Showing posts with label race. Show all posts
Showing posts with label race. Show all posts

Saturday, May 8, 2010

5K--Victory!!!

I did it. I ran the 5k. All the way. Ran it. It was great.

I must have had some major endorphins going, because I barely had any pain while running. It was exhilarating to run with so many women. There were women running and walking, but of course, they put the walkers in a different group at the back.

I was just looking at the stats trying to see how I placed. It's a little confusing how they did it. They ranked people according to whether or not they had joined a running clinic. I did not join a clinic, so I was considered an "open runner". Here are the stats:

I was 12th in my division of open runners--there were 29 total in my group (30-35 yrs).

I was 59/156 for the open running group.

If both groups in my division were combined, I would have ranked 44/147 or top 30% in my division.

If I had been a clinic runner, I would have been at 135/723.

I would have ranked 193/879 if they had put both running groups together.

So, for the running groups, I was in the top 22% of runners.

Overall, I would have ranked 193/1447 because the fastest walker was slower than my run. I could be goofing this math up...but I hope not! (since writing this, I have corrected it twice). :)

That means that overall, I was in the top 13% of the race!

My time was 30:06 for 3.1 miles (5 kilometers), and my pace was 9:43 min/mile.

I am very proud of myself.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Couch to 5K=OVER TOMORROW

My race is tomorrow morning at 8am. I am nervous and excited and hopeful. I am nervous because I've never done this before. I am excited because I have been working hard and want to see myself accomplish this goal. I am hopeful because I want to run the entire race--no walking--and I want to keep a steady pace.

Today is a restful day. I'm not doing much, and per Marla's advice, I'm staying off my feet. I intend to drink a lot of water and rest. I hope Dave has a quiet weekend of call. I hope hope hope so.

As for my hair, I am still holding out. I think it is getting better. :)

This is a busy week coming up. Today is my Grandma's birthday. I haven't been able to get cards out for Mother's Day or her birthday. I can't look at cards with my kids. It takes too long, and the kids all fight and pull the cards off the shelf. So, it looks like they will be late. I hate that, but that is how it goes sometimes.

Maryn had an axillary (under the arm) temp of 103 yesterday. She had no other symptoms. I got a little worried about her last night. She's completely fine today. Weird.

Maryn will be four on Monday.

That is hard to believe.

We will be having her birthday party the following Saturday with our family. She is looking forward to it. It is a Tinkerbell birthday. :)

This is a boring post, so I think I'll stop. Blah blah blah. :)

Monday, May 3, 2010

Updates on Everything

Well, I had a bit of a greasy hair weekend, and I didn't have cornstarch. So, I put face powder in my hair and combed it through. It helped! I bought some cornstarch on Saturday.

Also, I noticed when I got sweaty after running, my hair looked better. I guess the saltiness cut the grease? I have no idea. Gross, eh? :) I am washing every other day and only doing the ACV (apple cider vinegar) rinse every other wash. Oh, and Dave says my hair doesn't smell bad.

Today, my hair looks a lot better. It kind of feels sticky like when we moved to Tulsa and had hard water. So, I know it is about to turn a corner. It doesn't look greasy or sticky today, it just feels sticky. It has a lot of body. :) My hair is short, though, so it sticks up a lot when I wake up in the morning. I will have to wet it to get it to look more normal. I am going to press on with this crazy venture!

This is my last week of running in preparation for the 5K race on SATURDAY!!!

I am excited, nervous, and ready to be finished with this goal! I can't believe it is almost here. Here is my running schedule this week (with modified recommendations from my friend, Lee):

Monday--Run 22 minutes

Tuesday--Rest

Wednesday--Run 25 minutes

Thursday--Run 10 minutes

Friday--Rest

Saturday--Run 3.1 miles!!!

Last night (Sunday), I ran 2.47 miles in 25 minutes. It was insane, but I did it, and I kept my pace around 10 minutes/mile. It was great. It's so hard when I am in the middle of it, but I just keep telling myself that I can do this. I am a runner because I am running! So pretty much, I just pep-talk myself the entire time. :)

It seems I have been in a mode of trying new things lately. I've made all these homemade cleaners. Here is my report:

Dishwasher Detergent (improved version over the first one I tried two years ago)--LOVE IT. No spots, no residue.

