Let’s Catch Up

What’s crackin’?

Thank you for all the amazing compliments and words on my half marathon. You guys really know how to make a girl feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I’m glad today I have a day off from work today. I missed the blogging world. I’m finally caught up on reading and commenting my favorite blogs so that’s a load off my back. If only I would put the same amount of effort into doing college tests before my orientation next week. College… pshhh. Who needs it?

I’ll be honest, you guys didn’t miss much of my exciting life of running and work.

Monday: Race

Tuesday: I should have just done the elliptical this day because I felt awful as in sick. I’ll save you the details. On my run, I had side aches so I stopped to breathe. Breathing… you know, you need it. Then at the end of my run, my stomach was like, “Find a bathroom.” Yeah, I know that is TMI. It’s true. It happens.

I was also running in new shoes. I returned my Green Silence shoes since they effed up my knee and I tried on these:

They felt fine on and then when I ran in them, they just felt chunky. I told myself not to go back to Nike shoes and I did. I returned them anyway. Might as well stick with my Adidas. They seem to work. My foot issue has been dwindling.

Wednesday: I made this a hill day. I love hills. Bring them on.

Thursday: I wasn’t sure what I was up for. I just know I wanted to add sprints to my run. It’s easier to add sprints to a run than do a track workout. I loathe the track. The track makes me feel like a hamster just running around in circles.

I guess my sprints weren’t that quick though. I was rather tired. My legs were dead. Don’t even say it because I know I should have given my legs a rest this week, but I was such in a running high. Despite my sprints being more like ‘run faster so you can get home quicker‘ type sprint, I was breathing hard and I was super sweaty. That just means I need to do more sprints and quick runs! Dur.

Friday: Today I was like, “Legs, I’ll give you a break.” I went on the elliptical for a while and watched

Nothing like becoming inspired to ride a bike. Can woman race in the tour?

I also went to this class called RIPPED. Today we went outside to the track (I just can’t avoid the track, can I?) and the workout looked like this:

- Warm up lap
- 15 reps of leg back lunge, military press with one leg balanced, squats with lifting weight in front, abs, and single arm row with one leg balanced.
- Run another lap then repeat 5x

I got sweaty even though I was only lifting a 15-pound barbell. Since the weight was lighter than what I normally would do, I just went deeper in my squats and lunges. My chest is actually hurting from the military press. Cray cray.

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Well, I finally gave in and ordered The New Rules of Lifting for Women.

It’s just taking forever to get here! I don’t know about you, but when I am expecting a magazine (ahem Oxygen) or books in the mail, I want them pronto. Every day when the mail carrier comes, I run out to the mailbox in my compression socks (holla I just bought some) and sandals and rip through the mail. My brother gets more mail than I do and he doesn’t even live at our house.

I was thinking of ordering this book:

I was also thinking of this book:

When I was talking to a woman ultra runner, she recommended his book.

Any reviews/thoughts? Should I go for it?

It’s nice having money in my pocket except I’m frugal and don’t want to buy anything like dinner. Since I work until 9 PM, I have to get dinner out.

Last night I had the best burrito. Well, it was hot and I loved it. It was from Laughing Planet Cafe and on it was: organic brown rice, black beans, sweet potato, fresh spinach, jicama, jerk sauce, and pico de gallo.

It hit the spot.

On Wednesday, I went to a crepe food cart by my work to order roasted sweet yam crepe with (clearly) sweet yam, apple, zucchini, squash, red onion, and agave nectar.

It was just alright.

More honorable eats:

Dinner before the race was a veggie calzone

Tofu + chickpeas + green peas +kale

I got to hit the hay early tonight. Work calls at 6 AM. Booo.

Enjoy your work free weekend!

Questions for you:
- Did I miss anything exciting when I was busy doing my thang?
- Is it difficult for you to spend money?
Oh, random fact of the day. What do Emma Watson and I have in common? We both are gorgeous and know how to dress. We have the same sports bra. Shout to Emma! Holla girl. Getting sport bras at Victoria’s Secret is where it is at.

“To a runner, a side stich is like a car alarm. It signifies something is wrong, but you ignore it until it goes away.”

Push It

Howdy! Should I just skip the chit-chat and get right into details?

Before I talk about the Foot Traffic Flat Half Marathon, guess who I saw today? I was running back to the gym and right by my gym is Duniway Track where Kara Goucher was running laps… like hella fast. She was wearing a sports bra and spandex and she has abs of steel. Oh my god. You could see the outline of her abs.

