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!    

300 Oaks 10K Race Report

My 10K this past Sat was fun!  I wanted to PR but did not.  I did my time of last year for this race but it was not my best 10K time.  I did better on my splits this time.  l have a tendency to start out too fast.  According to my Garmin I did better. I want to learn to pace myself.  It has taken me over a year to do it but I am getting better.

My friend, Millette who has only been running for a few months did a fantastic job!  She hung right in there with me and this was her first 10K!  I am proud of her.

The race sponsored a pre-race party for all the racers and it was really fun.  It was at a nice restaurant and on their outdoor patio. The food was wonderful!   Ran into our former music pastor and he even entertained us for a while by playing his guitar and singing.

                                      Rod and April at the pre-race party

                                      Millette, Me and Shirley at the party

                             My plate.  The stuffed mushrooms were to die for!!

                    Me and Rod at the party. Don't know why I making that face???

 Here are my stats:

Total time:  1:23:59
Mile 1 - 13:36
Mile 2 - 13:56
Mile 3 - 13:45
Mile 4 - 13:41
Mile 5- 13:33
Mile 6 - 13:22
Calories per Garmin = 763
Calories per HRM - 1,736!!!????
Avg. HR - 146
Highest HR - 174

I used the new Roctane Gu.  Don't care too much for the taste but it seemed to help me during the race.  I took one 45 minutes before the race, 15 minutes before the race and then one at the halfway mark.   I may have over did it because Sunday night my shoulder muscle was cramping and I thought I might have to go to the ER.  A Mobic, 2 Tylenol and a heating pad cured that!  But it sure was painful.  I seemed to be exhausted on Sunday.  I don't usually feel that way after a race but for some reason the 10Ks seem to do a number on me!

Here are few more pics for your enjoyment!

                      Millette, Shirley, our Mayor Heather Hudson, Me, and Rod.

My finish line

                              

Millette finish line

                                

April, Rod's wife, Me, Millette, Shirley

                                

                  Another group pic with our Mayor Heather Hudson, Rod and his wife April.

                                                   Glad to be finished!

                                             Kids fun run! How cute!

                                                       --  AWARDS --

                             

There were over 800 people registered so they needed a BIG grill to cook all those hamburgers and hot dogs!!

                                     

They gave out an award for the best water stop and the "Village People" won.  I could not get a very good picture but they were cute!

                                    

                                       That 1 mile fun run did Colton in!

Well that's it folks! It was fun and I enjoyed it.  I am so looking forward to cooler weather to run in though!  How about you?

Today has been a great day.  I got up at 4 am (can you believe it???) and made it to the track with a few of my running buddies at 5 am.   The more experienced runners were doing speed work but I just did my usual 3 miles.  I don't like running alone so I will go whever there are other runners.  There were about 15 people I believe.  It was nice weather as far as temp goes.  It was extremely foggy though.  It always feels so good to get out there and "just do it"!  Why is it so hard to get out of bed??

I am trying to work on my speed some as well.  But what I do is just run faster than I am accumstomed to during my run segments.  I have lost 13 pounds in the last two months and I can tell.  But what is great is when someone else notices it.  A friend today said, "you have lost some weight haven't you"?  That made my day!   I am also trying to start out slow and pick up the pace.  I seem to start fast like most newbies do.  I guess it is because I am not tired when I get started.  Since I bought my Garmin I have been able to better pace myself.  But still struggle with starting out slow and finishing fast.  Here are my stats for today.

Mile 1 - 15:51 (started out walking with friends)
Mile 2 - 13:43
Mile 3 - 13:54 

Total time was 43.29.  Probably could have done better but I was just happy to be out there!  I know that I will improve as I lose more weight.  Speaking of Garmin - someone told me she had named hers.  Maybe I will name mine. Not sure what. Will have to think of something cute and creative - that may take a while for this brain people!  :)

Anyone who knows me knows I love gadgets.  Well, this is not actually a gadget but I love it just the same.  I got a Road ID.  It is pretty enough to wear all the time and I do.  You never know when I might just take off running.  he he....

Well this is all for today folks.  I am picking up my two great nieces (who are like my grandchildren - I love them that much) and keeping them tonight.  I am trying to encourage them to play more outside, weather permitting, and not stare at the TV so much.  I don't want them to grow up a couch potato like I did! 

Oh BTW - for you Spark people - I just downloaded the spark app for my BB and I am in love!!! I have been waiting a long time for this.  Now I can record my food, water, and exercise ANYWHERE.  No excuses now people!  I will always have my food log with me.  Yea!  (it doesn't take much to excite me). 

Three miles and no walk breaks!

I am too thrilled with myself.  Yesterday I ran (on the TM) for 3 miles without having to take a walk break.  Wish I could do that outside but that will come in time, if I keep working at it!  It felt so good.  There was no time when I felt like stopping.  I felt so strong!  It felt so good I might do it again today! 

I remember when I first started trying to run, I could only do about 5 minutes on the TM.  5 MINUTES PEOPLE!  Wow!  I have come a long way! 

I have also lost 10 pounds this month.  I have made up my mind that I CAN DO THIS!   I can't get faster in my running with this extra weight on me.  I am determined to lose all the weight I need, to continue running and racing and be the healthy woman God intended me to be.   I have planned on a 2 pound per week weight loss, so we will see how that goes.  If I do that I will be at goal in September of THIS YEAR!  But I have to remembe that losing weight is not my problem - keeping it off is the problem!  I plan on doing that as well!  Getting it off and KEEPING IT OFF!  Yea baby!  I can do this.  

Thanks to all my friends who encourage me every day!  And remember - if I can do you - YOU CAN DO IT TOO!  My motto is "never ever give up" so I just keep on "keeping on" taking it one day at a time.  And I take it one mile at a time.  When I ran my longest run to date, 14 miles, in preparation for the half marathon, I would run one mile at time.  I did not think, oh my gosh, I have 10 more miles to go, I would think, I have 1 mile to go.  A mile is about 15 minutes for me so I knew I could continue for 15 more minutes.  And so....each 1 mile added up to 14! 

I must be getting faster.  My garmin said I ran a 13 minute mile in my last race.  Best yet!  I'll take that. 

MAKE it a great friends!

Progress. (May 12, 2009)

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 I did well over the weekend. I stopped when I was full and actually left something on my plate! We walked a lot so I got plenty of exercise. Wish I had a Garman so I could have tracked the miles. It wasn't a fast pace, as we were sight seeing, but it was walking just the same.

My husband and I went to the Y together. He told me he was going and I had planned on being lazy last night but when he said he was going, I decided to go too. And I did a few weight machines with him as well. I did the crosstrainer, which is like an ellipitical but doesn't have the arms on it. The Y was packed. It was around 5 p.m. and I hate going in there at that time because it is always so busy! The bottom of my right foot hurt like the devil but I worked through it. Don't know what that is about!

I am excited about The Biggest Loser tonight - the finale. Three whole hours - fun fun !! I don't really care who wins - they have all done wonderful. As far as I am concerned, there are all winners! I wanted to be on the show and even started to fill out an application but could not get anyone to go with me and when I realized that I would have to be off work for a few months - I knew I could not do that. My husband says they would not take me now since i have lost 40 pounds but he said I could gain it all back, plus some, and they would take me then!!!! But.....I'm not going to do that this time. This time is different. I am tired of the yo-yoing that I have been doing so I plan on KEEPING IT OFF this time!