River Run 10k Recap!

Well Saturday was the annual River Run 10k. This is my second year doing this race. I have previously stated how much I like the 10k distance, well I am happy to say that I still do. The River Run is always so large. This year was no exception! There were 1599 clocked finishers for the 10K. Wow!

So the plan was to meet Carrie at Gander Mountain Parking garage at 5:45 am. We were both a little worried about parking as it is also Riverfest in Wichita this weekend. So early was the game plan. The night before Brandi asked about carpooling. So I picked her up at 5:50 am, I was running late already! We still got to Gander Mountain and had plenty of parking so that made me happy. We met up with Carrie and walked to the store front to let Brandi meet up with Sherry.

Carrie and I left the others to go get in the port-a-john line where we also ended up meeting up with her SIL and BIL, Jennifer and Mark. (I told you there were lot's of people!!) Carrie and I had originally agreed to run our own races, so I decided to run with headphones in, which is something I have never done in a race before! I got myself ready and then the cannon went off. The one odd thing about the entire morning, I was not nervous at all; no butterflies or stomach cramps or nerves. Weird, but I was thankful!

Pre Race Carrie and I had a guy come up to us and ask if we were running....nah we wore bibs for the heck of it ;) Well this was his picture of us.

As soon as I started running I felt great!! I was excited that there was tons of people and I was excited my legs felt fresh! I was trying super hard to not sprint out, my goal pace was 11-11:30 minutes per mile. I was starting to get a little worried at the first mile marker that my gps was going to tell me I did a 10-ish mile, but it didn't!! 11:06, so I was right on target! The only downside to this first mile was that it finished on brick! I hate running on rick, I must do something weird with my gait because it always ends up hurting my shins! From here on out my right shin was burning.

Mile two was directly into the wind! I made it my mission to ignore my shin and focus on strong running in the wind. I was definitely feeling it though every couple of yards I would get one heck of a gust that would push into me. I tried to keep thinking that if we were going out into the wind then it would push us back! My second mile was my quickest with a 10:50, into the wind! So while I had my headphones in I thought about turning my head to see where Carrie was, but I talked myself out of it because I was running my race and I wanted to put my attention back to me, I know it sounds selfish, but I really wanted to run the best race I could.

Mile three was kind of boring. We were finally running next to the river, but there were not tons of people with me, I kept picking people to catch while I was running and I was succeeding, but I was just kind of bored. I kept looking across the river at the leaders in awe. I was trying to see anyone I knew, lol.  I still felt great, but something was missing. I had some crappy music playing, like way too much Britney Spears...and I was just running alone.

Carrie getting into her groove!

Mile four was interesting. We started to run back south and I finally saw Carrie. She said she had seen me for awhile, but I didn't see anyone, so it was nice to see her. We ran together for about.....10 steps! LOL!! She saw Mark right ahead of us and it was her mission in life to catch him.....never tell that girl she can't because not only will she, she will cream it! I knew that Carrie was feeling stronger now that her first three miles were over, but there was no way I was going any faster, just not me. So I made it a mission to keep her in my sights. It worked for awhile. (Later I found out that she had negative splits, which was what I totally expected...she was cruising!)

Me (left) just putting one foot in front of the other!

Mile five was where I was getting tired. We were coming out of the park area finally and I was still picking people off, but I was hungry ( I didn't eat breakfast) and I was starting to feel a little dizzy. I took my first walk break. I did speed walk and kept my spot in the runners, but I was definitely tanking in the blood sugar department. I was wishing for a Panaera cinnamon crunch bagel so badly. I never got one, so I started running again. I got annoyed at myself for walking because I was staying the same speed as my fellow runners by speed walking and then I started to pick up pace again. About here was when Mark and I started playing tag your it. Back and forth he took the lead, then me, then him, then me...I wanted to stay in the front badly, but I was getting really tired.

Mile six was all road. Ugh. People could see me if I had to slow down and that was what kept me from walking. I slowed way down though. I was having allergy issues at this point and I could not swallow. There were still so many people that I really didn't want to spit and have it land on anyone! It was a lose-lose situation. I slowed down to a 13:00 and then I had to walk for the second time. I could not get my throat clear. I was so mad! My legs felt great, but I am not sure if I ran past something that set me off, I could not get oxygen into my throat because of the mucus build up (gross!!).

Mile 6.2, Mark sprinted past me. Damn him!! LOL!

Finish line! (Stupid shorts!)

