The Zombies didn't get me!

I survived ya'll....the zombies were chasing me, but I just kept running! 

Today was the 3rd annual Run for Your Life 5K on campus.  This morning I got out of bed, looked out the window, and my first thought was...yay, it's not raining!  It's overcast today, but strangely "warm" outside (I'll put warm into quotations since it's all relative).  I think I may have dressed too warmly for the race.  I'm still learning about appropriate running attire and what my body needs.  I wore thermal running pants, a t-shirt, and a thermal running jacket  (all dry fit material).  It was too much thermal while I was actually running, but I was just happy that I wasn't getting soaked.

The group of race participants was pretty small again today.  I'm blaming the weather and/or too many people out partying it up last night for Halloween....no?  My main concern with small races is that it's hard for me to find someone to run "with".  I like to find someone to pace against and to push me a little bit, but no luck today.  I was again running the majority of the race alone.  I knew at least one person was behind me though.  That same older gentleman who ran the Care to Share 10K run with me.  He is a sweet guy :)

My goal today was 12 minute miles or less.  I was thinking I could push myself a little since this was only 3.1 miles.  I didn't have to save energy for a longer distance.  What I wasn't expecting though was the change in the course.  I assumed this would be the same course as the Campus on the Run, but they switched it up.  The course still went through campus.  However, to me it felt like it was just ONE BIG HUGE UPHILL. 

I know, I have said before that Pullman is uphill both ways....well, my legs and lungs felt this phenomena today.  I was having trouble with my breathing.  I couldn't catch my breath because there seemed to be no breaks.  I ended up walking twice....I know, I hate it!!  BUT my lungs were wheezing.  I just had to catch my breath for a minute. 

When we did have a few downhills, they were pretty steep and covered with leaves.  I took the downhills slow, watching each step carefully.  I was worried about slipping or twisting an ankle or something.  You have to keep in mind that this is all still fairly new to me.  I keep telling myself that it will get easier....right?

Another issue for me today was my right shin.  It was cramping for the first 2 miles.  I need to figure out what I need to do and/or eat to help with this problem.  It's difficult to run a 3 mile race when it takes the first 2 miles for your shin to loosen up.  I again keep telling myself that it will get better, it will get easier, my body will adapt....right?

Now for the good stuff about this race......

• I received a really cool T-shirt that glows in the dark (see the picture above).  Who's jealous??
• I met a really nice woman named Angie.  We talked for a bit before an after the race.  She could be a potential teammate for the next 100K relay and she encouraged me to sign up for the Snake River Half Marathon in March.  Hopefully I will see Angie again soon :)
• At the end of the race, I met Nathan.  He works for UREC and Outdoor Rec.  He said that he would be happy to run a race with me "at my pace".  What a nice guy!!  I might take him up on that! :)
• I met another guy (didn't catch his name), but he was dressed like Lance Armstrong.  We chatted for a bit while waiting for the awards ceremony.  He made me smile :)
• I ran 3.1 miles today.  It hurt, it was hard, but I just kept moving my feet :)

Oh, I almost forgot to mention....there were Zombies all along the race.  They would follow you, chase you, jump out at you....and they would say....Good job!  They were fun too!  One had really great, crimson shoes :)

Sometimes Plans Change

I  am a planner!  I like to make plans, have a good plan, check off my list of "to-do's" while implementing my plan, but sometimes I have to alter my plans.  This weekend was a nice example of moving from Plan A to Plan C....rather quickly. 

Plan A included me running in the Spokane Half Marathon 10K this morning, fully rested and ready to go.  Plan B also included the 10K run with a busy weekend of events prior.  Plan C was full of Cougar sporting events, spending time with my kids, hanging with amazing friends, and grocery shopping, but no 10K run.

When I made the decision (for multiple reasons) to not go to Spokane, to not run the 10K, I promised myself that I would at least get in a good run around Pullman at some point today.  This promise got me thinking about self-motivation.  Since I wasn't going to be running in a race, what was my motivation for the day?

Around 4:30 pm today, my husband and I were relaxing, but I had this voice in my head saying "go run before it's too late".  I should have had 6.2 miles down already today and that was part of my "plan" for the week.  So I needed to get my butt up, get my running gear on, and get going....Keep moving my feet!! 

