Racing for a Cure

I've participated in the Lowcountry Race for the Cure every year since I've moved to the Charleston area. I love doing this race, (1) because it's for a good cause, and being a woman who will hopefully not have to deal with breast cancer, I'm glad to know there's a foundation out there trying to find a cure and raise awareness. (2) it's on Daniel Island. The homes and scenery are beautiful.

Ricky ran with me this year and we are happy to say that we are both stoked with our running times. I beat my intended goal, which was 25:45. I ran it in 25.35 and Ricky's time was 27:58! This time last year I ran it in like 30 minutes or something and that was right after I had Sophie. So I'm proud of my progress this past year, a 5 minute time difference!

Next race for me is the James Island Connector Run 10k November 6th. It will be my first time running this race. Looking forward to it!

After Kiawah, I've decided to sign up for the Riverfront Race Festival 1/2 Marathon in January. I'm not sure if I'm going to like running the half, but I can always transfer my bib to the 10k race, I just lose out on the money. BUT I'm ambitious so I'm going to go for it. I think.... still up in the air about it. I can't decide so I'll just think about it more.

At the starting line. Ricky and I are there somewhere in the crowd.

Sophie update: 16 months old!

What a talker this girl is! She doesn't make a whole lot of sense right now, but she's working on it. She can say bye bye clear as day. She's trying to say Wylie, but not Zoe so much. Boy she loves her doggies that's for sure! She no longer wants to be rocked to sleep, she points to her crib and goes down without a fuss. Most nights.

She loves to be read to and loves to read to us! Again, makes no sense but the fact that she tries to talk and turns the pages like she's actually reading is pretty darn cool. When she's sitting in her chair and wants down we've taught her to point down. We try to get her to say "down please" but she's working on it. At least she knows to point and let us know that much. Her most favorite thing in the whole world is to PLAY OUTSIDE! She LOVES it and wants to be outside pretty much all the time. Makes sense, she's stuck in daycare all day long. We try to accomodate her demands as much as possible. She even brings us our shoes!

Here is a picture of my sweet little girl, trying to climb up some stairs. She doesn't stay still long enough for me to get a decent picture anymore. 

My Own Thoughts About Running

A few people here and there really can't understand why I like to run, what motivates me to run, how I can run 10 miles, or why I signed up for a half marathon. The one I get the most is how in the heck I can get up at 4:00 am to go to the gym.

First I just want to clarify that I am not the world's best runner nor do I want to be. Honestly I have never really enjoyed running (until now). 

I have run in the occasional race since I've lived in Charleston. But since Sophie was born this was my own personal mission to lose the baby weight and get back into shape....fast! Let me tell you it's worked. It was very hard to get running at first, mainly because I was breastfeeding and my boobs were as big as melons (sorry but they were). When that was all said and done I really buckled down. What really helped was seeing the scale numbers go down!

I like (or don't like) to looks at pictures of me right after I had Sophie. I gained like 45 pounds and my face got so fat!! I feel a sense of accomplishment that I've been able to shed the weight and get fit. I weigh less than I did before I got pregnant. Gaining that weight really put things into perspective. I can't eat whatever I want to anymore and when it's time for baby no. 2  I hope to do things differently and not gain as much weight. Although a lot of what I gained the last few months was water weight. I swelled so bad!!

1 week after Sophie was born, June 2009. I probably weighed about 150 or so

September 2010 - weight 120

Secondly I like seeing my time improve after each race. Whether it's a 5k or 10k I want to beat my time each time I run so that requires more running with speed intervals and running at a faster pace. Treadmill is good for this because I know what my pace time is, but I like running on the road better. Like I said I'm far from the best runner in the world but I like to be competitive with myself. 

Music is the next thing that keeps my going. If I have no music I don't run! I don't know how people can keep the focus without music but this is one of the ONLY ways I personally can stay focused and forget about the mileage. I would get so bored!! Especially on the treadmill! I like a lot of alternative rock, won't find any rap on my iPod, just not my thing.

How in the world do I manage to go to the gym at 4 in the morning? Well let me just say I don't do this every morning, 3 days a week is average and it's really not that hard. Easy for me to say but I'm used to doing it. The hardest part is getting out of bed. I LOVE working out in the morning. 

1- it's not that crowded so I can do anything that I need to do

2 - it truly does give me more energy throughout the day. Although I admit I go to bed early. 

