The Long Run that Wasn't

I'm running my 6th half marathon in just under a month and "training" did not start off very well this past weekend.

All I can say is sangria is evil. It goes down way too easily and before I knew it most of the bottle was gone! I blame the 80 degrees and friends over for a cookout.

Me, Jill and Rachael - mom's of girls = sangria and lots of it :)

Kinsey, Kendall and my girl Sophie - best friends!

We grilled out for St. Patty's Day and invited our good friends over for an afternoon of letting the girls run around together. As I mentioned I had about 1 - 4 glasses too many of sangria and I felt like going to bed at 8:00.

Then I woke up in the middle of the night dehydrated and didn't sleep well so when it was time to wake up and get my run on, I laid on the couch for several hours instead, drinking water and hoping my motivation would come.

It didn't really and by that time it was sunny and 70 out so I knew it would be miserable. My mother in law wanted to take Sophie for a few hours so Ricky and I do what any normal married couple would do when their kid is gone for a few hours. We went to the gym together - something we haven't gotten to do in a long time.

By the time we got to the gym it was warm (I mean it's the South, crank that air UP!) and smelly so after 3 miles I was done. Sweating profusely and still not quite right, I did weights instead. Then we went home hoping to plant a bunch of shrubs we bought at Home Depot but the thunderstorms rolled in and nixed those plans.

Lesson learned: easy on the booze because I'm a light weight and nothing good ever comes from it.

So Saturday I will have to knock out 8 - 10 miles before the wedding we have to go to. Race is still about a month away so I'm not concerned. I'm just kind of running it and hoping for the best, no real goal for this one. Mainly because I'll be traveling to Charlotte just me and Sophie and I might be a little stressed and tired but I want to get one more race in before I (hopefully) get pregnant - I say that a lot lately.

The weather has been beautiful here lately, minus the afternoon storms that pop up, but we're used to that all summer long.

I hear the beach calling my name soon, just need to get through a wedding this week, baby shower next week, a birthday party the week after that, Easter, race, and THEN beach! Free time? What's that?

Recent Race and Today's Run

Saturday I ran the Save the Light Half Marathon on Folly Beach, SC. It's considered a "no frills" race. They don't use timing chips, you tear of the bottom of your race bib when you cross the finish line, the amount of people running is pretty small. There just aren't a whole lot of extras.

To me that's OK because it's for a good cause and the scenery was pretty. Can't beat views of the ocean.

Two good friends of mine are trying to break into the running thing and wanted to do the 5k race. So we decided to get a room at the Tides Folly Beach Oceanfront Hotel.

They had a special rate for one or two nights so we decided to stay Friday night and wake up and be right at the starting line for the race.

(Rate for one night was $122, split 3 ways, about $41 a person. Not bad).

I admit I was worried that it would turn into a booze fest, three mommas away from their hubbies and kids. But to my amazement I was the last one asleep and that was at 9:30.

However there was the loud obnoxious drunk girl a few doors down talking on her phone, speaker phone, at 12:30 am and then I had trouble sleeping the rest of the night.

When we woke up it was warm, like 57 degrees warm. I don't like being hot when I run because I tend to dehydrate so easily and the heat just seems to zap my energy so I was getting a little nervous that it wasn't as cool as I thought it was going to be. Luckily I brought shorts and a tank so I was not overdressed.

Even though it was cloudy there was still a beautiful sunrise.

We walked all of 1 minute to the starting line waited about 10 minutes and then it was time for the race! Can't beat that.

Killing time:

Making fun of my fuel belt - Gatorade on one side and water/Nuun on the other.

Me (center) and the girls (Jill and Rachael)

Jill sporting her old school headphones.

Overall the race went well. I didn't expect a PR and it didn't happen. My legs felt sluggish and tired after 3 miles, and that's about when I was drenched with sweat and the sun came out.

For some reason the race felt long, maybe that's because we ran some of the same loops twice.

My Garmin time was 2:03:51, avg pace 9:28.