Anyway, the race! 

Before the race: I woke up at five, got dressed, rolled out my foot, and stood in my room debating on whether or not I should make my bed. I didn’t. I had some water with my vitamins before I left along with a banana and peanut butter. I’m one of those people who can eat before a run, but I cannot eat before a race. There’s a difference. My nerves take over.

We (my parents and I) had to leave the house early since it takes about 30 minutes to get to Sauvie Island. It’s just right outside of the city center of Portland. In the car I listened to pumpin’ music and read Runner’s World. Nothing like Pink and running magazines to get you motivated just to run.

Half way there, the traffic got bad. There’s only one way to the island so of course everyone and their brother is there. The race itself started at 6:45 and we had like thirty minutes to get there once we were on the bridge to the island. Yeah… that took forever. By the time we got across the bridge and a bit further, we had like fifteen minutes until the start of the half marathon. Needless to say, I was starting to freak out. I had to pee so badly too and you know at races… the porter potty line is as long as the line for the food.

We actually got to the start of the race area in time with like fifteen minuets to spare. While I was standing in line at the bathroom, guess who just comes up to me? The girl from the my cross-country team. I know, right? She’s like, “Hey! I’m just going to cut in front of everyone to go to the bathroom too, but I’ll pretend like we’re best friends so no one cares.” Obviously she didn’t say that, but that’s what happened. I didn’t even want to talk to her. Whatever. I wished her well afterwards and walked to the start. 

The race:

The race course was great! By the name of the race, it was obviously flat, but there was a lot of wind. The sun was out and it was just cool out. I loved it. The scenery was beautiful. I passed cows, horses, cornfields, cute firefighters, etc.

My first minute mile was 7:07. I am never one to get out fast. I don’t do it naturally. I just go at my own pace and eventually build up. I’d rather pass people (which I did) than have people pass me. People wouldn’t want to pass me anyway. I’m insane and I sing out loud. I also said, “Awwww” every time I passed an animal. Good thing there weren’t any cats. I stop when I see cats and pet them. Seriously. I’m a crazy cat lady.

Anyway, my average pace was 6:33. 

I really just tried to push it the whole time. I wasn’t hurting besides like once or twice. My foot was just annoying. It wasn’t painful. Besides, I have been waking up with less foot pain everyday. I can actually get out of bed without falling to the floor.

But I am getting off topic. I really need to work on speed during my regular runs.

During the race, I just pushed it nonstop.

So attractive. I have one leg. You guys didn’t know that?

I didn’t want to slow down, especially after I heard I was in sixth place for the women and that’s when I was literally running side by side with another woman. I had to pass her, so I did.

The rest of the race was just me and myself, running pass men. I would tell them good job or keep it up, man.

I knew I was getting closer to the finish since there were more people and then I saw the end. I just started sprinting, passing men as I went. I wanted it so badly. When I sprint hardcore, I start yelling. I just let out grunts. i didn’t give a shit. I’m strange. I know it.

I suck at recaps so I’m just going to get to the dirty…

My final time was 1:24. 

I was first in my age group.

I was fifth woman overall. 

I came in 45th place out of 1641. 

Sometimes I think to myself that I want to one day be an elite runner and run races hardcore all out with my little spandex on.

I want to train for the Olympics. I love running both for the recreation aspect and the competition. I love racing. I love that after I cross the finish line, I feel like death in a good way. I love that after a race, people come up to me and tell me how great I raced. Then they find out my age and walk away because they realized they just got owned by an 18 year old.

The only time I feel confident in myself is after I cross that finish line. I feel good about myself. I know I tried my best.

This was an amazing race. I don’t even want to know how I would handle myself with an awful race. I know that day will come though.

Until then, enjoy sweaty photos of me.

These were my dad’s photography skills. I was looking at the photos he took since he said he got some of me crossing the finish line and there was an actual photo of a pole. Then there photos of random people sitting. Thanks, Pop.

An actual photographer’s skills:

“Everyone in life is looking for a certain rush. Racing is where I get mine.” – John Trautmann 

Nobody said it would be easy, they just said it would be worth it.

I know it was only a half marathon. It’s not like I ran an ultra or even a marathon, but this race was just the little UMPFFF I needed to fall in love with running again.

