Happy Friday!

Happy Friday!!! Yes, it's that time again, my favorite day of the week!  This week has gone surprisingly well.  I managed to muster up the courage to get my rear end on my bike trainer, run 4 miles, see Jillian Michaels (my hero), and survive a pop in at work.  With that being said, I am really excited for a relaxing weekend filled with grading, happy hours, a bridal shower, running, and hopefuly some sleeping in.

And now to cut it short..onto my favorite part of Fridays..

Friday Letters :)

Dear Friday, Yay!  I think it is official everyone knows you are my favorite day of the week!  I look forward to you every day starting Sunday!

 Dear Iron Girl, I may have only done the 5k because of my wonky ankle, but you killed me!  Damn you bridges!!  I have run on bridges before but you tired me out, and you tired me out fast.  I am happy I stuck with the 5k and not the half marathon because that would not have been pretty!  Your official face photos, not very cute at all.  Christa and I will be working on that before the NYC Marathon! 

Dear Keel and Curley WInery, Thank you so much for having us taste your delicious wines last week!  You were so good and I have dreams about you!  The blueberru festival is next week and I think you shoudl check it out if you are in the area!  I will definatly post more on that soon!  We all had such a good time and it is a great date event!

  Dear Datz Dough, I want a donut..Just sayin'. 

 Dear Sugar Detox, I truly didn't feel a difference as I cut out sugar and all processed food.  I didn't have more energy, my face didn't clear up, I didn't loose any weight, but yesterday at dinner, I immediatly got a stomach ache after gorging my face at Ceviche's.  I am now a believer!  I know that my stomach can't handle all that, and plan to incorporate this style of eating regularly, but I will allow myself some treats, I do love my chocolate :)

Dear Jillian, Thanks for coming to Tampa, It was so great to see the girls! And of course, hear you speak!  I want to be you when I grow up!

 Dear Roomie, I am so sad our lease is ending soon!! I love you! I am going to miss our summers at the pool, eating chinese food and oreos, and finishing the night searing for Simple Life in the rain!

How does your weekend look?  Are you ever excited for a free weekend that all you want to do is lay in bed?

Any races coming up for you, which ones?

Iron Girl 2013

I cannot believe my last long distance race of the season is less than a week away!  If you have been reading my last few posts, you would see that I am doing Iron Girl Clearwater next Sunday, April 14, 2013.   I originally wasn't going to do this race and was going to have Sarasota Half be my last race but I really wanted to set a new PR since the time I wanted for Sarasota I reached in November.  The Tampa Bay Bloggers were contacted to take part of this women's only event, and I am very excited to do so.  In addition to the half marathon distance, they also have a 5k.  After being contacted by Iron Girl, I knew this wasn't an opportunity to let slip on by.  Iron Girl's mission is "to empower women toward a healthy lifestyle".

I hired Mary back in February to get my to my goal time, I happened to reach that goal a little quicker than expected.  My goal was a 2:15, and wasn't even sure that was possible because of the new course which includes 2 bridges, ran twice each.  In Sarasota, I ran a 2:12:11 with two bridges.  Shortly after Sarasota, my ankles started to bother me, tendinitis.  I have been taking some time to relax and let them heel.  I am not sure the half marathon distance is in the cards or if I should stick to the 5k.  I went out for a short 3 miler and the pain isn't there that much when I run, (yes), but there afterwards.  I certainly do not want it to get worse, but this is also my last run.  The runs feel hard in terms of pace.  Where has my "speed" gone, but I guess that happens when you don't run.   My goal this week is to try and get some runs in to help my legs learn the meaning of running.  I am not sure how that will happen, I have an interview, and two doctors appointments on different days.  Either way, I am looking forward to seeing some great ladies out there.

I love women only races (yes, I love the sight of in shape men with their shirt off running), but the camaraderie of women is great!  Will I see you there?

Which medal will you earn?

I have actually done the Iron Girl Half Marathon the first year they had the half.  I must say, it was one of the hardest halves.  I was not training because I was interning.  All I remember is that I couldn't imagine ever doing another half again if this was my first race.  Right now, besides my leg, I am in the best running shape I have ever been.  I am hoping the heat stays away (it is going to be 80) and the wind is at our back.  I hope my ankles cooperate and have a fabulous race.  Christa and I will run together, but I hope she breaks my PR!!  

Have you done an all women's race?  

