect not only on the situation but on how I treated people. Did I treat them the way God would like me to? I reflect so much that it's disabling. It effects everything I do, the attitude I have with my family, the way I care for myself and my family. It even effects my sleep. All while, I know the other people (those who have done me wrong or the other side in the situation) are NOT thinking about me. And if they are, they aren't lossing sleep over it. It's this emotional stress that is causing me to lose focus on the things that are most important to me. Running has helped me clear my chest of the stresses of daily life. I'd take the time to run it out and talk to God. It has been vital in my weightloss success. My thoughts of who I am, and my actions just don't line up lately. I'm in a growing stage and maybe God is using this situation to teach me a lesson.... again. There must be something I'm missing. On a positive note, it's now been 4 months since I injured myself. I went running with my friend Zumara last night. We ran over 2 miles. It felt good. I had a lot of cramping in my foot, not my ankle but my foot. In the arches, under my foot. It felt like a lot of the other muscles are compensating. I was VERY careful while I ran because I do not want to re-injure myself but I do want to get stronger. So yeah... that's that....