Pump It Up

My Saturday has so far looked like this:

• Wake up at seven and lay in bed while the alarm goes off for a few minutes
• Eat breakfast/ice foot
• Clean the downstairs of my house
• Go to the gym for spin class and elliptical (my foot was feeling not so peachy keen)
• Come home, eat lunch
• Leave to get nails done – painted blue for my 4th of July race
• Get eyebrows waxed
• Tan
• Shower at 2:30 ish
• Eat some more

I haven’t had my nails done in months. It felt so nice. I got my feet done too and I was ready to fall asleep. I couldn’t forget my eyebrows though. It’s like tradition for me to get my eyebrows done before a race. That extra hair will slow me down, folks.

That reminds me…

My half marathon is in two days! Oh my goodness. It’s going to be my first half marathon that I’m racing.

I already picked up my bib number

and t-shirt.

I got skills. 

While I was at Fit Right NW getting my racing gear, I got a half marathon tee.

I’m not that pale. It’s called my camera likes to make me look like a vamp.

I feel prepared for my half marathon. Mentally, I am pumped. I feel like kicking some ass. Just hopefully my foot is on board also.

Physically, I know I can run 13.1 miles. I know I could win a bread pudding contest too, but I’m getting off topic. Physically, I’m ready if my foot is too. I’m just pumped up! I got some new Nike tempo shorts and a matching neon shirt. I’ll be sure to take photos.

In addition, there is this girl from my cross-country team that pisses me off to no end and she too is running the half marathon. I’ll be the first to admit that I am one for hardcore competition. Little does she know, it’s a race for me to beat her… and the 2,000 other runners. 

Tomorrow I am still unsure on how much I should run; if I should at all. I know on half marathon training programs they say do not run at all, but if I don’t do some sort of movement, the next day my legs feel heavy. Should I do like four easy miles or less than that?

Overall, tomorrow will be a rather restful day after I get home from work. It’s my mom’s birthday! She’s turning, like, 30. My dad is going to be home too (he’ll be here for my race. Yes!) and we are – I think – going to one of my favorite Italian restaurant. It’s called Jopa and they have a veggie calzone the size of my head. Not kidding. Cheese just melting out and sauce oozing. Get in my belly.

If anyone else has a race this 4th of July weekend, I wish you the best.

Run hard. Run fast.

Trip some people up if you have to. Who said runners can’t be violent?

Also, if any runner has a race this weekend or coming up, here are tips to make sure you run your best race:

The Day Before the Race:
• Rest your legs. If you go to the expo, try to go early and not spend hours walking around.
• Drink plenty of water all day.
• Lay out your race-day clothing

Race Day:
• Keep to your eating routine. If you usually eat before a long run, do it. If not, remember that the time between getting up and starting the race is at least two hours, not the half-hour or 45 minutes it is for a training run.
• Arrive with enough time.
• Get in line for the portable toilets right away.

 Any more tips for running a race – half marathon or not?

 

 

“If one could run without getting tired I don’t think one would often want to do anything else.” 
- C.S. Lewis

No Hatin’

Hiya! Before I even start this post, I want to be a Negative Nancy opposed to my Positive Polly self. Well, I just want to voice my opinion for a moment so call me Voicing Victor. (??) Alrighty. Too many names.

The reason I don’t do WIAW is because I don’t want your comments on what I eat even if it is enough for everything that I do. I don’t want to read “you eat too much of that” or “no wonder why you’re hungry all the time” type of comments.

I should have known by posting my review of workouts this week that I would get shit. “Oh, you do so much. You are wasting your life. Take a rest. You need rest.”  First of all, who said I was working out all hardcore on the elliptical after my runs? It’s how I cool down. Who said I am even pushing myself to oblivion on my runs? Blogs are one dimensional. What I do and what I post can be two very different things.

As for rest, I take rest days when I know I need them. I understand athletes take rest days, but not all of them take them every week. They take them when they feel they need it or they take active rest days. 

If my workouts, what I eat, or how I post celebrity workouts bothers you, then whatever.

Yes, I said it. The end. 

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So, on Monday I successfully did a long run with my friend on the trails. We did approximately 11 miles.  I think my Garmin lost a signal at one point so it may be 12. Let’s just say 11. It was slow though. I’m not saying this to beep my own horn, but I was faster than my friend and she told me to go ahead. So I did then I would wait for her. I felt bad. I hate when you run with someone and you really have to slow down your pace.

But it was nice to run with someone. Besides, I love the trails. I could be on them all day. Holla for 11 miles!

That’s obviously how I run.

