What would you do?

So when I started running, I absolutely wore out my current 'tennis shoes' that I wore all day every day for work & then ran in them for about 6 months. On the tip of an experienced running friend, I visited Fitness

Sports in the city, for my next pair of running shoes. The staff all runs or is athletic in one fashion or another so I completely trust their opinions.  I told them I was running about 3 miles/day 4-6x/week  & they said they didn't care if I was running 1 mile 1x a week, I needed good shoes :) So he sat me down, took off my shoes (umm excuse me LOL) checked out the shape of my foot & went to get me 3 pairs to try.  And by try, I mean, he put them on me, laced & tied them & sent me to the back hall to RUN in them. REALLY?! WOW! I loved being able to realllllllly test them out before leaving the store! I didn't care for the first 2 & after the 3rd I asked about the arch support. Since I mentioned it, he went after one w/more support. I thought they were the ugliest things I had ever seen, but they were like little supportive pillows on my feet. (like the picture only silvery mesh w/blue & purple stripes/accents)  At first, I saved them for only running but after they broke down too far to be comfortable for running (about a year) I moved them to my work shoe & bought the next version of the same style(pictured) for running only.  I had to go up 1/2 size as my arches had started to fall a bit from running which they say is totally normal & yes, this pair was just as ugly as the first pair but both times; I wasn't out for fashion, I was out for comfort & support.

Since I took a couple of years off of running, those 2nd pair of shoes became my daily work shoes. When I started running again this year, I realized they were too far gone for running but being on a spending freeze, I made them do.  I got enough Christmas money that I was able to go pick up my new runners this past weekend while I was in the city.  WOW, I was in for a shock, I thought the first 2 were ugly, these are hideous!! When I told him what I thought, he chuckled & said he hears it all the time & that some runners have even switched brands b/c they hated them so much. black w/teal, not a bad combo but when you are used to running in something light colored, its hard to get used to. PLUS they have an ugly white wide base that extends past the sides of the upper shoe.  This was the lesser of 2 evils as the other option in the store (b/c I was too impatient to wait a week for the yellow + black pair) was very patriotic & so very VERY white.  on the positive side, they upgraded the cushion support in front of the ball of the foot inside & it kind of fills in the space between the ball & the toes on my feet.   While I was walking to the back to try them out in the hallway, I did consider switching brands for something cuter, more colorful or just less contrast, but that first little jog totally sold me.  I love getting new running shoes.

So now my question is... would you change brands for looks? You can tell I didn't. I am definitely impressed withe fit of my Mizunos & am not willing to sacrifice that for something cuter. my outfits rarely match each other much less my shoes too. ;)

Band of Brotherhood 5k report

Saturday was another race day.  I went to Creston to run the Band of  Brotherhood 5krun/walk & firefighter milk hike.   It was presented by the Creston Fire Department.  The fire chief is Tim's brother so he loved harassing me over the past year when I missed last year's event.  I was certain not to miss this year. 

The morning started out whipping windy but with a forecast of 50degrees I was hopeful for a great day.  Capris, a dry fit tank & tshirt, running sleeves and new supportive socks made up my uniform this time.  It made for a good one on this crazy fall day.

 this is a traditional prerace photo by Melissa.   the first mile 2 miles were through their city park historical complex- that I didn't know existed- beside their lake-where I have run another race, then jumped into their paved running/biking/walking trail to the hospital, through the gazebo & the last 1.16 was back through on the running/biking/walking trail into the park, up & down hills-into the wind.  My mapmyrun program clicked itself off at some crazy .1 point so I am going by Melissa's garmin for mileage. 

this photo is compliments of the Creston News Advertiser & was early in the race, as we went by the lake. (that's me in the dark green t & black sleeves)

My only goal for the race (other than finishing uninjured) was to beat Todd, Tim's brother-yeah, the fire chief.  He smoked me by 4 minutes the last time we raced together (my very first race-also on his turf), so I wasn't picky on time this race, just had to beat him.  I was able to pass him about the 1 mile mark I assume & even with some walking after the 2 mile turn around, I was able to keep steadily ahead of him.  After, he said he kept waiting for me to stop so he could pass & I told him I wasn't going to stop & that I couldn't walk long or I'd not be able to get started again. THEN I admitted that beating him was my only goal for the day & he laughed.  He wasn't even signed up for the race-had other plans for the day even, until he found out I was registered. 