Not too shabby seeing as how the marathon was only 3 weeks ago and my legs have felt funky ever since.I am happy.

I took Sunday off to paint Sophie's soon to be "big girl" room, which took way longer than I anticipated so there was no time to go to the gym or running because then we went straight to a friends house to watch the Super Bowl.

I took Monday off because I was too darn tired from painting the day before and staying up late watching the Super Bowl to make it to the gym.

I made it up this morning and had a fantastic run so those 2 days must have done me some good. I'm trying to get my "speed" back because the last month or so I've felt very slow. Strong but slow.

Warmed up slow and then up'd my speed every mile. So I did 5 miles, avg pace about 8:26. I didn't have any leg or foot pain so I'm calling it a successful run! After the run I did circuit training.

I know I've talked a lot about trying for baby no. 2 after the marathon but it did not happen last month and that's because we weren't really trying. So it's a go this month!

I plan on running a 10k in March so even if I do wind up pregnant I will be very early on so I don't see it as a problem. Although I want to run fast so we'll see how that goes.

Race and Happy Halloween!

Wow, what a busy weekend!! Saturday morning I woke up early and participated in the Fight for Air 5k on Folly Beach for the American Lung Association. It's a small race, not a huge turnout, but the weather was perfect for a Saturday morning run. Since my last 5k time was pretty darn good, I felt a little nervous if I could beat my previous time of 25:35. I ran Saturday's race in 25:13, so I beat it by 22 seconds!! And I ended up winning 1st place for my age group!!!! Like I said, it was small race, but I will gladly take the win. My good friend Pam also won 3rd place for our age group. She rocks because she's been sick the last month or so with Mono so this was an awesome comeback for her. After the race they had Shrimp and Grits, along with some free stuff. It was all in all a lot of fun.

Sunday I ran 11 miles and today my legs are like jell-o. Just 2.1 miles to go! Let me just say 11 was tough but there is still the will to keep going and finish.

A chilly start but the weather was perfect.

Sprinting towards this finish!

We are the Champions! Well at least for ages 30-34.

Then yesterday was Sophie's 2nd Halloween. Last year she was only 4 months old, stuck in a stroller and could have cared less. But this year was slightly better. She could have cared less about her costume but was very intrigued as to what people were putting in her candy bag. She only fought me a little with her costume but I was pleasantly surprised that she kept it on, for the most part, and seemed to enjoy trick or treating. She was a cute little fall fairy, with pink crocs (sorry Mom, but the orange shoes you got her didn't fit!)

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween! Now I can't believe it's November and the Holiday's are almost here. How did that happen? 

Save the Ta-Ta's

Ricky and Sophie came to cheer us on

Nikki, Pam, Me

This morning I participated in the Lowcountry Race for the Cure. This is my 4th year running it. Overall I think I did very well, seeing as that I haven't ran in really almost a year (just a little here and there since my ta-ta's have finally gone down in size). I ran the entire race and finished somewhere around 32 minutes. Not too shabby for a lady that just had a baby 4 months ago. This really gets me pumped up to start training for my 1/2 marathon, 13.1 miles, next December. I plan on signing up for the Kiawah Island 1/2 Marathon 2010 with my friend Pam. I must be crazy but this is exactly the motivation I need to get on track. Should be interesting but I know I can do it!! Next race is the Turkey Day Wobble Gobble on Thanksgiving morning. This will be my first time running it (we're usually out of town or I cook).

Reindeer Run

Today we participated in the Reindeer Run in downtown Charleston with our friends Pam and Earl. This event is put on every year and benefits the MUSC Children's Hospital. Pam and Earl both ran the 5k while Ricky and I walked. The weather was a little cool, but great walking weather. The race route loops around the Battery, so I got a picture of the water, which was very calm and flat (always makes Ricky wish he was fishing). It's a neat event because people dress up in Christmas attire, bring their dogs, and it's a great time for a good cause. Not to mention the free beer at Southend Brewery at the end of the race (which I could not partake this year). Here are a few pictures.