I had to refuel somehow and I wasn’t going to pay six dollars at Whole Food’s juice bar for a smoothie.

 Veggie pizza

Baskin Robin’s baseball nut and Reese’s ice cream

Seeing that I did 11 miles on Monday, Tuesday I just stuck to the elliptical and a strength & conditioning class.  My foot was feeling iffy. It doesn’t hurt, but it just doesn’t feel like my left foot. Perhaps it’s still getting used to running. I don’t know. As long as I don’t feel pain, I’m fine. No pain.

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I had work today at 7 AM, which meant I had a 5:30 wake up call. I don’t know how I took a shower and got dressed in under 20 minutes, but I did. Oh wait. I don’t shave my legs nor do I layer on makeup so that explains it.

Work has been going very well lately. I talked to the boss about working in the afternoons and it seems like they are looking into it. Also, I get to work immediately after my half marathon on Monday. Work it, girl. 

It may have not been the best idea to run 11.41 miles today. I didn’t plan it. I just kept going and I wasn’t thinking about anything. You ever have those runs when your mind is clear and you just listen to the sound of your breathing? That’s what happened so I kept going.

I did stop at New Seasons Market to pee and eat their free samples. Duh.

I don’t know why, but my half marathon that’s in like three days keeps slipping my mind. It’s not real to me yet. Not that running a half marathon is the big deal, but racing one… that’s getting to me. I’m such a perfectionist that it is making me nervous. What if I do not do that well? What if my foot gives out finally? Ahhh.

Remember when I said I see a marathon in the future? Well, I filled out form because I am interested in this one:

I love Tosh.0. I even saw Daniel Tosh live.

If you don’t know, I am a huge comedy fan. There was a time when I wanted to be a comedian. I would still like to be a comedian, but… I’m not  funny.

I could be a model though. I mean, look at me. I have so much in common with Jillian Michaels and Audrina Patridge.

Time for honorable eats: 

Questions:
- Do you run the day before a race?
- Who is your favorite comedian? 

Stronger, Faster, Quicker

I made myself wake up before six AM this morning to get in an hour run before work (weight lifting followed after work). Going on the run wasn’t the hard part. It was so beautiful out. The birds were chirping, the sun was out, and it was just generally peaceful. I was really enjoying my surroundings.

I guess I was enjoying them too much.

 I’m not fishing for compliments here or any ‘woe is me’ comments. This might as well be considered a jog.

I want to go back to these days. 

I know, I know. After coming back to running after not running for days, weeks, and months in a row, I shouldn’t be too concerned. I am though. I’m allowed to be.

Perhaps I should lay off the bread pudding. Yeah, it’s like the size of Shaq’s fist.

Whatever, whatever.

If my first Foot Traffic Flat half marathon isn’t amazing, then I always have

…the Wildwood Trail Run race. I signed up for another trail run. This time it is a half marathon. It’s July 30th and I finally signed up because I requested a discount for being ‘youth’. I got seven bucks off! Holla.

I think my double digit run tomorrow after work with my friend will be great practice.

Speaking of work, my boss has me working morning shifts all next week. I am pretty positive that I told him I cannot work mornings before I even got the job. I don’t know how to confront him since it’s my first job and I just started it. Any ideas? 

Recap of this week workout wise:

Monday: Ran 5.46 miles in 38 minutes + a random cardio/weight/Plyometric based class at my gym (~48 minutes) + 20 minute trail run
Tuesday: Ran ?? miles in 45 minutes or so followed by the elliptical.
Wednesday: Ran 7.19 miles in 52 minutes followed by the elliptical and water aerobics
Thursday: Ran 8.81 miles in one hour followed by the elliptical
Friday: Ran 8.61 miles in 1:01 then did some weights and the elliptical
Saturday:  1 hour spin class followed by the elliptical
Sunday: Ran 8.49 miles in 1:02 + 50 minutes of weights

Total mileage:  Approximately 45ish. I just forgot my Garmin on Tuesday. Well, I had it, but I forgot to press start after I stopped.

Thanks, Justin.

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I have not done honorable eats in awhile. What’s wrong with me? It’s tradition.

Honorable eats:

Crab cakes + noodles + mushrooms + yellow squash
Indian salad
Tomato + goat cheese galette  w/ Brussels sprouts x 1981651
Strawberry Napoleon  

Questions for you:

- How do you gain running speed?
- What’s your favorite dessert? Bread pudding. Hands down. I learned how to make it at my job today.

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.