Vulcan Run Pictures

Here are a few pictures from the Vulcan Run last weekend.

This was taken a week or two prior to the race at the office. My running buddy, Cara, was traveling so she didn't make it in this picture.
Team Vulcan right before the race started.

And here is Renard, he's apparently very happy to be up early on a Saturday morning.

6 miles

Today was the 10k Vulcan Run in downtown. This is Birmingham's oldest running 10k. Cara and I got there early for our Team Vulcan picture. I froze. And was miserable. Other people were warming up by actually running. What's the point? Running before the actual run? Seems like a waste of precious running energy to me. But then again, I'm no pro!

Due to an ongoing problem I have from two previous surgeries I wasn't actually sure I'd get to run at all. But I did. I was VERY slow, but still ran some. Cara has some pretty severe shin pain....so between my slow running and her shin pain we stuck together for the entire 6 miles. Well, she did finish 20 seconds before me, but for the most part we stuck it out together. I don't know my official time, but I think it took about 1:30.

I'm glad I did it. It was a beautiful day...and once we got running the temperature was perfect. And I'm glad my running buddy stuck with me. :)

I'm pretty sore tonight, but then again I haven't done a 6 mile run in, well, MONTHS. Here's to the half marathon I'm running/walking in less than 4 weeks.

Pickin' n' Passin'

(Of course the title is grammatically correct - just "Southernized")

So this pass week has been an utter and dismal failure for training. I successfully left my spiffy running shoes down in Tampa and my old shoes I have been running with are making my legs mad at me. I attempted to run twice - once with babe and one sans babe. Both ended in me doing the high arm swing trying to make myself appear I was moving faster than I was, while telling my legs that we could be friends and they would learn to love me again after I stopped moving.

But any how that's not what this post is about. Last Saturday I finished running an entire 8k. now for those of you who don't know an 8k is exactly 4.96 miles (I had to look it up). I have not run 4.96 miles in ohhh about 5 YEARS. I now feel accomplished, empowered, and, of course, sexy.

I'll let you know a little secret - I had not intention of running the ENTIRE race. I knew I could run a 5k and figured I would split the rest up with running, shuffling, and questioning my sanity on being up at 6:30 in the AM to run in the cold, cold rain. On top of all that I waited on the hubby to come in fresh from work to run with me (he had different ideas... says running slow hurts his knees... gee thanks!). I was literally racing to catch up the slow people car for about 10 minutes. When i finally caught up and started a nice steady pace... I heard IT. Shuffle, shuffle... scrap... scrap.. shuffle. It was a MEGA SHUFFLER. Like the kind that makes your ears want to explode. I thought if I am stuck with this noise for the next hour (I was being realistic here) I might as well quit NOW. Instead of quitting I became resolved to pass her. And so I did.

This was my strategy for the rest of the race a concept I refer to as "Pickin' n' Passin'". Each person I passed was a small and very joyful victory. I passed the walk/ runners (why don't they just pick one??) the casual runners (I might finish...I might not) and some folks that had a great pace the whole time. The thing about passing people is they can't see you do it. By the time I passed someone, I had my eyes set on the next goal 20 yards away. The more distance passed, the more folks I passed. I was determine to not let the passed pass. I finished the race that way. I am not a competitive person by any means, but I am a person that makes a whole lot of lists and each passing was a project conquered - something to cross off and move onto the next.

To some people this might sound silly, useless, but us at the newbie level need ANYTHING to feel better about ourselves and that we are getting better at this running thing. Ah, can I get an "AMEN"?!



Here is another lovely image after the race. Let me do some narrating: Here we have an image of the Davis family. On your left you see Emily Davis. Do not be alarmed by Mr. Skull next to her. He just wants some respect. Husband Keith is the tall one. No, that is not a ritual running headdress, but some fierce decorations at a friend's house. And there's little Miss Ava being all cute again (how does she DO it??). A huger than life props to friend, Andrea, for waking up on dawn's dark side to watch Ava.

Let's Start Over Again... and Again.... and....

Running has always been there in my life.

