Tuesday, December 15, 2009

race report

at mile 1...seeing everyone made me cry.




i know it is long overdue, and actually i wasn't even going to write a report...but i've been asked where it was. lol

Race weekend started friday afternoon, when i went to pick up mine and Portia's race packets. I arrived at the high school where they were having the Expo and met Lisa and the other gals who ran the relay. It was fun to walk around and look at all the run gear and goodies. Got my race number and shirt and hat. I hadn't been feeling well the last couple days, and the kids had been sick. I would not let myself feel sick. I was popping tylenol and just trying to rest. I spent the majority of saturday just resting. Portia and her family were coming from Valencia and arrived around dinner time. I made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. It was yummy and was a good carbo load before the race. We visited a little while before heading to bed at 9. Race day would start early. The alarm rang at 5, although i had been up for a while. I was really nervous, but excited. so much anticipation leading up to this day. Got dressed...and went to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. Everyone else was getting up too! i had yogurt and a banana for breakfast. and about a third of a cup of coffee. It was about 6:15 and portia and i headed out. The boys and kids were gonna see us at mile 1. We got there and found parking. We headed over to the applebees to meet up with lisa and the girls. We all prayed and then wished everyone good luck and would see them at the finish line. Portia and I headed over to the corrals. We were in corral C. Lots of people. i was surprised. we stretched a bit and before we knew it...the gun went off and the whole mass of people started walking...and then it turned into a jog. With so many people it was really hard to even run. about a quarter mile into it...i said goodbye to Portia and went on my way. The first mile was really slow...because so many people. Got to the first mile marker and saw my family. Rich and the kids, my mom and dad, & Katie. I started to cry when i saw them all. I am so thankful for everyone's support. I could not have done it without them. around mile 3 i had to go to the bathroom. saw the porta-potties, but there was a line...so i didn't stop. saw more potties at mile 4...only one person in line...so i stopped...seemed to take forever...it was probably 3 or so minutes. finally got back on the road...found a good pace and just kept going. had my tunes playing and was just enjoying the scenery. There were bands along the way, although i couldn't hear them, because of my ipod. around mile 6 i chuckled to myself as a girl in front of me pulled out her camera and started snapping self-portraits and then random scenery shots. she then ran over to the side and took a picture with her family. i felt really good, just cruising. around mile 7 at the turn around...were rich, my mom and shannon. they were cheering...made me smile and get choked up again. cruising along until mile 8 or so...decided to eat some sport beans...had to walk through the rest stop and got water and ate my beans...then at mile 9 was the hill. i remember putting my head down and just booking it up the hill. i knew we were almost to the end. after the hill, the legs were a little tired, but i knew i was in the home stretch. kept running....finally saw woodward park. kicked it into high gear for the last half mile or so...ran up to the finish...and was so elated! 2:23:57. i did it! i finished!!

enjoyed a nice hot breakfast, and chatted with everyone after.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009





i can't wait for this! i'm so excited.

it's been months in the making..well actually 13. and it's finally here. this sunday i will run a half marathon. a half marathon. i actually can't believe i'm saying it. 6 months ago i couldn't run a mile and now here i am. granted, i'm not the fastest runner, but i'm going to run 13.1 miles without stopping. and in a respectable time. that is unbelievable to me. and its all been through the grace and strength that God has given me. i could have never done this on my own. He is my strength. He is responsible for it all!! Through this whole process, the verse that i've probably said most often was Phil 4:13, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." That verse has been on repeat in my head.

i ran my last long run this past sunday. 12.15 miles. ran along a pretty hilly path and i still made it in 2:13:04. so stoked. so on the flatter course, i think i'll be able to go a little faster.

this weekend is the culmination of a long, hard, but wonderful year, in which God has done so many wonderful things in my life. " If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, and the new has come." 2Cor. 5:17 I am a new person. God's love, forgiveness, and grace are abounding. And they are anyone's for the taking, but we must first humble ourselves and ask for it. This year i begged for God's forgiveness...and he graciously and lovingly gave it. and he made me a new person. i am different inside and out. i am so thankful.

(pictures taken from the runfresno.com site)

Monday, October 05, 2009

feels like fall.


the weather here has been gorgeous.
today was a high of 71.
love wearing long-sleeves, jeans, and sandals.
went for a long run of 11 miles this morning.
it was chilly when i left...about 49 degrees.
but of course, i warmed up pretty quick.
rich met me on his bike about halfway through the run with some sport beans and water.
he's an awesome pit crew :)
made it back in under two hours. woohoo!!1:59:08
i'm not so scared anymore about the race.
i know i can make the distance, just have to keep training and getting stronger.
off to have a celebratory piece of pumpkin bread with chocolate chips.

yummy.

