July Stats and Thoughts

To be honest, I am very sad for July to end.  It means it is time to go back to work for good.  I went back three half days last week and teachers officially go back August 2.  Students are back August 10, sorry Behn- the crankiness begins.

While I have a few extra minutes here are a few things about July.

Beth, I hope it is ok but I stole this format from you :) - I need some creativity.

Run 93ish- This is pretty high for me these days.

Strength & Conditioning 8 Orange Theory Classes

Races Wesley Chapel Fast 5k - death by 5k

Current Reads Well, before school started I picked up Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow and Ionly got through about 80 pages…#fail 

Current Obsession Oreo Krispie Treats! To die for.  I actually ONLY ate a tiny piece.

Current Song Anything on the Hamilton Soundtrack- I never used to run with music, then I heard this soundtrack

Current Need More time off before work

Current Triumph Painting our bedroom.  I am not artsy fartsy at all andI did the whole room!  It was a pain measuring 40 inches up around the whole room so we can do the bottom half gray. 

Current Bain of My Existence Humidity! It is so hard to see your paces drop so much but I know it will pay off come fall.  Breathing in this is just ridiculous.

Current Goal make it through the first few weeks of school and not have my training slack off.  Also, fundraising!!!

You know your cool when your shirt says "We the People"

Current Indulgence Twistee treat Ice Cream

Current Blessings My cats..They are such good boys.

Current Excitement The Olympics!!! - I just cancelled our cable, anyone know how to watch it with a roku, k Thanks!

What are you proud of for the month of July?  Do you have any August goals?

I ran a 5k and didn't die!

Stop, Vomit, Pass out, Die.. 

Every single thought went through my head at mile 2.2

I HATE the 5k

This past Tuesday I decided to run the Wesley Chapel Fast 5k.  It was a small, cheap, and local.   This event happens every other Tuesdays in Wesley Chapel right across from the new Outlets.  I still have yet to go to the outlets.  The start is right across the street and is a 1(ish) mile loop that you do almost 3x.  I actually really likes the course because you are never alone.  It started promptly at 7:45 pm.

I had a 25 minute tempo run that morning but I decided to be lazy and sleep in so I know I had to go.  I left my house a little after 6:15 and made my way up North a little.  I got there around 7, used the Chik-fil-A restroom and went for my 1 mile warm up.  The warm up was surprisingly ‘fast” for me these days.  I did it around 11:40 ish.

I walked over to the site of the start and the race directer approached me and we chatted for a few minutes.  Gave him my payment then met up with Lindsay who I was talking to about going.  We met through Team in Training and is running and is training for her first full.  I am not so secretly hoping she runs 26.2 miles with me at Disney!

 I was very happy to see her there since it was such a small race.  There were no bibs, everyone just new each others names.

In my head I knew I wanted to negative spilt, I had my mile goals in my head.  I wanted to hit 11:00, 10:30 10:00.

I didn't take any pictures so I figured I would add these random Pictures

As soon as the horn went off, so were we.  All 10 or so of us :)

Those times went right out the door.  Lindsay and I ran the first 2 miles together, or I should say she ran them with me.  We were able to hold on to a conversation so I didn’t think I was going too fast.  I looked down at my watch after the first .25 and saw 9:30 and knew I had to go slower so I attempted to slow down.  I was finally able to get my first mile to a 10:12.  Mile 2 was about a 10:20 and then shit hit the fan.

I told Lindsay she didn’t have to wait for me, a little after mile 2 I put my water bottle down, I dropped it, went back to pick it up.  I was a mess.  I was dying!  I didn’t think I could keep running.  I was trying to keep the pace as close to 11 as possible, I didn’t want to positive split but I did.  I slowed it down telling myself since I technically did a way too fast tempo I can do the rest as a cool down.  I wanted to walk so bad, I seriously thought I was going to vomit everywhere.  I finally made it to the finish line and thought I was going to pass out.  

I finished in 33:!3- I tell myself a 10:30 pace should not be hard and then I remember I live in Florida in the middle of summer.  The weather was nice, it was cool in the low 80s.

I am most proud that I didn’t I've up, I didn't walk.  My last 5k- over a year ago I walked 2x- I am also pretty sure I finished that race 3 minutes or so faster.

At the finish there was nice ice cold water and cold wash clothes.  It was wonderful!

Hi human- please open the window so I can stare at nothing.

If the race started earlier I would 100% do this race again.  I go back to work next week and a 7:45 start is just too late for me when school starts.  If you are in the area, I would run this.  Everyone is so friendly.  There is a cash prize for the first 2 males and females.  I places top 5 in the women- There were 5 women.. HAHA!! and I was the last one to finish.  I knew going in I would be the last to finish and I still went- Getting my brain game in order!!

What is your favorite race distance?   The Half marathon

What is your most hated race distance? The 5k

So what's next?

So what’s next?

DOPEY 2017!

Since my last marathon in December of 2014, I really haven’t done much in terms of races.  I got burnt out. I was doing race after race because I was in shape. I was using the races as long runs, and apparently trying to run all the miles!  Gasparilla, as fun as it was, was probably the tipping point of races; 2 days- almost 30 miles.  I was tired and I took about a year off of running, completely. I was loving Orange Theory Fitness and on my wedding day I felt happy and confident.  

Post OTF Bod :) 

I ran two half marathons last season and didn’t hit my goals.  I trained well, I just don’t think my body is where it used to be.  My expectations were high, the conditions weren't perfect, eh, life happens. Last year as my first time not training for a marathon since my first one in 2011.

Post Goofy Stuggle in 2014- Ready for it again

I am finally ready to train for a marathon again! This marathon is a little different than my last one.  Not only is it a marathon over a weekend, I am also taking on the 5k, 10k, half marathon, and then the marathon.

I keep getting the question, “Why would you do that to yourself?”

I am doing it to help raise funds for the leukemia and Lymphoma society.  (<--- Click to DONATE)  One day I will be luckily enough not to have to run to raise money, but to run because there is a cure for ALL cancer.

Post Goofy Stuggle

I am also doing it for me.  I needed a “fun” race to get into without a time goal.  I have to love running without a time goal because if I do not hit that time goal, I beat myself up too much and that is not what running should be about. The niche of team in training is like no other.  I cannot wait to get back out there with my team!

One of my proudest accomplishments- Goofy!

I have been working with Abby trying to get my speed back and base building!  I am excited for the official start of training later this month!

What has been the most fun race you have run?

Mine was definitely Goofy in 2013 (or whenever that was)

What did you do for the Holiday Weekend?
We went up to Jacksonville for the day then stayed local on Monday.  We have a scaredy cat!