Week one of {Half} Marathon Training...

Is in the books!!!!

So here are a few things I learned:

• When you plan to go for a run, don't forget any necessary equipment, or else you will have to power walk instead
• On that note, power walking is a valid way to spend 30 minutes of training because learning to walk faster is better than walking slower
• Its okay to admit to your running buddies that you had to power walk your first day of training because you forgot to change into your sports bra (see the first bullet point)
• Your husband will possibly lap you on your 3-miler. So, when we comes up behind you and speaks near your shoulder, don't freak out...too much
• After taking more than a month and a half off, expect to lose some speed
• If you cheer your running buddies on when they get started on their running journey, they will do the same for you when you take a month and a half off and are nervous about running again
• And lastly, don't take a month and a half off

Over all, it was a good week. I have some ground to regain, but I am up for the challenge. Plus, my most favorite running buddy is off the injured list. Happy to be running with you again, my dear:-)

Here is what's in store for Week 2:

Monday: Cross training = 30 minutes of kickboxing at 9Round Bentonville
Tuesday: 30 minute run
Wednesday: Cross Training at 9Round
Thursday: 30 minute run
Friday: Cross training at 9Round
Saturday: 4 miles
Sunday: OFF!!!

Wish us luck:-)
~KC

9 Rounds Anyone? Maybe a Half Marathon or Two?

Why hello there. Long time no see--er, read--something like that anyway:-) Let's see, what's happened since my last post? We got ready to move. I ran the Speedy Skunk Run, which was my first repeat race. I set a small PR on that course. We moved. I ran the Run For Vets run on the 4th of July. 4 miles on the 4th. Pretty cool. I did okay. Slower than I would have liked but I hadn't been training. So I'll take it. Oh and in there some where Joey had foot surgery, I began working from home and Kara made the Lincoln Junior High basketball team. Lots of big changes in a very short time.

As you may imagine, my running and general weight loss quest took a back seat to getting us all somewhat settled in. I have kept it up as much as I can, but its been very sporadic.

I'm one of those people who goes to the gym, sees rows upon rows of equipment and gets very overwhelmed. Then I end up getting a sub-standard workout because I have no clue what I'm doing. So Joey and I tried a program that gave us some direction, and I think it will be good but it wasn't a cardio workout. I know that I need more than cardio to lose weight. But there was almost no cardio and that wasn't helping me become a stronger runner. I'm not in great shape but I'm by no means in horrible shape. With this program, I would leave the gym feeling like I hadn't really gotten a workout.

Then a new place opened up. Its called 9Round -Bentonville. The first workout was free and we knew the owners, so we gave it a shot...

It was so much fun!!!! Its a kickboxing kind of thing but probably not what you think it is. They have nine stations set up. You stay at these stations for 3 minutes each. They vary from punching and kicking to jump roping to core work. My favorite is the kicking:-) After 3 minutes, you have a 30 second break. Except its an active break, which means you keep moving. What?!?! Yeah, not really a break, huh:-) The total workout takes 30 minutes. There are no set class times. You come in, get started and get your butt kicked (by the workout, not by people. Strictly no contact:-) while you kick butt. Joey's favorite is the speed bag, but I'm not very coordinated so I'm still working on that, lol.

The really cool thing is that the trainers are RIGHT THERE the WHOLE time. They encourage, check your form, encourage, give pointers and encourage some more. If modifications are needed, they help with that too.

We went to our second workout today and even though the equipment stayed the same, each circuit was different than it was yesterday. So it will keep us on our toes and not get boring. I'm excited about it and not just because I get to wear these beauties:

Cool, aren't they?

I leave that gym knowing that I just worked out. I pour sweat and my muscles get a workout. But my heart and lungs also get a workout and that's what I need to become a better runner.

Speaking of, Joey and I committed to, not one but two, half marathons in the next year. I actually committed to three but the third one is a trail run that I don't think I've told Joey about yet (its actually a 25k, sorry Dear:-). We will run the Fayetteville Half in December and the Bentonville Half in April. We start training for the first one on August 20th. I will be posting about our progress in both that and 9Round.

