Gettin’ Wild

Thank you so much for all your supportive comments on my thoughts about college and the Air Force. All and all, I am really leaning towards the Air Force. As soon as I have a day off from work, I am scheduling an appointment with a recruiter. Just like I think the Air Force isn’t for everyone, I don’t think college is for everyone either.

Let’s get down to business.

Yesterday was my second half marathon, but my first half marathon for a trail race. It was the Wildwood Trail Run. It was actually the same course as the Forest Park 20k I did so I was familiar with the path.

Since I knew it was the same course, I gave myself a goal of beating my previous time. My previous time was 1:36:41. In this case, the seconds matter because I PR by 18 seconds. I was rather disappointed that I didn’t at least do a minute better, but I realized that I started off way too fast. I was so wrapped up in the competition aspect that I didn’t even enjoy my surroundings. I was also so focused on pushing through my soreness from lifting weights the other day that I was afraid to slow down. I just kept pushing it. I felt super fast, but I don’t think I was going that quickly as I felt. It’s funny how that works.

Whatever, whatever.

My final time was 1:36:23.

I came in second place out of 167 people.

I was first in my age group and first woman.

Of course, I’m pleased with my results. Second place isn’t terrible even if it was out of 167 people. It was just one of those races that I wasn’t entirely pumped up for. I listened to some music before hand to get my fired up, but I was just so focused on picking people out from the crowd and telling myself I would beat them.

In actuality, I was a mixed bag of emotions Saturday morning. I was panicky, thrilled, and apprehensive all at once.

               

In the end though, I got my medal and I did set a new record for women on the course for the half marathon. Holla at your girl.

Just adding it to my collection.

That wasn’t a boast or anything.

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My appetite is slowly coming back. I somewhat did an experiment that Racing Weight recommended, which I will have a review of soon. In the past two days, I have been starving constantly hence eating sweet onion rings from Burgerville at ten at night. 

Have I stepped on the scale? Yeah…

I’m just telling myself it’s muscle. I mean, it really should be. My pants fit the same.

Who cares? I shouldn’t.

Whatever. Moving on to my new obsession:
So good and it says it helps skin, nails, and hair. I need that. Desperately.

In other news, here’s my week in review first starting with eats:

 Tamales w/ eggplant (good mix I know)
Dinner @ work. Tofu + snap peas + swiss chard + tuna casserole

Dinner @ work again. Tuna + asparagus + rice + potato ball of cheese

Workout review of 25th – 31st:

Monday: 10.01 miles @ 6:42 average pace (hills)
Tuesday: 9.06 miles @ 6:53 average pace
Wednesday: 7.46 miles @ 7:03 average pace (easy run)
Thursday: 10.21 miles @ 6:49 average pace (longer than expected. I got lost.)
Friday: Easy day of upper body weights
Saturday: Race! 13.1 miles @ 6:59 average pace
Sunday: Weights and spin class

Total Mileage: 49.93

I failed at upping my mileage once again. I just want to be in the 50‘s. I’m almost there. I either need to get speedier or go longer. I’ll aim for both.

Enjoy August!

By the way, just out of curiosity, how many of you would enjoy book reviews on normal books? By normal books I mean books not associated with running.

“Second place is not a defeat. It is a stimulation to get better. It makes you even more determined.” - Carlos Lopes

Tears of Joy

I’m so happy! My 20k trail race went so well.  Let it roll…

The night before:

• Shave legs – check
• Fix eyebrows – check
• Core exercises – check
• Eat carbs – check
• Eat more carbs in the form of bread pudding – check
• Go to bed at ten – check 

I woke up around 6:15, got dressed, ate a banana with peanut butter, drunk water, had tea, and then left for the race. I arrived at  the starting point around 7:20 to pick up my bib number. Since it was a trail race, it was small and not a lot of people. There was a 20k and a 50k. Several young guys were in the 50k and they were hella cute. While I was checking them out, I noticed the 17-year-old girl who was the youngest at the race watching me. Uh, take a picture why don’t you?