Furniture Polish--It works really well, but it does leave a little vinegar-y scent for a bit--not too long. Of course, I tried it in the van on the vinyl (whatever that stuff is on the dashboard), so it was in a small, not-too-airy space...should try it on our furniture! At least the smell isn't toxic.

Window Cleaner--I love this cleaner so much more than Windex. There is no ammonia--so no toxic fumes to breathe. I used Clorox Natural Dish Soap (Water Lily scent) as the dish soap for the recipe, and it smells very nice and works super well. It leaves no streaks and actually cleanses the glass/mirror. I also didn't have to scrub really hard.

I haven't made the laundry detergent yet (have all the supplies--waiting to run out of my Purex naturals soap). I also haven't made the deodorant yet. I just need to order the shea butter and cocoa butter online. And maybe some vegetable glycerin?

Our garden is beautiful. I'm so excited about it. I promise pictures...It's quite a feat for me to go out there, take pictures, upload them, re-upload them to the blog...you know. :)

Sam's cast is breaking through on his heel. Too much scooting, I guess. One more week until an xray that will hopefully show he can bear weight on it. He is so ready, and I am constantly having to remind him to GET OFF OF IT!!!

Dave and I have made plans to go to Kansas City for Memorial Weekend. We are super excited. We haven't had a nice getaway in a couple of years. My awesome brother and his wife will bring their kids and stay with ours. My parents may come help play with grandkids. It'll be nice to know they are with family.

I have planned out several restaurants to eat at (isn't that what vacation is all about?), we are going to hear the symphony play for a FREE show for Memorial Day, we will probably do some pottery stuff (our 8th anniversary is June 2, and the traditional gift is bronze/pottery). We will spend some time at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in the prayer room and for a time of prophetic ministry. We are really looking forward to our long weekend together.

So, that's my update. You made it to the end. Congratulations!

Friday, April 30, 2010

Shampoo Free--Day Four

Day 2--Not so bad

Day 3--A little greasy

Day 4--Greaseball. Seriously. It's a little nasty. I'm going to try to stick it out. I read that you can comb corn starch through it to help.

I'm thinking I shouldn't wash my hair every day (unless I run or something)...she implies that on the page, though she doesn't say how often to wash. Hmmm...

We shall see how it goes.

My race is in 9 days.

9. Days.

I was hoping to run today, but I don't know if it will happen due to the weather we are having.

My garden is growing well, but some pesky pests are eating holes in my bean leaves. I am researching some natural pest killers. If you have ideas, I'd love 'em.

I really don't have much to say, but I knew for sure you needed a shampoo update. :)

Monday, April 26, 2010

Couch to 5K--Week 9--Already!!!

It is Week 9. I am a bit behind, but my friend, Lee, modified my running plan. Here's what it will look like this week:

Monday: Run 20 min.

Wednesday: Run 10 min, Walk 5, Run 10

Friday: Run 21 min.

Sunday: Run 25 min.

I ran 19 minutes last night and walked 5. It was hard--I wasn't paying close enough attention to my breathing. Once I got it even, it got easier. I was 40 seconds shy of running 2 miles during the 19 minutes. I was very proud of myself. That's a little under a 10-minute mile. I have less than two weeks to be more comfortable running that far. I would still really love to run the whole 5K (3.1 miles), but we shall see. My ankle pain is so-so. We will see if my vitamins do their job.

Also, I am on a "making natural cleaners" kick. It is so cool! I never realized how many cleaning solutions you can make yourself. Last night, I was reading online about clogged drains--our kitchen sink was clogged, and I really hate using and paying for Drano. Most natural sites said that you should first try a plunger--that will sometimes do the trick (or a pipe snake). If not that, then try this:

1 cup washing soda (not baking soda)
3 cups of boiling water

Wash that down the drain, if it doesn't work, chase it with 1 cup of vinegar.