Wish us luck:-)

~KC

A Tale of Two {Totally Unrelated} Races

It is so hard to find time to blog! That's why, in one awesome post, you will hear of two totally unrelated races. Well maybe not totally unrelated. They were both in Oklahoma; they were both ran by Joey and myself; they were both fun; and they were both, well, races. Other than that, however, they were totally unrelated:-)

Race Number 1: St. Paddy's Day race in Poteau, OK --not on St Paddy's Day

On March 9th we attempted another family 5k. This was quite brave of us after the fiasco of the last one but what the heck. It was a smaller race and I checked and double checked that strollers were, indeed, allowed. And it was a daytime race, unlike that other one that still gives me nightmares. Still, I was nervous in the days preceding the race. The verdict? It was an absolute BLAST!!! The kids had fun. Strollers were really no problem. The race was well organized and most importantly the people were nice. Everyone in our family PR'd, Even Josiah, since I pushed the stroller slightly faster than last time:-) Joey, Kara, and Andrew all placed second in their age groups. We ran with three friends, all of whom placed first or second in their own age groups! Pretty successful little group:-)

So for your entertainment, here are some pictures:


The Chronics. Aren't we an awesome bunch:-)
*Note: Ignore how absolutely unflattering this picture is.

Kids love medals. What of it?!

The Victorious Runners!

Josiah testing my medal to see if its real gold.



Race Number 2: Snake Run in Tulsa, OK --on St. Paddy's Day, no snakes {whew}

I had been looking forward to this one for about six or seven months. Originally, it was going to be on my birthday (this Saturday!) but, alas, they changed it to March 17th. My madre watched the kiddos so that Joey and I could spend Saturday evening in Tulsa and not have to drive there early on Sunday morning. That was pretty awesome since we had not been on a trip by ourselves since before Josiah was born. 

 

Anyway, back to the race. The Snake Run is actually a trail race on top of Turkey Mountain in Tulsa. You have three hours to complete as many miles as you can. The only thing you HAVE to do is complete 4.2 and you get a nice, slightly disturbing medal.

 

I didn't sleep well the night before. I kept having disturbing dreams about not running the race and leaving Paula high and dry in Tulsa. (*note: Her husband was there with her so I don't know how we would have left her high and dry, but there you have it.)  Well, as it turned out, we very nearly missed the race because we decided that we knew exactly where we were going and ended up hiking (climbing may be more accurate) in the wrong direction (mainly of the uphill variety) for about a mile and a half or so, only to have to hike back to the beginning and drive to where we needed to be. Long story. Suffice it to say, we were a trio of fairly intelligent people and we nearly missed our race. No race route markings, no aid stations, and yet we kept going. Finally, I brilliantly pulled out my phone with its Google Maps app and we got some directions. I say 'brilliantly' very facetiously because I had the blasted thing the entire time and it had only then occurred to me to use it.

 

Not to worry though. We made it to our race with plenty of time to spare. Seven minutes to get your chip attached and your bib pinned is plenty of time. I was not a happy racer lining up at the starting line but I did it. And in that three hours, I completed 11 brutal, bone-jarring, tiring, excruciating, treacherous (that's only a slight exaggeration), fabulously fun miles. I tripped before the first mile and have a nice bruise to show for it. I turned my ankle before the fourth mile and kept going. By the 8th mile, I wanted to quit. I had already earned my medal. But I kept going because I wanted to get to mile nine. Then I talked myself into mile ten. I even successfully talked myself into mile eleven, even though I was in pain and my back hurt with every step I took. There was only three minutes left at that point so I knew I could stop and be satisfied that I had given it all I had.

