Confession

Since running the LR Marathon a couple of weeks ago, I have gone running once.  I've had a few soccer games (indoor and out) and have amped up my return to CrossFit, but running just hasn't been a craving I desire.  I knew I would also have to take some time off when my hip injection.  However, the timing of me giving my body a running rest, the injection, and the overindulgence of birthday foods has left me feeling full and fat.  I allowed myself way too many treats to celebrate- because I finished the race, because it was my birthday, because I had to carb load.  I was looking for excuses where ever I could find them.  Now, I am seeing the consequences.  It took months of hard work of training and running to drop just a few pounds on my frame, and yet it took just a couple of weeks to undo all of the damage.

I am trying to not beat myself up over it.  Tomorrow is indeed a new day.  I was hoping that if I let it out, I could let it go, and move back to making progress.  Sometimes, I just hold things inside too much, and then torture myself and mentally beat myself up for my slip ups and (temporary) failures.

I find it to be no coincidence that I saved this image just the other day.  

Little Rock Marathon

 Overall, this is a race I would HIGHLY recommend.  The weather was warmer and sunnier than expected, and the description about it being hilly is more than oh so true.  I didn't hit my wall until about mile 21/22, which was much further than I anticipated.  I was proud to complete this race, not just to finish another 26.2, but also to be able to run with such a fabulous and wonderful group of ladies.  And we cannot forget the medal, that MEDAL, so bling bling! -  on a Mr. T, WWE, cowboy belt buckle level.  I honestly thought this would be my last full, but after this positive experience, I'm not saying never.

En route.

Expo shenanigans.

Starting line selfie

Mid-race selfie. 

Will run for choco chip banana bread.

Finished!

How to pose with a bling out medal.

 We DID it!

Sunday Run Day ReCap #8

With every human in my house getting sick, aside from me, when I felt exhausted Wednesday evening, I slept.  It is to close to race day for me to catch anything.  Thankfully, that seemed to do the trick.  However, that left me with only one true run this past week, today's Trail 10k.  I added 2 miles to it to get my last long run in before the marathon NEXT WEEK!  So excited that race week has finally FINALLY arrived.  It has been a long winter of training runs.  Here's to a hopefully illness and injury free week, full of fun!

Please tell me I'm not alone with tearing up the insides of my legs as I run.....  I typically hit my ankles, but trail running takes it to a whole new level.  

Sunday Run Day ReCap #6 - Valentine Edition

What a run!  22 miles, in ~30 degree weather.  Mucho cold.  It was nuts, but we did it.  I have to say, it seems that no matter what distance we run, my body runs out of gas with a few miles left.  I've been training for months, and following a training plan religiously, so I don't think it is a lack of preparedness, I just truly believe my body isn't meant for anything over 15 miles.  I'm so glad for taper time!  Little Rock is just a few weeks away!

My fave ladies on Sunday!

Typical Wednesday night run group shenanigans.

Sunday night ended up being a sporadic trip to Benihana's with some of my fave CrossFit peeps. I am not a big OTT person for Valentine's Day, but this was a perfect celebration with everyone!

Smile! 

Sunday Run Day ReCap #5

On a Monday none-the-less.  I think that big sporting event (which I love) with lots of food (which I also love) got in the way of my posting.  Anyways....


Wednesday came with the return of the cold.  After the 20 mile run, my legs were super tired, so this was a very slow and steady run.  But i was with some of my fave ladies, so I enjoyed it greatly.

Wednesday Wednesday!

Sunday was cold but sunny, which greatly helped.  We got a reprieve with only 11 miles.  Thank goodness!

All Smiles!

Pretty sure I will be spending the week either in denial or anxiousness over the upcoming 22 miles next week!

Sunday Run Day ReCap #4

*phew* What a week!  I have been dealing with major calf cramps and knee pain.  So I kinda took it easy this past week.  Wednesday was a fun run with the gals.  Nothing too crazy.

Wednesday!

Sunday, we were scheduled for 20 miles.  Goodness, I was mentally trying to get my mind wrapped around running all of that.  It didn't help that I woke up Saturday morning with serious calf cramping again and then slept horribly Saturday night before awaking to +60 degree weather to start the run off this morning.  We traversed all around the suburban area, where we could find hills to mimic Little Rock as best as possible.  It was exhausting, but we made it.  My knees and hips were shot afterwards, so the rest of the day was a very lazy one with stretching and icing.