At early morning, growing up, found my family and I running exactly four laps around our small cul-de-sac to equal a mile. Days I hated it, days I loved it. I ended up running track and cross country in jr and high school. There was nothing like cross-country, running in the early morn while the dew flicked up in the air as I whizzed through the grass trying to be as fast as my super star brother. Track followed years later as I proved my months of training with ONE track meet against some small christian academies (I hope the homeschoolers have it better these days!). The rest of the years are filled with the ever rebounding love/hate relationship of running ranging from happily zooming along sweat free for miles to feeling like I have a tire jiggling around my waist line while struggling to finish running 400 yrds.

Right now I am in between the feelings. Four months out from giving birth to beautiful baby girl, Ava, I am determine to watch the last 15 pounds run off to fat hell. Plus if I ever have to run from the Southside crazies whilst pushing a jogging stroller... well I'll be ready!

So far I have 2 5k races under my belt in the past 3 weeks. Honestly I haven't really run to train much, but the "R UABle to Run" run at Oak Mountain was a swift and painful kick to my booty! I walked and ran it pushing a jogging stroller. Two weeks later I ran the entire Race for the Cure (without stroller). These week I'll run an 8k in Gardendale. I think I have run about 4 times outside of that. Umm mostly I DON'T recommend this sort of race training, but this is what I am doing to reach my final destination as a runner in the next 4 months...

The Mercedes Half-Marathon in February!!

I was to do it last year, but needed to fufill my whiney "I'm too sick to walk" pregnant jaunt. Thank the Lord for the power of prego recovery, because look out Half Marathon- I'm taking names and passing runners right and left!!



My wonderful family- husband Keith (lost 80 pounds running in 8 months), daughter Ava (just super cute!) and me (all nice and sweaty!).

Vacation & Accountability

We are on vacation this week and while I have stopped doing my workout we have been busy and walking a lot. We are in Cherokee, NC for 7 days, then Stone Mountain for 3. I'll be back to my workout and adding in some more running next week. I hope my shins stop hurting. The Vulcan Run (10K) is in early November and the half marathon is in early December...so I have a lot to prepare for.

My sweet friend, Emily, will be joining me in chronicling our journey through running races and getting in shape. She'll be a great accountability to me. Love her.

Be back next week.

Going good

My workouts have been going good. Yesterday was arms and back and today was plyometrics. I looked what what that word means on www.dictionary.com and this is what it said: "a type of exercise using explosive movements to develop muscular power, esp. bounding, hopping, and jumping". Yep, that's pretty much what I did for 60 minutes today. Jumped. Well, and lots of squats. It was rough....but good.

I hurt my shin the other day, so I've not been running. Hopefully next week I'll get some running in since I won't be able to do any of the strength training on vacation.

Ouch

This weekend we went to the Nashville Superspeedway (yes, the one where Nascar guys race) to watch a friend of ours race his motorcycle. They raced partly on the tri-oval and partly on the infield. It was fun. We took the camper. There was plenty of room. It was really foggy and rainy the whole time, but we still had a nice time. Oh, and Tash won first place in one of his races.....AND gave David his trophy. How cool?

While we were there I went for a little jog on the infield of the track. I brought my old running shoes (without my orthotics inside) and tore up my calves. It was miserable. I only lasted about 25 minutes. Ouch!

Yesterday I started doing a new workout regimin....thanks to a friend who has challenged me to it. It's tough. Pretty hard core. And it's kicking my butt. I'm surprised that I don't feel REALLY bad today....maybe that will come tomorrow. Yesterday was full of pushups (yes, I only do the girly kind) and pull ups. Today is plyometrics (whatever that is). I'll find out soon enough when I do the workout. I'm going to try to balance the weights/strength training with running.

My friend, Emily, is going to start training for the Mercedes Half Marathon in February. So she'll be blogging about it here too. It will be good for both of us to record things here and to challenge each other. :)

Shins & Calves

So that's all I can think about these days. My shins and my calves hurt. A lot. All the time. My friend told me today that she heard the first 3 miles is the hardest to get through, but after that adding a little bit every week isn't so bad. I hope that's true for me. I'm still right at the 3 mile mark and it's killing me. I still HATE running, but know that it will be a great feeling to cross the finish line. That's the only reason I'm doing this. Well, that, and to get in shape.