I saw the clock and new that I was going to not make my goals, but I was still really pleased with my race, just not the last mile. I tried hard and I was happy. I did manage to get a new PR, which is always the point, but it gives me something to work for on my next 10k, The Southside Scorcher in July. I finished in 1:15:22. Respectable. On to the next training plan....I am sure Carrie has it in there to kill me slowly.....:)

Spring GOTR

I think it is really important to run with people, run buddies. I feel that it is also really important to establish what you all want to do with your running of races, race strategies. I think I am super lucky with Carrie as my run buddy. She is open to new things and she is not insulted if I want to run a race, solo, which by the way is very rare! I thoroughly enjoy competing with her and finishing races with her. The only reason I am saying this is because I was working on our running schedule. We decided that we were going to run our own races for the River Run and the Prairie Fire Half this fall. I am both nervous and excited. I am nervous because I want to do well. I am excited because I only have to think about myself, that sounds selfish. Truth is, I will be thinking of all the others probably more than myself anyways, I have this crazy feature. I just want to do great. I want to be an amazing runner!
Anyways, today was Girls on the Run 5k downtown. I had a great run buddy!! She was a lot of fun. I was really nervous because I got paired with a middle school kid, thinking that she would lap me and have to come back for her run buddy!! But I stuck with her!! She was a sprinter and then she would walk, then sprint again! It was funny. She kept asking to hold my hand and then she would take off, dragging me! I had a good time with her. I really enjoy being a run buddy!!

Me and Madison

Me chasing Madison!

I really need to stop procrastinating!! I have to study for this horrible final on Monday!! Laters!

Another half marathon ...done!

We did it !! I am so proud of us. Carrie and I worked so hard to finish with a sub-3 hour time and we did !! 2:53:36...I am so happy!!I know we are slow, but damn I am proud! I seriously have been scared of this run because I have not put a great effort in during the last few weeks.....ok months. I have wanted to do better than 3 hours, but I really thought that was nearly impossible. School and work and life are stressing me out lately!

Anyways, got up this morning at 5, it was drizzling heavily outside. Last night I had decided to wear capri pants as it was only supposed to be 46 degrees out and also my long sleeve pink shirt. I wanted to wear pink! Got my act together and had breakfast (an english muffin with chez whiz and a half of a banana). Maybe not the smartest breakfast, but it was light. I got in the car and drove to gander mountain. I wanted to get there at 6:30 am to avoid the stress of parking, like last time. Carrie was already there and she came to sit in my truck. My stomach was turning......and it turned out to be nerves this time!! I was fine.

Before

We went to the start area and few minutes later we were off. It was still drizzling out and it was cold. I was glad for what I wore today, never felt too hot or cold. We paced well. Carrie asked me if we were planning on doing one mile walk breaks and I honestly was hoping not. The reason was it was so cold I was afraid I would have a hard time starting back up again. She ended up agreeing with me. Now we were only a mile and a half in but I had to pee!!! I knew there were going to be port-a-potties around 2 miles so I figured that would be my stop.

First round of port-a-potties I waited for a min and everyone was going by us! I was really hating losing our position in the race so I said screw it and decided I would go at the next one. Well....I didn't I ended up holding it the entire race!! LOL! Who does that?

First five miles Carrie and I ran it continuous, then her knee started bothering her. We took a few shot bloks and we walk ran as much as we could. She was really hurting, but she is tough!! We saw Paul and Elliott at Riverside Park and I think that mentally that really helped her. Then at the end of the park we saw Brian and Weston.

Carrie kept chugging along, I was carrying her stuff, water bottle, her phone/arm band, and my stuff, but she needed all the help possible and I was glad to be there. Finishing without her was not an option. Finally we made it over the half way mark timers and we had a pretty good pace going. It was long runs with short walks every once in awhile. Then mile 7 came and slapped her hard. I think at that point she was trying to not cry. She toughed it out. We got into Botanica and out of the port-a-john in front of us pops our arch rival!! That was motivation right there! Carrie had no pain any more!! (She did, but passing Jill was way more important.) I kept looking at Carrie like "slow down"...she ignored me ;). We had a long mile there where we did no walking, it was good. Then the last part of the race came....mentally it was tough, but we had done this distance before and we could do it again today.

After

Bekki was at mile 11 and it so helped us!!Paul and Elliott were waiting at 13 miles and we ran it all in! Carrie grabbed my sweaty hand with her sweaty hand and we crossed together! It was magical, (I know...lame) but it really was perfect! I could not be happier right now!

With my new medal!

Now it is time to study! I have to get back to the grind, I have 8 tests and projects due in the next two weeks...talk about stress.

The great thing about today.... I can not wait to get better!! I want to run a 2:30 half at some point, because I know I can. I want to impress myself. I want this!! Also Carrie and I are planning on doing a full marathon!! in November!! We must be certifiably nuts!! We are.

Dinner tonight with the ladies! Margaritas and a burrito!! Yum!!

Oh what a day...