We tried that, and stuff started coming up into the sink--nasty. Dave grabbed the plunger, plunged it once, and skadoosh--the sink drained immediately. Awesome. My sink also looked a lot shinier! The washing soda is awesome. Arm and Hammer puts it out, and it is usually in the laundry aisle. Not all Wal-Marts carry it--you are more likely to find it at a Kroger, Reasors, etc.

Here are some links to other natural, safe, cheaper homemade cleaners:

Furniture Polish
(instead of Pledge--which is neurotoxic!!!--who knew?)

Laundry Detergent

Window Cleaner

Dishwasher Detergent

Deodorant (not an anti-perspirant): HERE and HERE (two different kinds)

Shampoo


Isn't it weird to use these homemade cleaners? No, it's just weird that we've been buying stuff (chemical-laden, at that) because the TV tells us to. Or it is what our mom used. Or we don't want to take the time to make them. But seriously, most of of them take a few minutes to prepare. Give it a try, and see how you like it! I am going to!

Also, Sam is doing really well. He's been in his cast for a week now. Only two more weeks to see if he can bear weight on it! He is getting around like a champ. If anything, he has been a little demanding. :)

Our garden is going crazy! Everything has sprouted except for the red bell peppers and the marigolds. We are so excited about it! Yea for fresh veggies!!!

Have a blessed week!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Earth Day and Mildly Interesting Stuff

So, it is Earth Day. I've been thinking more and more about sustainability practices and making wise choices concerning our planet. I have no idea if global warming is true or not, but that is not my motivation for making greener choices.

As a Christian, I believe it is part of my role as a human to "subdue the earth and have dominion over it." I believe that if I must be a good steward of the earth. So, here are some things I'm thinking about changing:

  • Being more careful to conserve water--watering my garden from a watering can rather than using the hose, short showers, not leaving the water running in the sink--little stuff.
  • I am seriously contemplating only buying secondhand clothes--refashioning if necessary.
  • Learning to can my own food to reduce my waste of tin cans from the grocery store.
  • Using soaps/detergents that are biodegradable.
I'm sure there are more I'll think of later. I want to somehow remove myself from the consumerist mindset I'm stuck in.

Reduce your waste.

Re-use what you have.

Recycle what you can't reuse.

We can all make a difference, and it will even save you money.



And onto the other mildly interesting stuff...

I ran on Monday. It hurt a bit. I saw my OMT dentist, and he said I have plantar fasciitis. He did some muscular releases on my feet, and my shin splints DISAPPEARED. He did an ankle strap release on my foot, declared my ankle as strained, and then gave me a vitamin. We shall see. I was supposed to run yesterday, but our schedule was biznizzy. It didn't happen. I will go today--at some point.

The race is in 2 weeks. Holy cow.

Our garden is sprouting things!!! We are excited and hoping they all make it! I have uploaded pics from my phone to Facebook, so if you're my friend there and want to see mini-plants, check 'em out!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Week Lame-O: Couch to 5k (Week 7ish)

This week has just sucked--in so many areas. I feel the fog lifting though, and for that, I am grateful.

I ran yesterday for the first time since Thursday. Almost a week. My ankle is STILL hurting. I am going to see my dentist/osteopath trained doctor on Wednesday--get my teeth cleaned and get an adjustment. Gotta love that! My friend has reworked my running schedule. Yesterday, I walked 5, ran 13, and walked 5. It was fine. My pace was a lot slower, but I was fine aerobically. It was the ankle pain that was the bother--it wasn't horrible, just achy.

I don't know if I will be able to achieve my goal of running the whole 5K, but I will see what I can do. I am definitely going to give it my best.

I think this is week 7. If so, here is what I'm going to do:

Friday--Run 13, Walk 5

Sunday--Run 7, Walk 5, Run 7, Walk 5

I'm morphing the schedule. I think I will be able to do it. I hope so. I'm a bit discouraged and frustrated over the whole thing. It's hard to have to take a week off and then not see the improvement I was looking for.

Anyone else still running? Signed up for races???

Monday, March 15, 2010

Week 3--Couch to 5K

This is Day 16. I was supposed to run this morning. But, because of Daylight Savings Time, it was pitch black. So, I will have to wait to run until this evening when Dave gets home. Dave has agreed to join me, and I think we may sign up for the Dino Dash 5k in Little Rock on May 22nd. The kids will be able to have a blast there too. I just need someone to watch my kids while we race (any Little Rock takers?). The proceeds all benefit the Museum of Discovery downtown.