Still at it

While I haven't been documenting my exercising lately I have been doing it. Currently I'm doing The Shred a couple times a week, but am really beginning on working on running. Today was my day off (and it was a good one). The running has been going okay (ran in the pouring ran yesterday - not so much fun) but my shins continue to hurt. I hope in a few weeks I'll be past this pain. Only a 2.5 months until my race. I'll make it.

September 8th

I got up this morning and walked (with a bit of running) 3 miles. It was so great to be out and about before the sun rose and then watch it come up over the mountain. I thought about taking Radar, but he's not quite the walking/running companion yet (he's a bit all over the place)...so we might work on that. I'd love to have him to run with me when I get to that point. Hoping to do The Shred tonight with Brad.

And while I didn't have a exercise schedule this weekend while camping, I did get plenty of exercise in. Between walking millions of stairs to each water slide, walking in the sand at the beach, hiking and riding bikes - I got plenty. Just not really anything recordable.

No idea

I'm not sure what day we're on now, but I will say I haven't been doing anything every day like I need to be. Slacker is all I can say. Brad hasn't been feeling good for about a week now so when I get home at night the last thing on my mind is working out.

I did go to Cara's Friday night and we did The Shred. I can definitely tell I'm beginning to get stronger but not doing it everyday isn't going to help much. I haven't begun doing any/much running yet - I wanted to lose about 10 pounds first, but I realize that may not happen. So I just need to do The Shred AND run. This weekend we are camping and it will be a good opportunity to get into my running, since I won't be able to do The Shred in the camper.

Oh, my eating is pretty good. So at least I have that going for me. :)

Day 9

Yesterday I didn't go to work because I wasn't feeling well. But by the afternoon I was feeling myself again...so I went to my friends house (only two doors down, I love having good friends who are also neighbors) last night and we did the Turbo Jam workout. It was good, very similar to Turbo Kick (which is my all time favorite workout ever). It was fun doing it with someone and I didn't have to drive anywhere either....which is kinda hard right now since Brad is traveling. AND, Gretchen is an aerobics instructor....so she was helpful with questions that I had. Hope to workout often with her. She's a great encouragement to me.

Brad gets home tonight and Cara and I will be working out together after work today. She bought the 30 Day Shred and we're going to do workout #1 and see what it's all about.

Oh, and my follow up with my surgeon is today - I'm really hoping he'll release me to do what I want (even though I know I'm not 100% yet). Wish me luck.

Day 7

Yesterday was an absolutely glorious day. God really was showing off His splendor. It felt like fall and actually on the way in to work this morning I had my windows down and sunroof open. It doesn't get better than that. The temperature on my car read 69 degrees outside. Awesome.

So we skipped church and had a family work day at home. Brad worked on getting the dune buggy and David's dirt bike running again. I put the last coat of paint on a shelf we made for the dining room and spent a lot of time working in the yard. Pulling weeds and getting my garden ready for the fall crop. I also worked in the herb garden and cut out more grass as my rosemary is getting huge and it needs more space (I hate removing grass, it's the hardest job in the yard). Oh yeah, and Brad and I ran around the back yard following David on his dirt bike for about 20 minutes. So we both got some good exercise in yesterday.

While I didn't go the gym and workout or even go for a walk I definitely got my exercise in yesterday. I'm sore today.

Brad is out of town this week, so getting in my workouts will be more challenging than normal, but I'm going to do what I can.

Day 5 and 6

As you can see, I'm really keeping up with blogging. Aren't I awesome?

Here's the quick scoop:

Friday I went to the gym after work and was on the treadmill for 50 minutes. For the first time I did a little bit of running. Only a little bit, since I'm not technically released to run yet. I'm keeping me fingers crossed for my Wednesday appointment. I ate really well on Friday and we went out to dinner and I choose healthy options at dinner too.

Today we went to see a friend who races motorycles at the Talladega Gran Prix track. We were there most of the day, so I didn't workout, but we did do a lot of walking (and some running)....going from the starting line to the stands to the pit and back all day long. It was a great fun day with some non expected exercising AND Tash won both of his races. Oh, and I ate well all day....until dinner - at Sonny's. I had french fries. Isn't that ridiculous? I know. I know.

