8K Turkey Trot

Today I did my first turkey trot.  It was an 8K and it was so much fun.  The weather was great - Sunny and windy but not hot - in the 60's.  There were a few hills I did not anticipate but I persevered.  The race began on the highway then down a small blvd. and then onto a multipurpose trail through the woods that was beautiful!  I started out too fast.....again!!  But all in all I am pleased.  I had no one to run with, so my time was a little better.  I tend to not push it when I am running with someone else, especially if they are a new runner.  No one can be any slower than me....just newer!!  lol

The course was supposedly 5 miles but my Garmin said 4.94 when i crossed the finish line.  I did not realize that until I had sat down.  I took off my shows and then decided to check my Garmin. I don't like stopping on a uneven number.....if I had seen it before I took my shoes off, I probably would have gotten back out there and did a few more steps to equal 5.  But I won't let it bother me this time.. he he....

I did a 1/1 ratio this time.  (run 1 minute/walk 1 minute).

My stats:
4.94 miles
1:08 total time
Mile 1 - 12:52
Mile 2 - 14:11
Mile 3 - 13:21
Mile 4 - 15:14 (must have been those bigger "hills")
Mile 5 - 12:24
Avg. HR - 162
Max HR - 182

I did speed up at the end but if I had not started out too fast I might have been able to go even faster in the last mile.  There was several hills that I didn't know about and that made it a little slow going for me.  I had a torn calf muscle last year and did not want that to happen again, so I walked up the hills and ran down them.

I am pleased with my time.  Last year I was running a 15 minute mile and now I am down to a 13-14 minute mile.  So I am improving somewhat.  I have also been able to run a mild without having to stop and walk.  That is so cool!!! Last year I ran 300 miles and this year I have run over 500 so far!  Woohoo!  I can't believe it.  In two years I have gone from a couch potato to running OVER 500 MILES.  That just blows my mind!  Never in a million years would I have ever thought I could or would do that.

My finish line pic:  Time 1:08:11

A few friends:
Rod

Martha:

I have lots of things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving day...especially my health.  But I am not there yet.  I still have a ways to go.  I have only lost half of the 100 pounds I need to lose.  But I won't give up!

In two weeks I have my third half marathon in Memphis.  I am so excited.  My son and his wife are running also. They ran it last year with me too....well, not with me but at the same time as me.  They finished way BEFORE me of course.  But we had a great time and I anticipate having a great time this year too.

I have gotten a little lax on my training this time around.  I am thinking about doing the  Renaissance at Colony Park half marathon again.  It will be in April next year.  It was in June of this year and it was way to hot.  I don't think I want to do one ever again in the heat!!!

 I don't like running alone as I have said many times and the thought of 13.1 miles, hot or cold, with no one to talk to sounds really daunting.  I have a friend, Millette, who is thinking about doing the Renaissance with me.  It would be her first half.  But I have to get over this one in Memphis in two weeks first.  It took me 3.45 hours last year but I anticipate my time being much better this year.  I know what to expect this time...hills included.  Most people would say the "hills" are just bumps, but to me that are hills.  When you train in the Mississippi Delta which is all FLAT LAND, the smallest hill can seem like a monster.  We have no hills here to train on other than the levee and it is a whopper of a hill!! There are no rolling hills here like in Memphis.

My husband went with me and he seemed proud of me.  He is not too thrilled about running, it bores him I think like football does me..he he...but he goes and he takes pics for me.  He is my official driver, camera man, etc.  He is a sweetie!  I thank God for him every day.

Of course I could not do any of this without my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Without his mercy and grace I would still be a drunken, miserable, depressed, overweight, unhealthy, drug addict wondering why my life was so miserable.  Instead, now I have peace, joy, and serenity every day of my life.  Thank you Jesus!    

In Search of Food....

 

Have you ever found yourself looking around for something to eat but not sure why?  I found myself in that situation just a few minutes ago.  Judging from my calorie count so far, I could not possibly be hungry.  So what is it that has me daydreaming about the vending machine and scoping out my office for any tidbit or morsel of food I can find to eat???  I sat in my chair and wondered, “what am I feeling?” but I honestly do not know.  Maybe I’m tired?  I just cannot put a finger on what it is that I am feeling that has me desperately searching for food.  One day I hope to discover what it is but today I just do not know.   

 

What I do know is that I will NOT go downstairs to the vending machine.  I have a few crackers so I will eat those and see how that does.  I have only had 4 glasses of water today.  Generally I have 8 or more so I will drink some more water……haha….water and crackers…..am I in prison??  Lol.  That is an old wives tale….you get more than water and crackers in prison (not that I know personally.)   

 

 After years in recovery one thing I know for sure is that you can’t fix a problem until you can identify what that problem is…..unfortunately today I just can’t lock down what I am feeling.  But I will keep searching.  This is not the first time I have felt this and it probably won’t be the last.   And I thought that writing about it might help as well.  At least it will keep me busy so I don’t start searching for food again.  

 

Have you ever had that problem and if so, could you identify what you were feeling and what did you do about it?   I would love to hear how you handled it.   

 

MAKE it a great day my friends. 

How to Find the Best Sports Foods for Your Diet | Active.com

How to Find the Best Sports Foods for Your Diet | Active.com

Nice short run.

I have been sitting around on my behind, waiting for someone to run with.  I have decided to not wait any longer.  I started this running thing alone and I can continue it alone.  I did take Lillie, my 9 pound dog, with me but wound up having to carry her some of the way.  Won't do that again.

I love having someone to talk to when I run.  I am a people person!  But I have yet to find someone that is as committed as me and as slow as me. There are lots of runners here but they are way too fast for me.  I had one friend that was awesome but she has since decided not to run any more.  Not sure why.  Another friend runs in the morning and I can't see to make myself get up in the morning time.  I guess I will have to if I want to run with someone.  She is the only one that I can probably really count on.  I have another friend that runs with me some but is not as committed as me and she is "hit or miss" most times.  So I wind up running alone.  Oh well, at least I can still run.  I will suck it up and make the best of it!!!

I third half marathon in just a month away.  I missed my 12.5 mile training run this past Saturday because I was out of town with my daughter.  Don't think I will make that up either.  I will just continue on from here.   I am going to try and get my butt in bed early so I can get up early.  Maybe I can meet my early morning friend for a run.  Someone said that if I would just do for a while, it would become habit.  But I did it for almost two months and then fell into laziness again.  Well, not really laziness but sleeping later and then running in the pm.  But I really would like to get it done in the morning time.  All I have to do is.....JUST......DO.......IT!!!!!!

MAKE it a great run my friends!!!