 

I was sore and stiff almost immediately. I could barely change into clean clothes and shoes. But I felt a huge sense of accomplishment. I was sore the next day but it wasn't so bad. Paula and I were already discussing the next Snake Run. Yeah, I know, we're crazy, but I'm not sore anymore and I still have that sense of accomplishment. Totally worth it! So time for more pictures:

That's right. Snake Run = Snake Medal.
Scary, isn't it?

This was at the Trail Head that we erroneously took.
Appropriate don't you think?
*Note: Photo credit goes to this blog because I was too
tired to snap a picture and this one is good:-)

 

I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way!

Okay, so I'm not a Gaga fan at all. Not even a smidge, but even I have to admit that song is pretty catchy.

What a great week! Andrew and I started karate again Monday and it was awesome! I wasn't even as stiff as I thought I would be. And we remembered everything! Mostly, anyway. Both of us had a lot of fun.

Tuesday, we started a new Couch to 5k group at work. They totally kicked butt! I love seeing people go out and do things that they didn't think they could do. And I love seeing them get excited about the possibilities. Especially when one of them is my very good friend who is determined to be healthy. She has made some changes over the last six months that has definitely gotten her on the right track:-) I couldn't be more proud of her.

After we finished the C25k run, I decided to run a little longer. I mean the sun was shining and I was already warmed up, so I couldn't resist. I felt so good that, about a quarter of a mile in, I decided to do a mile test. This is something I do on occasion to see where I'm at on getting faster. I was pleasantly surprised that I was only 4 seconds slower than my current record! And I felt great! And that was running against a head wind for a large part of the distance. Seriously, I turned a corner and got smacked in the chest by the wind. Had I not had forward momentum at the time, it would have knocked me back a few steps.

My goal is to run an 8 minute mile by the end of the year. For some people, like Joey (cough, 6 minute mile, cough), that's kinda slow. But for me, that would be a huge improvement. My current mile record (as an adult, not as a pretty fast teenager:-) is 9:51. That's a considerable goal but I will try to attain it.

Today (Thursday), we ran the C25k again. We had even more join us! I was so excited and it was so fun:-) And, of course, they did awesome! I explained to them that the other runners that were running ahead of us were the very same people who balked at running for 60 seconds back in September. And now those runners are consistently running 2 and 3 miles with no problem. I'm not sure our newbies believed me when I told them they would reach that point if they stick with it. But they will. I know they will. I've experienced it myself, so I know they can.

After we were done, I decide to run a mile with Paula to see how long I could hang with her. HAHAHAHA! That was rather foolish and I only made it .60 miles. And I'm pretty sure she was holding back a bit. She's my running hero though, so I'm okay with that. I mean she recently got bit by a dog on her long run...AND KEPT GOING!!!!

All in all, it was a pretty good week. And Saturday, the family and I will be running a 5k together. Here's hoping it doesn't become the disaster the last family 5k became.

~KC

Sunshine, Blessed Sunshine

Wow! Its been two whole months since I posted anything. No Merry Christmas, no Happy New Year, not even a runniversary post {Yes, that's a word:-}. I don't even know where to begin with this post. Maybe I should start with the reason its been so long since I posted. Or at least what I strongly suspect is the reason.

I recently discovered that I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, or seasonal sadness. This is really weird for me because I really am a typically happy go lucky kinda girl. However, I haven't been lately. And I haven't been able to figure out why. I don't want to run, I don't want to go to G-Fit. I really don't want to do anything except sleep and eat junk food. Maybe I should back up and explain a little.

Last February I began to think I was losing my mind. I was irritable. I was sad. I was tired all the time. I didn't want to be around people. I was trying very hard to lose weight and I couldn't, which just made things worse. Sometimes I was angry for no reason. I started to think that I was possibly experiencing postpartum depression a few months too late. Then I realized that I had been feeling that way for a month or so but I had been faking my way through it. You know, the fake smile, the fake laugh, the random joking around to make others laugh, which is normal for me except my heart just wasn't in it. The 'I'm doing great! How about you?' That kind of thing. The faking it finally got to me and I couldn't fake it anymore.