Slow & steady 20 miles!

But of course, we had to have celebratory coffee in my hard earned mug afterwards.

My legs are going to need some extra TLC the next few days.  So glad that there is only one more +20 mile run before the marathon.  (So, SO ready!) 

Sunday Run Day ReCap #3

This past week was mostly miles pounded out on a treadmill.  The weather just plain sucked.  But today was race #2 of the Off Road Series and the need for my Little Rock Marathon long run.  So we ran both the pavement and the trails.  Much fun and mud was had by all!

 Still clean!

Not so clean anymore!

 Mixture of mud and road running.

Sunday Run Day ReCap #2

Tuesday night was a steady 3 miles on the treadmill.  Nothing too crazy to write home about.  Wednesday was the usual evening run with the gals.  My legs felt great and I got in a good 5 miles with one of the sunshiny bright Belles.

Wednesday night chill.

But... Holy Cannoli! What a Sunday RunDay.  It was sooooo cold when I woke up this morning to meet my running gals.  We are training for Little Rock, half and full (full for me), so we set out on a loop with some "rolling hills," two loops for the full runners.  I think it was around 30 degrees the entire run.

Our "it's too early for a face photo" picture at the start.

The first loop was tolerable once I warmed up.  We got through it alright and then said farewell to those that needed 9 miles after refueling with gu and water.

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

That second loop, it was BRUTAL!  I could not get my head in the game.  I don't know if it was my hip aching, my knees crunching, or my mental mind game about the aforementioned issues, but I started feeling every step I took.  We switching up the intervals we were running to get through it, and thankfully, I persevered.

 Thankful for these two for keeping me moving forward.

Afterwards, it took forever to warm back up at home.  I had to ice my knees and hip, so that didn't exactly help either.  Hot tea, shower, blanket, all of the above!  The rest of the day has consisted of laundry and football.  I'm not much for moving around right now.

18 miles, ftw.

So glad that this upcoming long run is a shorter one before we have to venture on the 20 miles.  Oh my goodness!

Progression on Running

The official results for Sunday's 3k came in.  They truly showed me how far I have come the past year.  Usually, when it comes to running, I train for a race then slack off.  Or get injured and have to take time off to heal.  Last year, while I had my typical knee issues, I didn't go through too much trauma aside from a grade II sprain on my left ankle thanks to soccer two weeks before a half! But I digress.  I was stoked to take the results from Sunday and compare them to the same race a year ago.  I improved by over 4 minutes! That's nuts to me.  Maybe it is the fact that I ran fairly diligently last year .  Maybe it is the addition of CrossFit to my routine.  Maybe both. Or neither.  But seeing process like that = motivation to keep running.

SunDay Run Day ReCap #1

This weekend was a super run-filled full one!  I was scheduled to complete 16 miles for my marathon training, but I also had signed up for a local off road trail series and the first race was today.  So, the gals I run with and I decided to run 14 on Saturday and the remaining 2 on Sunday.


We were so fortunate on Saturday.  The storm let up before we took off running at 7AM and only came down with some force once for a few minutes around mile 10.  We finished up, and the rain decided to return with a vengeance.  Talk about luck of the draw!

Post run selfie, a true requirement of our accomplishments.

Saturday night was the annual party for the local run club.  I had never been before, so it was quite an adventure.  Delicious food, fabulous friends, and some entertaining dancing moves!

Some of my fabulous running group...Wearing something other than running gear!

Sunday, Run Day rounded out the weekend with a 3k at a park in Midtown.  It was freezing!  Winter has decided to arrive, and with a grand entrance at that!  Thankfully, the sun was shining.  The trails were nice and muddy since it rained so much yesterday.  Bonus!  I was really proud of this run as I managed to run the entire thing without stopping to walk once!  I am typically an interval runner, but since this was (technically) just under 2 miles, I thought I would go until I couldn't go anymore.  And go I went!  

Mandatory finish line smiles.

Overall, I'm super impressed my legs are still attached to my body after this weekend!  Now it'

s time to go get my roll on (roll out? Rollin'?) and stretch so they don't decide to fall off tomorrow.