 

Good Fall race, those hills would have been killer in a summer race. I will be signing up to run it again as its the department's fundraiser to pay their way in the Fight For Air Climb.  (old info but same event) So money well spent. 

My next one will be my first winter race.  The Red Flannel Run in February.

Fairgrounds 5k- part 2

Ok, So I did the full recap here a few days ago but since then, the blue ribbon foundation staff has posted photos on facebook from the event & I am oddly giddy about appearing in several! You will have to click on them to enlarge the photo to find me, but here they are to share:

..

Ok, so I am not in the last 2 but I thought they were great shots to document the event.

 

 

 

 

 

Fairgrounds 5k 11/1/13

For the first time ever, I had a 'support crew' for a race. I usually just go or take other runners. This time, my mom & her boyfriend Eli came along for the trip.  Being the early fanatic I am, I told them to be here by 10:45 so we can be on the road by 11 as the registration/packet pick up table opened @11:30. So, 10:43 they pulled up, we loaded into my van & left. I checked in, then walked back to them in the van, as it was way too windy to ask them to stand outside already. My nervousness about the big hill had me texting w/Denise, Rose & Melissa, all on their way. After they got their packets picked up, we met up w/them + another & friend before they called us to line up.

I loved seeing the fairgrounds all decorated up for fall!

 

 We all enjoyed the 'chase the cow' races for the littles. 3 heats of them in different age brackets. super cute & what a great way to get kids motivated to run & be active!

WOW I really am an expressive talker. Thanks Mom for this candid. :)

 Here we are, 'lined up' & listening to announcements. then the National Anthem & air horn ...

 

.,, & we were off.. holy windi-ness! Our first stretch was straight up Heritage Hill-one I dread to walk when we are here for the fair, much less run up. I did well keeping my head down to take it one step at a time, until I thought I should be at the top & looked to find I wasn't quite there, I lost my momentum & walked a bit. Melissa & Rose caught up so, we 3 talked & walked a bit, then jogged through the campground, walked a short stretch to the Grandfather's Barn hill, hitting the one mile mark hallelujah!   From there, we ran down & around the Cultural Center, back up a smaller hill (one of those you barely notice as a hill when just walking but when running its quite evident) between the Youth Inn & the new barn, around that barn & down between the barns & fence on Dean Avenue, north on Rock Island in front of the swine barn, between the swine & beef barn, around the beef, (basically swerving in & out of barns playing 'see the fairgrounds') back to Rock Island in front of the pavilion, hitting mile 2 YAHOOOOOO!! Then on north & east past the Ag building, across Grand Avenue (where the race started & would eventually finish).  North, walked up the road past Animal Learning Center/Little Hands on the Farm, started running again when we turned west behind the Grandstand, loop around to the front of the Grandstand.  Seeing the 3 mile marker, AMAZING! I kicked it into overdrive & powered up Grand to the finish line (that was also the start line). 39:29 I thought the timer said but my mapmyrun program was a bit different + it said we went more than 3.1 :)  We met back up to take cool down photos, then head into the grandstand for snacks-mini corndogs, beer (we all passed), banana, yogurt, orange juice, chocolate milk, mini fair square, & bottled water. Scarfed down goodies, I don't think a corn dog has ever tasted so good! Checked our times/placings me-173 of 191, Melissa -174, Rose shortly after, Denise way ahead. parted ways. I headed to the bathroom, washed up & changed into jeans, new long sleeve t from the race then headed to Grandma.

Truly amazed at how I felt after the 2mile marker, like the rest was cake. Maybe because I new it was way flatter than the first 2, maybe that I felt like I was 2/3rds done & could surely rock through another 1/3. Not sure what it was but that last mile was way easier mentally, the last .1 I really pedaled through barely catching a breath due to the wind but determined to truly leave it all on the course.