I made a friend too. Well, she wouldn’t stop talking to me, but she was super nice. She told me to listen to music while running because it’s better and I said I don’t like to. She literally kept pushing the issue. Anyway…

My mom waited with me until the start at 8:30 and everyone started together. I just made sure I was at the front because I knew once we got on the trail, it would be narrow and difficult to pass. Not too difficult though since I passed several people. Mostly men.

Once you got to the 6 mile mark there was an aid station then you just turned around and repeated your distance. I knew I was in the front to some point because I only saw four people go back down on the path. Getting to the aid station, which you had to go to, was tough. It was just a giant incline and was definitely over six miles. I grabbed a water and just sprinted back down.

It was  basically downhill from there and on the way back I yelled “good job/nice/keep it up!” to everyone I passed. It felt great. My knee didn’t hurt at all. I was so nervous since it was rocky.

When I was going back down on like mile seven or something, I saw the 17 year old coming up still. Her coach said, “Don’t worry. You can still pass her.” Bitch, no. I took off even faster and sang some Lady Gaga aloud.

If you don’t know already, when I race I sing aloud when I have the urge to. If I have a song in my head that is the boom boom pow, I will sing.

Too make this story short and sweet, when I saw the finish I basically started crying tears of joy since I was so happy. My mom did too. I was so thrilled.

I came in at 1 hour and 36 minutes. I was 6th place overall and 1st woman. 

I won these:

I haven’t tried them yet. My mom broke them open though and ate some or three.

Here’s my swaga:
First place finisher

What’s next? Well, I am so glad you asked. How nice of you. I am going to run the Foot Traffic Flat Half Marathon on the 4th of July.

It will be my first half marathon. Technically, today’s race was 13.30 miles so that was like a half marathon with difficult terrain, but I am off topic now. I hope to also do the Wildwood Trail Run half marathon on July 30th, but I am going to see how much money I have left after I buy True Blood season 3 on Tuesday.

I am tonight. Tomorrow will be spent at the gym then I need to write my essay for English. Kill me, why don’t cha? I don’t want to write anything.

Happy Memorial Day!

Of course some honorable eats:

Do you have an unusual race rituals?
- I shave my legs since I normally don’t shave them anyway for like a week. What can I say? I went to an all girl school for four years.

We should be friends on Facebook. Tell me who you are if you add me though.

I’m Ready, I’m Ready

Tomorrow is the big 20k trail race! I have to say, mentally I am ready. Physically, I feel rather well. I did an easy 6 mile run this morning and 45 minutes of weights. Nothing too crazy.

I did discover what F-ed up my knee: my Green Silence shoes. I know, right? The first few times I wore them, they felt great and then one day I was running and my knee just went out. Lately, I have been wearing a pair of super old Nikes that have probably 300+ miles on them. That’s a rough estimate. When wearing them, my knee doesn’t act up. It pisses me off really, but I’m just  glad I figured it out; that it’s not entirely me that screwed up, it was my shoes. Great.

Anyway, about the Forest Park 20k Race.

I’ll be running the pink path.
It’s out and back for the 20k racers. I am so excited. My mom is like, “So, what time does it start so I know when you are going to ruin my day?”  Gee, thanks. She did this last time too. She acts like my running is the biggest inconvenience ever.

I was just looking at the racers who entered and I am pretty sure I am the second youngest. That’s intimidating actually. Then, there is some guy coming from Japan. I’m starting to feel butterflies. I just hope that it isn’t to grueling since I have not been able to train like I wanted to due to lamesauce injuries. Whateva, whateva.

By the way, NO MORE SCHOOL! I’M A FREE WOMAN…

… after Tuesday when I have my final exam. I only have to take two exams and one is just a take home essay. I graduate officially on June 4th.

Shout to Hollie since she is running a 10k!

Anyway, if you have advice, wisdom, hopeful messages for my race, I’d love to hear them. I need some pick me ups and some killer music. Pump it!

Honorable eats:

Smoked tofu w/ veggies and humus 

Baby shrimp, cream cheese, avacado, green onion crepe from Pudding on the Rice 

French Lentil soup from Portland Soup Co. 
Hand Made Mozzerella Sandwich w/ dried Tomatoes, Arugula, Red Onions, Citrus Vinaigrette, + Virgin Rosemary Aioli from Portland Soup Co. 

Are you racing this weekend?

How was your weekend overall?