Training for the half marathon was something I set out to do this year turning 30 and all. I'm in the best shape I've been in a while. It's been a difficult challenge doing this and having a toddler, working. Sophie gets sick and it sets me back a little, life happens, I get sick, etc. I hope I like running it because I plan on doing another one in January. 

After my 10 mile run this past weekend I feel more confident than I did a month ago so that's progress. Not sure if a Marathon is in my future but I'm not ruling it out. If I can make it 13.1 who's to say I can't do 26.2. Hmmm.... then again do I even want to do 26.2? 

2 Months to Go and 10 Miles Down

Officially 2 months until my first half marathon. I often wonder what in the world possessed me to enter a 13.1 mile race? Can I really run 13.1 miles (2 hours or so) of straight running? Because I won't walk, I'll make myself run the entire distance otherwise why even bother?

I am proud to say that I got to the 10 mile goal this past weekend! I ran on this trail in Summerville, I think it's about 10 miles long from start to finish. A lot of people bike ride, run and walk. It was the perfect morning too. Wasn't too hot or too cold, slight breeze. I ran to the 5 mile marker and then turned around. I ran the entire distance in 1 hour and 38 minutes. That's about a 9:51 pace time, a little slow for me, but I wasn't trying to break a speed records here, just wanted to cover the distance.

So my confidence is up! This weekend I have the Lowcountry Race for the Cure on Daniel Island. I do this run every year. It's only a 5k but I'd like to run it in under 26 minutes. Then on Sunday I will be going to 11 miles!!

Sophie update: Sophie has mastered saying "bye bye." She likes to stand in her nursery, close the gate, and wave and say "bye bye." She has the cutest little voice! Now we're just trying to get her to say other things. Please and Thank You are on the list. She also likes to "read" us stories, in Sophie language. Hey, the fact that she loves books and wants to read is fine by me.

We've both been under the weather a tad this past week. Both had colds and then her's developed into a little sinus infection. To top it all off, she's cutting all 4 of her canine teeth! Poor girl. She's a trooper!.

Best Weekend, Best Husband Ever

I just want to say that I had the best weekend that I've had in a really long time.

Friday evening Sophie went to spend the night at her Gigi and Poppy's house so Ricky and I could wake up early Saturday morning for the IOP Connector Run (Isle of Palms).

So we ran the race, which was pretty awesome. The weather was perfect, the scenery was pretty, my time was better than my previous 10k! My time was 57:23 and Ricky's 5k time was 31:25. It's a pretty tough race, you go up and over the IOP Connector (connects Isle of Palms to Mt. Pleasant), the 5k runners turn around once they get over. The 10k runners continue on down and then loop around somewhere in Mt. Pleasant to come back. The tough part is you feel this sense of accomplishment getting over the darn thing and then you realize you have go over it again! The last part is tough but once you get over you get a nice clear view of the Atlantic Ocean and it makes you just.....want to hurry up and get it over with :).

So after the race we, upon my request, we stopped by Home Depot to get a few things for some projects that we're going to be doing.

We finish up and head home so that Sophie and Gigi can meet us there. I walk in the house and see my crazy pups outside and then I notice there's an extra dog, a black dog, standing among my heathens. I realize, that's my sister's dog, May. I turn the corner and....

There's my family!! What a surprise!! I had no idea they were coming. So Ricky informs me that we're going to be having a cookout/Oyster Roast in celebration of my turning 30. What a guy that Ricky! It gets better, he got a cake from the same lady who did Sophie's cake. It was awesome (I have a picture but haven't downloaded it yet). He got balloons and then people started showing up to my surprise. My in-laws, Maegan, Doug, and Addison. My co-worker Kim and her family, my very good friend Pam! Phillip, Rachael, and Kinsey..... Total surprise and much excitement. My mom, sister, and brother did a ton of food, there was wine. It was a great way to spend my birthday. The best part of it all, I had no idea anyone was planning anything. Had I known all these people were coming I would have cleaned :) and not gone by Home Depot :)

I have such an awesome husband. Ricky went through a lot of time and effort to make me feel special. I love him so much! Thanks to everyone who came and celebrated!

So here are a few picture of the IOP race. These are from 2009, which I did not participate. In fact this is my first time running this race.

Going up!

View of the marsh from the connector

Coming down - almost to the finish!