I should of stayed in bed. I was not really excited to go to the gym this morning, but I got up and went. I was hoping that Carrie was going to text me and say let's not, but she didn't. Got to the gym and started my warm up while I waited on Carrie. We get there at 5 am so as to get a good work out in before the day and so that we can "beat the crowd". Well there was a lot of people there today. I was whiny because I didn't really "feel" some of the weird squats we were supposed to do so Carrie suggested we just do the machines. Okay....simple enough right? Beep....wrong. I was struggling this morning. Whatever, I got it done. Carrie went to shower at the gym and I went to leave.

I got into my car and was going to start it and something felt wrong. I looked forward and didn't see anything out the normal, but I could distinctly hear traffic on the road, like it wasn't muffled. I looked to my back and just started shaking. My rear passenger window was smashed to bits! Glass everywhere. I knew immediately my purse was gone. I check and it was. So I went back into the gym and asked if anyone else had reported any break-ins. Yup.

Needless to say the police never came, I had to do a report over the phone. They said to check all the dumpsters, because usually these kind of thefts they just want the money and cards. Ya, right. I checked, but found nothing. It was awful. Every second. Kevin got me an appointment to get my window fixed, but I have been trying all day to get everything else fixed. My wallet had credit cards, debit cards, ID's, my social, cash......everything. What a pain in the ass. (pardon my language, but it has been a rough day)

Only thing that I really can say happily, is the A-hole who did this.....really screwed up! I am dirt poor!! I am a full time student!! I may have a good/nice looking car, but I am POOR. So HA!!

I still have a bunch of things to do tomorrow like getting a new driver's license ( I really liked the picture on the one I had!! That will never be duplicated!) and social and other things......what an unnecessary hassle. I hope that scum gets caught!!! Karma is a bitch!

Just a few weeks left

31 days to be exact. That is how many of these wonderful days I have left in third semester of nursing school! Ahh, it needs to be over!! I am not a pediatric, maternal/newborn, or school nurse. This was what the semester has been all about! I can not wait until I am done. I want to graduate and pass boards so badly!!!

Anyways, I got sick last week and it has been a pain in the rear. I have had the hardest time getting over it. Just a terrible head cold, but finally I am feeling better. I am in serious need of running, now that I won't cough up a lung!

I have 21 days left until my second half marathon, the Prairie Fire Spring Half on 5/5/13! I am super nervous. My only verbalized goal is to finish in under three hours. I think that this should be possible. Carrie and I ran our last long run last weekend and it was 13.23 and we took a long break at mile 5 to get refills of water and it was unbelievably windy! So I think it is completely doable. Ideally my next goal is 2:45 which would be a 12:35 pace per mile....I would think I could do that, but lets not push it. My ultimate goal would be 2:30....someday :).

Well I have two tests tomorrow, so I better get studying and cleaning up this place!! Later!

Spring time!

So I was supposed to have a community clinical at a high school today...no such luck. Thanks a lot cold sore. Not going to lie I was pretty pissed. I have so much to do in my schedule already as it is that it makes it very difficult to rearrange things. Sigh.
Anywho - yesterday was our 5 year anniversary!! Yay!! It was pretty lame. We both worked all day and then I had class all night! Woo hoo!!, but he sent me some beautiful (huge) flowers to work! Completely surprised!! I was told I was never getting flowers again because I kill them too quickly!! Haha!! It is true though, I have no green thumb.
On other notes, Carrie is still trying to kill me. Recently we have been doing best body bootcamp workouts at the gym in the morning. It has been intense. I am happy to have a workout partner. I really enjoy her company for the most part ;). Tomorrow is a big run....13 miles....I am scared.
Laters!

Easter Sun Run 10K

We finished.

Well I have not been consistent with my running. I am a huge slacker! But I had already paid for this race and I was really not wanting to DNS, I mean I wanted to, but I know that would of pissed me off later on! My official time was 1:17:12. So it was a PR, but I am really disappointed in my lack of trying to train. My shins have been sore lately and I hadn't gotten shoes that worked so I was just fizzling out. I have never run a race at SCP before and I am pretty certain I don't want to do another there, simply due to the fact I run there all the time and it made it that much harder to keep going.
Carrie ran with me today, she shouldn't have. She should of kept going and gotten an insane PR. I held her way back. But she was awesome enough to stay. Love that woman!
So anyways we finished. Negative Nancy in my head did not act like I was going to finish, but I did. I am glad it is over and I hope it will motivate me to start being better again!!

My mapmyrun splits were:

1 mi	10:39 min/mi
2 mi	11:28 min/mi
3 mi	11:58 min/mi
4 mi	12:04 min/mi
5 mi	13:12 min/mi
6 mi	12:03 min/mi
6.5 mi	13:08 min/mi			This actually felt like they were true.