Saturday, October 03, 2009

keep running.

yesterday was my weigh in day and because of my happiness when i saw the 160, i decided to splurge a little bit :) went and had a hamburger with onion rings. planned on eating the whole thing. but... i couldn't. it tasted SO good, but only ate two onion rings and half the hamburger. i was stuffed.

then i ran an easy 6 last night on the treadmill and i'm off to bootcamp this morning :)

Thursday, October 01, 2009

feelin' good

yep...woke up this morning and weighed myself like usual.

i know..i shouldn't do it EVERY morning, but i do.

and was surprised to see 160.3 WHAT???

finally moved off the 163. i was stoked.

ran about 5 miles.
did intervals again...this time...mile intervals.

ran a mile warm-up
then 10:30
then 9:53
then 9:24
then mile jog

all in all a good workouts.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

today is......wednesday.

the days are flying by....can't believe its wednesday.

ran 4 on the treadmill.
and intervals....1 minute run at 8.0mph....1 minute walk...repeat 7 times.
could have gone a few more, but had to get the kids from school :P

38 days....

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

39 days left....


today its only gonna be 78 degrees!! yahoo!!
that means i'm gonna run tonight :)
busy with bible study and working in the kids classrooms today.


yesterday ran 8 mi on the treadmill in 1:32:13...not bad...felt pretty good...started getting a second wind after 6.


this past weekend a friend of mine invited me to an exercise bootcamp. there is a gal at our church who does these and they are super fun. it was a great time for fellowship and exercise!


last friday i ran 6 miles on the treadmill in little over an hour. (gotta remember to blog when done exercising. lol)

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

46 days left....


and the clock is ticking. i'm already starting to get nervous.
ran last night.
an easy 3 miles,
then some interval sprints.
i'm off to help in ryne's room today
so i'm gonna do my workout later.
off to eat my breakfast of champions :)

Monday, September 21, 2009

monday morning.





ran an easy 4 miles on the treadmill 44:32. then did some situps/pushups.

listened to the new david crowder band single...shadows. awesome song. their new album comes out tmr....can't wait.

talking about music.... wanted to write the lyrics to a song that i absolutely love and listened to it over and over when i first started to run on the treadmill. its by addison road.

Run

Stoplights, breakdown, we cry, last try
Worlds collide, time to decide
Where you want to go in this great big world
Where you want to go in this great big world
Stuck here too long in this sad song
Lost in a street, everyone has
Vanished and you're all alone
But you don't know where to go
Yeah you're all alone
And you want to go home
(CHORUS)
Run just as fast as you can
Run, 'til you reach the end
Where the fallen finally land
And your world starts over again
Run
Next page, new day, finding my way
Stumble upon the strength to move on
I am not alone in this great big world
And you are not alone in this great big world
(CHORUS)
Run just as fast as you can
Run, 'til you reach the end
Where the fallen finally land
And your world starts over again
Run
Run now don't you look back
Run towards the light straight ahead
Where the lost souls make a beautiful sound
And new life is finally found
Run
Your free, free falling
A new beginning
This is our time
(CHORUS)
Run just as fast as you can
Run, 'til you reach the end
Where the fallen finally land
And your world starts over again
Run now don't you look back
Run towards the light straight ahead
Where the lost souls make a beautiful sound
And new life is finally found
Run


Saturday, September 19, 2009

10 mi run that was really 9


went out for a ten mile run this morning. my buddy, portia, went along with me on her bike. she's the best. came to cheer me on and keep me company. the trail was busy this morning with lots of friendly faces. at one point we look up and see hot air balloons. i forgot the hot air ballonfest was this weekend in clovis. so great to run on the trail with balloons all around. on our way back, one of the balloons had landed in a mini storage facility and one was getting ready to land and bumped into a tree. so funny. i felt great the whole run and even had a little at the end for a little kick. i felt i was making good time, but couldn't really tell because i didn't have mileage markers. my goal was to make it under 2:03:00. a month ago i ran 10 miles and that was my time. so if i could beat that ...i would be happy. i made it home in 1:38:34. so i was stoked. i mapped the run and it turned out only to be a little over 9 miles...not the ten i thought. oh well...i have another ten miler next weekend. but i felt great. loaded up on jellybelly energy beans about half-way through the run and chewed my gum, so i was set.all in all ... a good run. can't wait for next weeks.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

start over again.

yep...that is my intention.

starting over in alot of aspects of my life. like this blog...thought it would be a great idea to keep track of my training for my half marathon in november.
yes..i said half marathon.

never have i been a runner, but about 5 months ago i began a journey.

a journey to be the best person that God made me to be, and that meant losing the 65 pounds that i had added over the past ten years. started weight watchers at the end of april and have been going strong since. i am down 42 pounds total. i now weigh 163 pounds. but along my journey of exercise and eating better i became a runner. it didn't start out like that though. i started on the treadmill, and could barely walk a mile. but little by little, i started to run, and soon i was running a mile. then two. and now i am up to ten. and run about 25 miles a week.

i have 51 days of training left and i thought it would be fun to document that journey.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009