Dam Splash Race 2013

 

Way back in August, we did the Dam Splash Run 2013. Running this race was an obvious YES for me as its held at the lake we camp at all summer long, its a great fundraiser for their local trail club & it was a beautiful route.  I almost didn't get to do it as I had worn flip flops when we packed up the truck & boat & totally forgot my shoes & bondiband.  So while I zipped thru the grocery store for last minute supplies, Tim buzzed home for my shoes & I decided I could just wear one of my lake hats.  Very little nervous chat about it other than planning our wake & leave times was heard around the campfire that first evening.  Tim & Shayne stayed up until 4AM, so I didn't sleep well until he came to bed then I was up sometime before sunrise, then right at sunrise then when I heard Lauren fire their truck up for the shower house, I got up (the phones were both dead/charging in the truck so no alarm for me).  I dressed then headed to the bathroom, together we went back to the campsite for some breakfast (powdered donuts & part of a Frappuccino) then as we were heading out, Nicki came out of their camper deciding to go to so we waited a couple of beats while she gathered her things & we rode 3wide in Tim's truck to the check in site (dedication site  @ Island View).

(just for reference we camp at Rolling Cove- click to enlarge)

  got our numbers pinned on, took a before pic, stretched some nervous energy & we were off  @ 830 sharp.  the race started @ the dedication site so the beginning was a lil windy, slightly hilly & slanted road leading out to the paved road that went across the dam. Once on the dam, it was flat & straight, which is how I had envisioned the whole race.  Nicki & I were just doing the 5k & Lauren did the 5 mile as part of her training for the half marathon, so she left us early to get her pace up & was very soon out of our line of sight.  Nicki & ran good solid for 10 minutes then walked a bit, ran a bit, walked a few minutes then ran a ways (I taught her some race terms I learned when I was racing & some 'games' to get yourself to keep moving), stopped for about a minute to drink water @ the turn around & enjoy the view over the dam. then we ran & 'played some games' on the way back, walked the windy part, then hit it hard in the closing stretch to leave it all on the course. 40.27! pretty awesome for no training & for her to never have run! we hit the 'concessions' then I needed supplies from the truck & it was back down the track but as I was gathering them Lauren went by so I missed getting her pic as she crossed the finish line (quite a bit ahead of her projected time YAY) but we gathered back@ the concessions for more goods, got our official times(Lauren did 5 miles in 54.xx & she was projecting over an hour) we did some stretching in the parking traded photo skilz w/some guys that also ran & called 'home' to check on the guys, they were just starting to stir :)

 

This was my second race in almost 2 years & it sure gave me the fever to run again, just like I had hoped. Since this race I have been doing some early morning running-term used loosely as we usually walk a few blocks, jog some laps around the high school & then walk the blocks back to our starting point but still, its MY running & its back! I feel amazing on the days I run, incredibly focused & full of energy. My productivity has definitely increased on those days. I am loving being active again. I love starting those days with girl time.  I love that I have friends that share the love.

Color run 2013

Wow am I glad I did this Fun run!  I could Have (& Have to admit to being tempted to) backed out Last minute since I didn't train a minute after registering When there was still snow on the ground.   So much Fun running with friends again! So much Fun being a small part of something for a greater cause.
If It's Not on your bucket list, it should be!

May!

Holy Cow this year is FLYING! 

May already?!  sheesh!! that means school is almost out & summer is on its way! and THAT means its about to get CRAZY BUSY around here! Just the way I like it. :D big cheesy grin

Thinking I need to follow Elise's lead & start making some monthly goals.  Both professionally & personally.  My problem is that I tend to 'shoot too high' & over do the list then feel a big let down at the end when its not complete.  SO I will limit myself to 8 total.  1 goal per category per week even tho some weeks I will do both goals plus one and other weeks I might not achieve any & some goals may have several baby steps to them. I need to teach myself to be OK with less than perfection.... that in itself should be a goal ;)

OK, so...

 May Professional Goals:
1. send for the application for renewing my CDA
2. send out feelers gauging interest for a childcare provider 'group'
3. finalize Friday Funday list (thanks for the name Stacey!)
4. bake cornbread muffins

May Personal Goals:
1. plant garden
2. run at least once each week
3. find dress+accessories for June wedding
4. finalize plans for wedding rehearsal dinner I am hosting in June



must sign off as its killing me to not add other dreams & goals to the lists, reminding myself that I have 7 more months to the year to have goals for.

THERE... we'll see how that works for the first month, see if its too lenient or too stringent... wish me luck & feel free to keep me on task if I haven't reported in a while...  

What are some of your goals for the month? do you set official goals? year long resolutions?