I'll do better tomorrow...

Day 4

Today wasn't a work out day. Had plans to go to the gym after work but Brad was having some damage to his truck fixed and his truck wasn't ready in time. So he drove a company car home (w/o a carseat) and I picked up David.

So here was today's diet for today:

Smoothie (yogurt, soy milk-I'm trying-but YUCK, strawberries, bananas, blueberries, mango and oj). All the fruits were bought fresh and frozen so they don't go back. The blueberries are from my own backyard!

Rotini pasta with tons of fresh veggies (chicken, rotini, red pepper, green pepper, red onion, broccoli and light 3 cheese ranch). Might not have been the MOST healthy, but it has lots of veggies, so it counts.

Salads for dinner. We had a neighborhood social tonight and it was salad night...so everyone brought different salads. I hate good and only had a small helping of dessert. I guess I could have had none. Oh well.

Tomorrow is an early day. Cara is out of town....so without my gym buddy to meet me in the morning it will be harder to get up...but I know I can do this on my own. I'm a big girl.

Day 3

Today is day three. I did nothing on day two. Seriously. Nothing. I feel like a slacker. I can blame it on the weather. I did have every intention of going out to work in my garden to get it ready for the fall vegetables and rip up the plants that are no longer producing, but it poured like crazy last night. So instead, I finished reading the second book in the Twilight series. SO GOOD!

Anyhow, I woke up this morning at 5:00 to go to the gym. Surprisingly I was well rested and only hit the snooze button once. Normally at that ungodly time of the day all I can think of is sleep, but this morning was different. It probably helped that I had a 4 year old sleeping in my bed and I was on the very edge about to fall off, so after the alarm went off I couldn’t really get back to a good sleep like I normally do. Maybe I’ll invite David to sleep in our bed every night. Or maybe not.

I did about 40 minutes of walking on the treadmill. It went fine.

I’m very anxious to use weights, but until my doctor releases me I won’t do that. My appointment is next Wednesday, but I’m not even hopeful at that time that he’ll release me for weights. We’ll see.

My old friend from Clearwater, Tiffany, is chronicling her journey through P90X, including her diet. That’s a struggle for me, but it’s encouraged me to try and do the same. The key word is ‘try’. The last thing I want to do after dinner and David is in bed is spend another 20 minutes in the kitchen preparing lunches for the next day. I know I need to do that….rather than grab something in the caf or a frozen dinner (which are just disgusting). Maybe that will be my next baby step – working on preparing healthy lunches.

So for today, I’m working on drinking lots of water. I’ve not been doing that so much lately. Today I’m aiming for 6 glasses.

Day 1

So I've signed up for my second half marathon in December. It's the St. Jude's in Memphis and I'm doing it with a couple of girlfriends. Cara (from work) and I are rooming together and if I can convince Laura (from church) to do it she'll join us too.

Cara and I have been working out together (spinning and classes at the gym) on and off for a few months. She has started her official half marathon training about 5 weeks ago while I've been sitting on my butt. My two surgeries (one in May and one in July) have held me back a lot.

I'm counting today as Day 1 of my training and attempt to get into shape. While I haven't been released by my doctor to run I'm at least going to get in the habit of working out. So today I met Cara at the Y and we hit the treadmills. She did her running/walking and I just walked. I did 50 minutes of lots of hills. I'm feeling good afterwards and looking forward to my next workout. I'm hopeful that my surgeon will release me on Monday at my next follow up to run....HOWEVER, I will not push it. I don't want to end up having surgery again.

By the way, I completed my first one in February (Mercedes Half) but I was injured and in NO shape to do it. It took me just over 3 hours so basically my goal is to do the St. Jude's in less than 3. I know I can do it. And I've got 15 weeks to get ready.

My plan is to keep track of my workouts and complaints and successes on this blog. I'm not telling many people about it (maybe just a handful so they can keep me in check) but it's more for me - to have a place to journal about it and follow through with my (now) written down goal.

So here's to a consistent schedule and losing weight and getting ready for a half marathon.

Cheers. Whatever.