I'm looking forward to longer days for sure. At least my kids slept until 8! I'm sure they'll figure out soon enough that 8 is merely the new 7 and start getting up at 7. :) Here's my schedule for this week (the numbers represent minutes, not miles!):

Monday: Walk 5, Run 6, Walk 5
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: Run 4, Walk 5, Run 4, Walk 5
Thursday: Rest
Friday: Walk 5, Run 7, Walk 5
Saturday: Rest (I may run again on this day just to push myself)
Sunday: Rest


I'm looking forward to this week, Wednesday especially. I wonder how that will go with me starting off in a run?

Lucy's weight check was today. She gained about an ounce and a half. We're going to continue with what we've been doing until her 18 month appointment and then go from there. The worries are taking a backseat for now. She is otherwise healthy and happy. Just little!

I am so thankful for my husband. I just want you to know what a blessing he is to me. He esteems me and loves me. He is far from perfect, but he has grown and is growing so much. Even on his bad days, I can see God giving him grace. The other day, I just strongly sensed the Holy Spirit telling me that a major part of my role with Dave is just to love him to death. Just love him.

So, I've been acting on love impulses with him--if I have an idea, I carry it out without debating about it. I think this is blessing him a lot. He's had a lot of hard days recently with his work, and it is so nice to make our home a haven for him, to surprise him in the middle of the day with a treat, or just a visit to get hugs and kisses from the kids (and me!).

What do you do for your spouse? I find all too often that I am making a list of things he isn't doing for me without realizing that I'm not doing them for him either! It shouldn't be so one-sided! We are both responsible for our relationship.

So, in true Flylady fashion, I say, "Get off your franny and stop feeling sorry for yourself!"

And as Ghandi said, "Be the change that you want to see in the world."

This can apply to all of our relationships. Not everyone will reciprocate, but your relationships will be better for it. Find a way to serve your spouse today--with NO STRINGS ATTACHED. Just love them tangibly. Comment back once you've done it and report how it went for the both of you!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Day 15--Couch to 5K--New Shoe Trial

Even though today was a rest day, I just couldn't wait to try out my new sneakers (by the way, do you call them "tennis shoes" or "sneakers"?). My GPS got confused and said I ran 6 miles...said I ran 2.5 minute miles. That was not even close.

I went 1.23 miles, 15 minutes. I fudged a little on the timing. I walked 5, ran 6, and walked 4. I was feeling pretty good and strong about the running. I maintained my pace pretty well even though I had to climb a hill halfway through the running portion. I don't know what is normal. When I run, I average about 8:45-9:30 minute miles. I would love to be a 7 minute miler, but that seems far, far away.

I feel great. I was feeling a little puny after a rough night with Lucy. She threw up 5 times. Poor child. It was so pitiful. Dave bathed her while I cleaned up her bed. With the time change, I was tired. Dave took the big kids to church with him. He led the S.S. class today. It was nice to have a quiet house and rest with Lu Lu. She has kept everything down today (mostly water, bread, and applesauce). I'm glad she's feeling better. I just hope no one else gets it! Me especially!!! It's extra trying when mamas get sick.

Dave is going to join me in the running this week. I'm so excited. I think he is going to enjoy himself. We're talking about running a race together a couple of weeks after the one I'm scheduled to run. We'll see if he wants to.

About the shoes---they performed great. I was quite pleased, though I think I may have had my laces a tad too tight. One spot was rubbing a bit and felt bruised. Hmmm.

This week is supposed to be beautiful and sunny. I'm ready for it! Spring comes on Saturday!!!!

Friday, March 12, 2010

Day 13--Couch to 5k

1.2 miles this morning. 5w/5r/5w. It was hard this morning. I'm not sure if it was because it was misty outside and uber-humid or my shoes or just the fact that my body is rejecting the idea of exercise. I'm having some pain in the muscles alongside my shins. I'm thinking it is due to my shoes or from running uphill and downhill.