Race Report

its alot over due but finally a report from my last race.its alot over due but finally a report from my last race.  Friday night I finished packing my bags, loaded the van (how much does one girl need for an overnight stay before a race? LOL) & hit the road. I love my garmin! I always used to print a sheet of directions to go anywhere especially by myself, now I just plug in the ending address & hit 'GO!' :) I stopped twice looking for a camera battery before I finally found one. following the Garmin I found my hotel easily, only zoomed past it once ;) it won't compare to PW's hotel stay photos here  by any means but it was cozy & just what I needed for a night by myself. after checking in I set back out for a convenience store to get water for the evening as well as morning & a G1 for breakfast (have found I do much better w/less in my stomach for races). However the store I chose had no G1 so I got a G2 & huge water then headed back to my room to get settled. I spent the evening snacking on the Little Ceasar's crazy bread Tim had brought home for me (carbo-load anyone?), answering Scrap Pink emails & generally chilling. I finally decided to shower about 10 then talked to Tim on the phone-he was really nervous about me being @ a mom & pop joint alone then crashed about 11:30. I slept pretty well considering my nerves.

  Looking from the bathroom door& looking towards it. see, cozy, right?!

adorable handstenciled towels:

 sweet little display of toiletries

Saturday morning came way too soon (as always), but after hitting snooze for a half an hour then getting text from Melissa (she & Jamie had come in WAY late & were in a room upstairs in the same hotel) I was up & around. dressed in running gear, started drinking my water, did some yoga stretches then headed out to the van to take my leftover crazy bread, get my running water bottle, etc.. met up w/the girls in the parking & rode w/them to the race. It was a great small race, a new distance for me to race (5 miles instead of 3.1) it was also my first trail run, so finihsing 19th of 20 didn't bother me in the least w/a time of 1:03:something (its been so long now I have forgotten) I thought was pretty good for this point in my training. After the awards (everyone got shirts, winners for each age group/gender got handmade birdhouses (nesting boxes) & reuseable water bottles) we headed back to the hotel for showers.

prerace photo, see the lil shower? :)

A-DORE-ABLE lil hotel!

view from across the street:

post-race, pre-shower photo: (keeping in mind we hung out for awards & had a few minutes drive back to the hotel)

  Heading home, I wished I had taken time for a nap too.. I stopped twice on the way home. Once for potty + more water then the other to stretch the cramping legs. While stretching, I did some bargain shopping & got some work pants capris & some jean capris both on the clearance rack-SCORE! loaded up on junkfood (funyuns + reeses cup minis + frappuccino) & more water then hit the road to home.

Overall, it was a fun new experience! I hope to get to do more traveling next year. Tim said next time he'd make an effort to go with me.  :)

I am tossing this in my Thankful Thursday category.  I am thankful to be strong enough physically to run, to be strong enough emotionally to go places on my own, to have Tim supporting me even tho he was nervous, to live in a part of the country & state that I was able to find a small race in a small town w/an inexpensive hotel for my first traveling experience. Also so very thankful for the Sisterhood for being such an encouragement to get me running on day 1 & for Melissa & Jamie for keeping me running when I loose ambition!

What are you thankful for today? 

 

5 on Friday

my current favorite 5s for running:

1. the shoes I am running in for the next couple of months
2. the next bondi band purchase I will make:

3. the only store I will buy running shoes from. Also a fabulous sorce of running information as well as race schedule!

4.  my go to site for all things fitness, weightloss, commeraderie.

5. Currently, I participate on Iowa's Team Beef during races & plan to raise money for Iowa's food banks in their name for the Des Moines half Marathon in October.

what are your go to things, places or people for something in your life right now?

(fixed the links)

race review

Saturday was the 2nd annual Watermelon Days 5k (we thought it was their first). It was my first time on a golf course. I am not a fan. I like the view to change, not to be able to see JUST how many more turns I have ahead of me, & to not see just to much further ahead the fast kids are getting. but it was a nice, fun, small race & I got my first bling! so its all good!  ;)

here we are before, Me, Melissa & Jamie.  I had no idea they were wearing red, just decided to sport my Team Beef shirt.

a shot of the Garmin on the way, since it has been YEARS since I have gone to Humeston.