I did get up, changed my clothes, and went out for a run.  I had thoughts of running at least 6.2 miles.  I was supposed to do that today anyway, so why not?  My body is ready for it, right?  But then I started running.  I was a little sluggish.  I didn't feel like I had much motivation.  So my plan was again altered with every step I took.  I thought I would run to a certain point or for a certain amount of time before I turned around, but not so much.  My run today was 2.3 miles in 27 minutes....close enough.  I guess.

As I was running, I started counting.  I've been running for about 7 months now.  In that time, I have done the following runs plus numerous miles of training:

• Campus on the Run 5K - 0:41:38
• 100K Relay Team, leg #2, 5.6 miles - 1:07:00
• Seaport River Run 10K - 1:14:00
• St. Joe River Half Marathon - 2:46:55
• Lentil Festival 5K - 0:37:28
• Care To Share 10K - 1:16:45

Looking at that list...it's not too shabby!  So what motivates me the most?  Support from friends, my running buddies, having races in my future, and self-determination.

Next up is the Run for Your Life Halloween 5K.  I can't wait!!

Shredded the Trail

Today is the day that I ran another 10K!

As the weather is getting colder and my body has not yet adjusted, I woke up this morning with the dilema of what to wear.  Thanks to Kerri for suggesting "long sleeves and a pair of ass kickin' shoes :)".  I also decided on long, running pants......just in case you were wondering ;)

Kerri also left this on my facebook wall:
"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."-John Bingham

Go eat some trail!

I was dressed, motivated, and ready to run!

This was a smaller race as far as the amount of people participating.  The majority of people were choosing to run the 5K.  The handful of us running the 10K started first with the 5K runners starting just a minute later. 

As I began running and looked around me, I realized there were alot of people behind me, but they were all going to turn around 1.6 miles into the race.  I was in a situation where it was going to be up to me to pace myself and just keep running.  This seems to happen to me alot.  I'm not fast, but also not in the walking group.  I'm just in the middle, running all by my lonesome. 

My next thought was that I needed to find someone in front of me to catch up to.  So I set my sights on a couple who were doing that run (sprint), get tired, walk thing.  I don't know about you, but this is one of my pet peeves!  Whenever I start a race, my goal is always to just keep running.  It does not matter how slow I end up running.  The important thing is that I keep running.  BUT then I get frustrated by those people who run to sprint ahead of me, then they start walking and I catch up to them.  But guess what??  They start sprinting again and we end up playing this little game for awhile.  I hate it!!  I'm running here people! 

So anyway, I ended up playing that game with the female first because the guy was farther ahead.  I think I passed her 3 times before I passed her for good around the 2 mile mark.  I then set my sights on the guy.  I played the little game with him for awhile longer, but finally passed him for good around the 3 mile mark.  Thank goodness!!

When I turned around, that is when I discovered how many people were behind me on this race.  Exactly 3...the run/walk couple and an older man who had to be at least 70.  I just kept running!!

Let's talk about my pace for a minute.  When I started the race, I decided that 12 minute miles would be a good goal.  This meant my finish time would be around 1 hour 14 minutes.  I'm getting pretty good at keeping a fairly solid pace.  At the first mile marker, my time was 11 minutes 45 secs.  So far so good.  When I got to the 2nd mile marker, I had slowed down slightly, I think my time was around 24 minutes 30 secs.  Not too bad!  The first half of the race was a little slower since we were running slightly uphill with the wind in our face.  I was happy to turn around.  I got to the 4 mile marker around 49 minutes.  Still slightly behind my goal pace, but that was ok. I was still running!

My final time for this 10K was 1 hour, 16 minutes, and 45 secs.  If I did my math correctly, I was running a little bit less than 12 1/2 min miles.  I didn't meet my goal, but I tried my best and I kept myself motivated.

As I finished, I reminded myself of 2 things:
1.  I ran twice as far as the majority of people who came out this morning.
2.  I ran the entire race!!!

Go Me!!

Special Thanks to Erin Y.  It was great to see you this morning.  Thanks for being a friendly face before and after the race :)