But there was no way I was depressed! No way! I had a new baby and a great life with a wonderful family. Sure, it wasn't perfect. But what is? Plus, I didn't believe in depression. I mean really, life is what we make it. If you're sad, get over it. Stop complaining and do something about it. Right?!?!?!

Boy was I ever wrong. I want to take a second and apologize to anyone who has ever felt a sadness that they can't seem to kick. Its not necessarily something you can just 'get over'. Sometimes it can be so overwhelming that it makes you feel claustrophobic, even in open spaces.

But then I did get over it. Just a couple of weeks after I realized what was going on. Just like that, I was okay. Not sad anymore. Having fun. Truly laughing. So I forgot about it. But I have been feeling that way again. Its been building for a month or so. Same thing. I don't want to run, which I love to do. I go to work and I do my job well but I don't really want to be there. I don't really want to talk to my friends. I fulfill my calling as First Counselor in the Young Women Presidency at church but I don't really want to. Honestly, its only a sense of responsibility that has kept me doing all of those things. They have to be done. End of story. Good thing I have that sense I guess. And if I'm a bit snippier and shorter of temper, well, I'm allowed. My life is very busy and full of craziness. That can make a person irritable. {I should clarify that I have not, at any point, felt suicidal. Just apathetic and a bit lethargic.}

Then I made a comment to a friend/co-worker about needing some sunshine and being a creature of spring. He said his wife has seasonal sadness. I immediately thought, whoa, is there such a thing?! So of course, I Googled it. And lo and behold, it described me almost to a tee.  The lethargy. The apathy. The crazy craving of carbs in any form. The weight gain (even when I abstain from the carbs that I crave, which of course leads to NOT abstaining from the carbs I crave). The sadness that I can't explain. Then there is the not understanding why I feel this way that makes it all that much worse.

Wow, the winter makes me sad. I mean, yeah, I hate the winter. Really hate it. Its not awful in Arkansas because its usually fairly mild with a lot of sunny days and a few snowy/icy days mixed in. But there is also a lot of dreary days. I hate the winter. I love the sun. I need the sun. I was born two days after the vernal equinox. I am a child of the spring to my core. Did I mention that I hate the winter. But to realize that the winter affects me this way? That's a lot to fathom. Its not always been this way. I mean, I've always hated the winter, don't get me wrong, but last year was the very first time that I can say I felt legitimately depressed because of it.

It is nice, however, to know whats wrong with me. To have an understanding of WHY I feel the way I do. I think that will help me get through it. It also helps to have a supporting husband. Even though I'm sure I've yelled at him more than is absolutely necessary. Regardless, I should feel better in a few weeks anyway. In the mean time, I will go run, even when I really don't think I want to. I will go to my G-Fit classes, even when I really don't think I want to. And Andrew and I will start our Karate classes again tomorrow ( we only had to give it up because of time but Sensei changed the class time, so we can start again!) Because this will pass and the exercise is a natural anti-depressant. Yay for endorphins:-) And if I'm not as quick to laugh, or my smile seems a little shallow, that's okay because the sun will shine and soon I will feel like a new person. I will find myself again and the things that I love will make me happy again. I know this to be true. My faith assures me of this.

~KC

A Family 5k Outing: Awesome fun, turned this mother's worst nightmare.

Meet the Chronics ( my Husband's friend gave us that name and it kinda stuck).



Back Row from the Left: Summer, Me, Joseph
In a row by herself: Kara
Front Row from Left: Andrew, Josiah, Ally



The Idyllic Setting

The Garden of Lights Veterans 5K is an awesome idea! The race starts in the evening and winds through Honor Heights Park, Muskogee, OK. This park is decorated to the nines with Christmas lights and manger scenes. Its absolutely beautiful! We were excited to run this as a family, including our 15 month old, Josiah, in the jogging stroller. The kids were so excited to run with us and now they want to run with us even more, which is cool. Some friends also met us there and some of them ran the course as well.