What are your tips for running the bridges without training too much on them?

**I was given free entry for this race, all opinions are my own**

Friday Letters

Happy Favorite day of the week, FRIDAY!! This week seemed to move very quickly and I surely cannot complain!  Last week was a four day work week and it seemed to drag.  i am really excited for this weekend because I have a lot of fun things planned but also feel as if it will be nice and relaxing.  This weekend I plan to get on a great run (as long as the ankle holds up), a wine tasting with the Tampa Bay Bloggers, and head to Parksedale Farms food truck rally.  I am also looking forward to naptime and seeing friends!

And now, for my favorite park of the week....

Friday letters

Dear Friday, I am so happy to see you!  You are one of my favorite days of the week! Thanks for showing up.  Dear Computer, You are being brought in today to Apple to hopefully be fixed.  One of the reasons for my lack of blogging is that my computer doesn't like to connect to the internet in my apartment,  I hope Apple can fix it!  Dear Ankle, I hope you can hold up for my schedule 12 mile run!  I am looking forward to seeing some Team in Trianing Alumni this weekend.  Dear Pasover, You killed me this year.  It normally isn't too hard to keep kosher for passover but this year it was hard.  Hmm. Dear Sugar Detox, I am totally going to start you next week!  Laura is putting this on and I am ready to get back to being healthy!  This is going to be hard and I know it!  Dear Irongirl Half Marathon, I am ready for you!  Well, almost.  I don't plan to PR you after the last three weeks off, but ready to tackle you!  I will have a post all about that as soon as my computer is back up and running.

What are your weekend plans?

Have you ever detoxed before?  What were your thoughts, do you have any hints for me?

When you change your eating habits?  Do you just trash everything you do not want?  Donate it? 
Now  how do you say "NO" when everything is always so tempting?  How do you deal with people around you who aren't on the same page?

Thank you for all the advice! and Hope you have a great weekend!~

Friday Letters

Happy Friday Readers!!!

Are you as excited as I am for this weekend?  This is the first week back after spring break so there is a lot of catching up on and I am beat.  This is also the first weekend I am going to be staying in town in 4 weeks!  I have plenty of exciting plans but nothing beats being home!  Birthday parties, running, and family coming into town, oh my!

As much as my blogging is off and on, Friday Letters are one of my favorite things to do.  So here they are!

Dear Friday, once again, I am so happy you have shown your face.  Every Monday I can't wait for you to come around.  You are seriously my favorite day of the week!  Dear Toes, you have been in pain for the last week since you PR'ed the Sarasota Half marathon.  You need to get your act together so I can continue training for the Irongirl Clearwater Half marathon.  Trader Joes, you rock!  I was able to find such yummies this weekend, they are all gone.  Dear Irongirl clearwater, you were originally my last goal race.  I am very excited I can go into you enjoying you, not worrying about a time and being happy just to be done for the season.  I am ready for a break before NYC Marathon training begins.  Dear Sleep, you are mine this weekend!  Dear 2013, you have been pretty good so far.  I hope it stays that way and I am hoping opening my big mouth doesn't jinx me.  

Gate River Run 15k Recap

As many of you know, I am not the best at doing race reaps, but lucky for you, I am on Spring Break which gives me a few minutes of free time.

Friday after work I went up to Jacksonville to visit one of my best college friends.  I registered for this race probably the day it opened.  I was very excited for this.  Not only would I be doing the race, it was the perfect excuse to see my friend.  We were going to make it a fun weekend with the other half of our crew coming up, but unfortunately, they were unable to make it.  

Friday after work I hit up the expo because Jamie home yet.  I picked up my packet, walked around a bit, shopped some and saw Marcia.  It is so nice to always see her.  It was also her birthday weekend and she killed it with a PR!  She was ma wasn't nning the Donna 26.2 booth where I picked up a pin for Jamie and I to wear in her moms honor.  This is actually how she noticed me along the course.  Luckily, I did not need anything from the expo so I just walked to kill some time.

After the expo, I went to Jamie's, but my stuff down and did a nice little two mile shake out run.  Once Jamie got home, we ran to Target for a few things then waited for her boyfriend to come home.  He just was awarded a promotion so we went out to carbo load and celebrate.  We went to an italian place near their house which was very good.  I am a very picky eater whose stomach cannot handle much before races so I thought our server would murder me, or spit in my food.  All I wanted was plain pasta and grilled chicken with marinara sauce on the side.  I didn't think that was too hard.  Just saying.  We went home and went to bed.  