 Oh my, I am seeing the country side through new eyes it seems this year! I am loving & ewwwwing & awing over every sunset, every sunrise, every foggy morning, the fresh baled hay in the field, the tassled corn, what a beautiful party of the country I get to live in!!!   These photos aren't great but they are the best I could do on a gravel road in the driver's seat unsure of my exact time to destination (Garmin could only get me so close) so I didn't dare stop for even a second to get a good still shot ;)

What I learned in the ER....

I had the first trip of my life to the ER on Saturday.  I had my 96oz of water on Friday, 32 before & 32 after the race Saturday morning, started on a headache about noon, visited w/a friend, did my grocery shopping then took a nap to get rid of it, woke up a few hours later swearing that someone had cut the back 1/2 of my head off, it was the most excrutiating pain ever.  I took ibuprofen & ate a little bit to get it moving & tried to sleep it off again. An hour later, I was done fighting & had Tim take me to the ER, nothing was comfortable; standing, sitting, laying, changing positions, crying, not crying, nothing eased it at all.  Getting checked in was long & painful, but luckily they led me to a dark, cool room eventually.  Doc ordered  pain med, anti-nausea med, fluids & a cat scan. The wheelchair ride to the scan was horrible-not her fault just moving hurt. Once I got it all flowing & found out the cat scan came back clean, the pain eased immensely.  Sent home w/orders to take tylenol & sleep . 

So now that you know the back story, on to what I learned while in the ER:

• never ever go alone.  I might have laid there for quite a while with the orders made but no one following thru if not for Tim leaving the room to go to the bathroom & someone seeing him asking how I was doing & him saying nothing's been done yet.
• if you need something, ask. I was shivering on the bed under a blanket & was strong enough to ask for a second blanket.  I almost didn't b/c I thought I'd be out in a few minutes, that would have been a miserable 20.
• tell them when it hurts.  the EMS worker that did my IV was quick & on target but gentle he was NOT & was able to adjust as well as aplogize a little when I vocalized how much it hurt.
• don't take it personally when they call your worst pain ever, 'a headache', they can't feel it, they have no idea.
• be patient.  someone ahead of you truely might really be critical, blowing a fuse waiting isn't worth it. Tim had a horrible time w/this.
• if you have any questions about the orders, ask.  The nurse was terrific with my qusetions about the meds & the dr was great about telling me how much I should have been drinking & told a story about a previous patient's scarey similar condition.  He was also great about being honest about how I might feel ok to go to the party but w/in a few hours I'd be back in to see them if I went. (so I didn't go)
• WIERD reactions happen.  I was cold & sweating until the fluid was half gone.  I can't explain it but when the fluid started, & my arm went cold, I instantly smelled rubbing alcohol.
• they really do want to see you feel better.  I happened to be there at the change of EMS shifts. one guy clocked in, heard about me & made me his first stop.  He also gets bad headaches & wanted to be sure I had what he would want/need, a blanket & the door closed.  I made sure to thank him on the way out.

I am happy to report that its still down to 'just a headache' 24hrs later.  I have made sure to get lots of water today.  I have taken the house chores slowly today. Partly because I am foggy brained either from the super pain meds or from the migraine & am struggling to focus & partly because I have very little energy or ambition and am scared to push too hard & fast & have it return. The only reason I am not spending the whole day in bed is that I have my family coming tomorrow for BBQ after the parade. So I am creeping along.  Lets just end by saying that the flower beds aren't getting weeded today ;)

currently

Discovering: that my line drying addiction shouldn't control my laundry habits. some days it must be done & dried in the dryer-being ok w/NOT being an all or nothing factor HELPS.

Training for: Des Moines half marathon in October by running several days/week w/friends as well as keeping up on 5k races that pop up thru the summer.

the friends that also ran the Indianola Osprey Race this spring.



Loving: that some of my little garden experiments are working even tho some are not.

Enjoying: the summer with out any itty bitties in care.  No bottles to pack on walks, trips or events.
Wishing: the weather was a bit more summer like. Its fluctuated from spring to a dab of summer then right on to fall in the past month.

Counting: down the weekends until our next boating trip. Love our boating family.

Shopping: the farmer's markets as much as possible! I have done the Des Moines Downtown Market twice, our local Clarke County Market a couple of times,  as well as being lucky to happen upon the Grinnell Market on Saturday.

Eating: as much as possible from the grill.

Learning: how to make, use, perserve from our environment. Step 1: mulberry syrup.