Joey was running for time. Kara was running with a friend, and Summer is old enough that I felt safe letting her set her own pace. This was mainly because I knew that I would see her a few times during the course, even if she ran faster than me. Ally, Andrew, and of course, Josiah stayed with me. This was so awesome because it allowed me to not worry about time or speed. More importantly, it allowed me to see the beauty of the lights through their eyes. Their amazement affected me in ways I can't explain. Josiah sat quietly in his stroller taking in the sights. I wish I had a mirror or something attached so I could have seen his little face. Andrew and Ally kept up a running commentary: 'Oh look at that tree. Its beautiful!' and 'That blue star is the biggest. It must be Jesus' birthstar.' and my favorite (from Andrew) 'Mom why are the tops of my legs burning?' Hehehe:-)

Sounds like the perfect family holiday outing, right? Wrong...

Where Things go South

The finish line...there it is kids. Take off! Go, Go, GO! I'm right behind you...oh wait. No I'm not because the guy standing by the finish line refuses to let me cross. What?!?!?! It went something like this:
Guy: You can't cross the finish line with a stroller.
Me: Excuse me?
Guy: It will mess up their insurance.
Me, getting peeved: I specifically asked about strollers and was told, no problem.
Guy: You can't cross the finish line with a stroller. You can leave your baby here though like this dad did.
Me: {completely shocked to look down and see a baby in a stroller that I recognized from the race. His momma is going to be ticked at his daddy}
Some Random Woman: I will watch him for you. I have four kids. I will take care of him.
Me: {a more scathing look has never crossed my face} Good for you but I will not leave my baby with strangers. Have you not read the news lately?!?! (Side note: This was the DAY AFTER the Newtown, CT tragedy. My mom emotions were still completely raw and shocked from reading the news all day the day before.)
Guy: You are not crossing the finish line with a stroller.
Me: Fine, at least take my bib number so that I finished the race.
Woman across the line: I'm not taking that.
Guy: Go ahead and take it
Woman: {Rips it out of my hand}
Me: {Losing my cool for real} Look, You can get ticked off all you want but I specifically asked about strollers and was told they were fine.
Woman: Whatever {walks away}
{This is when I realize that the finish line doesn't end there. You have to walk down a little roped off lane. AND I CAN'T SEE ALLY AND ANDREW!!!!!!! There are 1500 runners plus their families. Hundreds of people are milling around and I CAN"T SEE MY KIDS!!!! And I knew Joey was back the other way.}
Me: {Now I've lost it for realsies and I am resisting to the urge to A) Punch someone in the face or B) Run over someone with the stroller.} I have to get to my kids!!!!!! They have already crossed the line!
Guy: Too bad, you can't cross the finish line with a stroller.
Me: {Seriously considering just going across the finish line. I mean what would they do? The only thing that kept me from it was the possibility of them tackling me and Josiah being left alone.} {Oh and by now I am so angry that I am crying because I have no other outlet for my rage...plus I'm terrified about my kids...I have never lost track of one of them in a crowd before. This is literally a nightmare for me. Of Epic Proportions.} You leave me having to choose between leaving my baby with a stranger and losing my 8 and 11 year old in a huge crowd! How can you do this?!?!
Guy: You can't cross the finish line with a stroller.
Me: {turning away and ripping my phone out of my arm band to call Joey} Joey!!!{in hysterics now} They won't let me cross the finish line and Ally and Andrew have already crossed it and I CAN'T SEE THEM!!!!
Joey: Stay right there. I will get them.
{The dad who left his baby, still wasn't back. He crossed the finish line well before I got there. I can only imagine that he had just as much trouble getting back across the finish line to his baby as I had getting across it to my kids.}