My grand total for the week is 3.4 miles. I may run again on Saturday or Sunday just for fun. I get my shoes tomorrow, so I'm wanting to give them a try and break them in for the coming week.

I came down with the sniffles again. Afrin is my friend for the next couple of days.

Lucy has a weight check on Monday morning. I am hoping she has gained. She feels heavier to me, but that could be my imagination. Our scale here at home is really inaccurate, so I don't trust anything it says. She is eating better and eliminating okay. I've been giving her acidophilus every day hoping to help her digestion. Please pray for her if she comes to mind. I'd appreciate it.

My coffee is delicious this morning. I think it is because I am so tired! Well, that, and it is Starbucks, so we can't really go wrong.

I don't have much else to say. My head is a little too foggy. 2 weeks down in training--8 to go!!! How's your progress?

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Day 12--Couch to 5k--GOALS

Rest Day.

I signed up for the race this morning. It was $20 (plus a 2.50 transaction fee or some nonsense). It feels good to have this goal in place to work towards.

I chatted on the phone with my dad last night about running. He used to run 11 miles a day back in high school. He said the farthest he ever ran was 20 miles. He ran sprints first, but then his coaches realized he had more endurance so they switched him to long distance running. Let's hope this is genetic! :)

Speaking of goals, here is what I envision for myself right now. Obviously, the 5k is my first goal--to finish this 10 week training and run the race. Beyond that, what I really want is to run 30 minutes 3-4 times a week which would probably put me at 10 miles a week or so. I just want to do this for my health and for my own enjoyment.

At this point, I don't want a half-marathon goal. There is the possibility that we will have another child in the near future, so I'd really like to have a well-established exercise regimen before I get pregnant. The current recommendation is that you may continue with whatever exercise regimen you have in place before you get pregnant, but you shouldn't increase it after becoming pregnant. I would like to have something that would keep me in good shape throughout a pregnancy. Of course, I am well aware of how exhausted I am in the first trimester, so this all remains to be seen!!! I do like to have achievable goals, though, so I would like to set my sights on 30 minutes of running, 3-4 days a week.

I am buying running shoes this weekend. I am so excited. I am looking forward to having shoes that actually fit my feet and provide the support that I need. I'm also getting to pick up my BAM (Basket-A-Month) in Conway this weekend. Yea for farmer's market!!! If you're curious about the Central Arkansas CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), here is the link: www.arkansasfood.net

Today starts a week of NO CALL for Dave. I want to make the break enjoyable for him!!! Any ideas?

Monday, March 8, 2010

Day 9--Couch to 5k--Get Your Race On!

100% humidity, friends. This is Arkansas.

I DID NOT WANT TO GET OUT OF BED THIS MORNING. But, I made myself. I'm glad I did. I forgot how many minutes I was supposed to run this morning. I did a 5w/4r/5w. I was only supposed to run for 3. Oh well, I'm a step ahead! I also got an app that will work well for the Couch to 5k that I'm following. The app is called Run Keeper Free. It tracks my activity via GPS. There are several great apps for Couch to 5k, but the plan I'm following is a bit different than those, so the Run Keeper app is great for me. If you're just now joining me, here is the plan I'm doing.

The run was good. I tried listening to David Crowder Band "Church Music" but the beatz weren't quite right for running. It was still good stuff to listen to! I did fine, but I got a little distracted at the end because I saw that a cat was killed on the road. Looks like it was hit by a car. I want to clean it up because my kids were playing with it the other day. They really wanted us to get a cat. It's sad. I really don't want them to see the dead cat.

In other news, I found a race to run!!! I am going to sign up to run in the "Women Can Run 5k" in Conway on May 8th. Who is with me? Jenny? Anna? Megan? Anyone else? It would be so fun to run with you guys! Let me know what you think. My friend, Amanda, sent me a website full of Arkansas races. I'm glad to know there are multiple races I could be a part of. This is a great goal to have--another reason to keep pushing on.

Tomorrow is a rest day. But, on Wednesday (it's supposed to be raining all week. boo.), I think I'm going to listen to The Prodigy--never slow. Great beatz.