Get in my belly!

Saturday we were up bright and early.  I knew I would not have time to do my scheduled warm up, per Mary's request, so I woke up a little earlier and got out there.  We met at J's friend, Kerry's house at 7 to head downtown.  It makes me laugh that we met at 7 because I love early races, especially if they start in the dark.  Call me crazy, but I don't like seeing my watch and the pace and if it dark, I can't see the watch.  We all carpooled on over, got stuck in traffic, went to the pottys and went to find our corrals.  This was Jamie's first race and I told her I can run with her, walk with her, or do whatever.  She told me to rock it and run my pace, which is exactly what I did.  See, I am training for this Irongirl Half Marathon so.. I sort of wanted to see what I had in me.  They were in wave 3, I was in wave 2 so we hugged goodbye and wished them luck.

Let me start off by saying, this was not an easy run.  There are two bridges.  One is worse than the other.  The Hart bridge is a terror, a bitch to say nicely, luckily it was at mile 8.. Thinking back, I sort of wish it was at the beginning so I still had energy.

I accidently went into wave one to start.  I had my phone out about to take a picture of the start line and people started walking, I figured I had time and was just being moved forward, I was wrong.  I was in the wrong wave.  I am not complaining.  This was beneficial because I wasn't stressing out.  I just went.  The first few miles flew by.  By mile 1.5 is when the first bridge, the Main Street bridge was up.  The elevation was not bad, the bad part was the grates in the bottom.  It freaked me out, and being from NY where this is normal on the street, I do not like that and always walk around them.  

 I was scared I was running to fast when at the 3 mile marker I was under 30 minutes.  At least that was a new PR for me.  I just kept running.  I sort of had a goal in mind but did not want to commit to it because I wasn't sure if I was going to run with my friend or if the bridges would get the best of me.  This is about where Marcia ran into me, she said HI, and took off!  Who would think there is a hilly course in Florida, but it seems as I always seem to find them.  I sort of figured that besides the bridges, the course would be flat, I was wrong.  Rolling hills, lots of rolling hills.  I just kept treking on.  The course was beautiful when we went by the water and the houses, WOW!  I was consistently holing about a 10  min mile pace, give or take a few seconds.  I was very excited and was hoping not to crash!  Jamie's boyfriend spotted me, gave me a shout and gave me some extra motivation.  My stomach started to cramp and I got nervous.  I knew I just had about a 5k left.  I had a Powergel with me, I wish I would have taken it at about mile 6.5 because at mile  I started to burn out.  I knew I can maintain my pace till I got to the Hart Bridge.  I did just that.  I stopped twice during mile 7, once to get an orange from a spectator, the second to get some water.  You can see my pace dropped there.  Then it was the bridge!!!  I ran that bridge..or so I thought.  You would never know I was running, it looked like walking, felt like walking but the energy was running.  I promise, I was running.  Once to the top, I sprinted down.  I know I had to get in the last kick!  I saw that before I hit the bridge my pace was about a 10, after the bridge.. a little more!  I wanted it down, I was determined to get it down.

And there the finish line was!  I made it, and a shiny new PR!  The last and only time I ran a 15k my time was about 2:04.  I was out of shape!  I wasn't running.  I just said, OK, this is better than doing the Half.  So that is what I did.  This time I was training, and I used this as a training run for Irongirl.

There were certainly some pro's and cons about this race so I will just give you a few of them:

*I loved our names on our bibs!  It is great to hear people call your name out while your running.

*I did not like that there was no Gatorade or anything of that sort on the course.  After we started, it got hot and I think that would have really helped me the last few miles.  

*The line to get the medal at the end, a cluster mess

*Free post race bags of ice and massages

*A beautiful race shirt (I will have to post that) and it fits perfectly!

*hilly course, you tell me..good or bad?

*Great Crowd support!

And I almost forgot.  My official time was 1:35:11.  Just what my Garmin read! Perfect!

Before!

After

 After the race, Ryan got us flowers!  So sweet!  And we headed for a post celebratory lunch at a bar!  It truly was a great weekend with great friends!  I am so glad I was able to do this!

Post Race celebrations!

have you ever done this run?  What were your thoughts?

Did you go into a race and crushed your expectation?

Also, did you enter the lululemon and race entry giveaway yet?