This whole episode really only took a few minutes but it was the longest few minutes of my life. Ally and Andrew did exactly what we taught them. They stayed together and stayed put. Joey had them in less than a minute. I had a full scale panic attack. I don't even have panic attacks. We walked the whole way back the van, loaded everybody in. I started driving and still I was shaking. I drove all the way home (and hour and a half) and still I was in full panic attack mode. I had to take sleeping pills just so I could calm down. I still cried most of the night and had nightmares about worst case scenarios. This was, hands down, the worst experience of my parenting life. I looked everywhere, on all the information about the race, and NO WHERE did it say that strollers were not allowed. No where. Not to mention that there were other strollers, some of which had already crossed the finish line. As fun as this run was, as good as the charity is, my family and I will most definitely never run it again. Ever. I can't even type this post without getting sweaty palms and fidgeting.

~KC

 

Of Miles and Milestones...and Determination...and Uberness

 

Miles...

According to my Nike+ GPS watch, I have ran over 200 miles since June 2nd 2012! Since I started running in February of 2012, I have ran over 300 miles. And I have loved every minute if it;-)

 

Milestones...

To go right along with my 200 miles, I am very close to weighing below 200 pounds for the first time since Josiah came along. That's a big milestone for me because I have been working really hard for it!

Determination...

This weekend, Joseph and I ran the Fayetteville 5k.

It was a very hilly, tough course. I had been terrified of it for a month.
We had to run up the hill next to Razorback Stadium then back down the other side for part of the course. I've been told by many people that this could accurately be called 'Hell Hill' or 'Hill of Torture'.  For those of you who have seen the stadium before, this picture that I took from the top of the hill might help you visualize what I'm talking about...

 I was honestly less worried about going up the hill than I was about tripping and rolling DOWN the hill! I'm one of those people who can trip walking across a smooth, flat surface...I'm even considered a klutz in some circles! So this was a very real concern for me. It turns out that I didn't have to worry. I was so terrified that the hills were no where near as bad as I imagined them to be. And I was determined to run the whole course, even the hills. Maybe even especially the hills. I was determined not to let them beat me. That determination paid off because not only did I run the entire race, but I set a shiny new PR...on a difficult course! By TWO WHOLE minutes!!!

 I was pretty excited. Maybe my success stemmed from giving this guy a high five as we started the race...

Whatever the reason, I came, I ran, I rocked! And so did my awesome husband who set his own race PR by over 3 minutes;-).

 

Uberness...

Now let me tell you a little about Uberness...Awesome Uberness even! My running friend Paula (check out her blog here, dont let the name fool you - she's fast!) ran the half marathon. Our race started after hers so we were able to see her off and even give her a cheer after her first mile. After we finished the 5k, I went to where I thought the course map showed she would come running back through and Joey went to the finish line so he would be ready to take her picture as she finished. I was sitting on the steps of a fraternity house wondering where all the spectators were. I decided to look at the map again. Oh NO!!!! I'm in the wrong spot!!! I had to go back up Hell Hill and over a block to see her coming through. And I knew she would be getting to that point really soon. So I hurried, although I didn't run again, ha! I got there just in time to see her come through the aid station between mile 8 and 9. She was making great time! I cheered:-) Now it was time to wait until she came through again. I wasn't worried though because I knew her time goal and she was ahead of schedule. So I waited and cheered some other runners on. This was a really fun experience! 

 

I started to get a little worried because it was taking her longer than I thought. Then I heard this little voice in my head, 'Kacey, run the last bit with her. You have to get back somehow and she may need you'. Just as I heard that, I saw her. I snapped a couple of pictures, grabbed my water bottle and caught up to her. She told me that she had hurt her knee at mile eight. But here she was, still running at a great pace. We chatted a little as we ran. Paula is neither a wimp nor a complainer but the pain in her voice was obvious. She really was hurt. But she was going to finish and only barely miss her goal time. And she was still going to set a PR! We reached the track and I left her to her well deserved victory lap all the while thinking that this friend of mine is awesome. Her determination has inspired me in many ways. She is truly Uber and I was honored to run that bit of her race with her.

 

~KC