Dash for Cash 15K Trail Race Recap

Let me just say if it wasn't for Rebecca pushing me I am pretty sure I would have downgraded to the 5K. My nutrition was off this week from adjusting to my glucose levels and my running has been non existent because of my lack of energy.

Becky, me, Felisha, and Mari headed to the start of the run

Here goes nothing! This was the longest race I have ever completed and my first ever trail run

Halfway through. I really wanted to quit but Becky pushed me to finish

Running and taking pictures

We finished! I ran, walked, and stumbled sometimes but I didn't give up!

Very proud of this picture!

Way to go girls! I couldn't have completed it without yall!

And since the race was in Corpus, Chipotle just seemed so right

Who needs KT Tape sunburn lines when you can get dirt lines! 

I didn't win any money nor did I find any of the $5 bills in the trees but I completed and that is what matters most to me!

One for the books

It is all downhill from here! The second half of this year is going to be awesome!

The struggle Tuesday morning was real. I did crawl back in bed for a hot minute before I realized I would not be doing what I said I was going to do. Out of bed I got for my tempo run and reached my goal of 4 miles. The plan is to keep my minimum runs at 4 miles for a week or two before upping it again. 

I do like tempo runs. They are great for slowly making me increase my pace and not peeter out just because my head thinks I am tired. It is easier on a treadmill....I haven't tried a tempo run outside yet. 

I was killing time on Pinterest the other day and found this. I saved it since I seem to have so many problems with shin splints. I was told it is because I have high arches hence the inserts in my Asics. So on rest day tomorrow I am going to re-lace my shoes and see if I can start to feel a difference in my runs. 

My mid year progress. Most mileage for a month and over 170 miles for the year so far. I am pretty proud of that right there! I lost about 3 weeks of my life in April due to the vertigo so I know I would have been at an even better total mileage number if I had been able to run without running into something. 

AM vs PM workouts

I am by nature more a morning person. I enjoy getting my workouts in before I start my day. I like the solitude of clearing my head before the day starts.

 I used to be able to do that which was fantastic but when I started my current position my hours changed a bit and it was really practical to wake up so early...plus I was really feeling it around 2 or 3 PM when I swear if I put my head on my desk I was just fall right to sleep. 

I have been in my position just over a year now so I am thinking I am going to push my start time back a bit so that I can run four days in the AM and do boot camp. That also means my runs will go from road runs to treadmill runs since Alice has an abundance of stray animals that I do not want to be chased by. Plus I heard that there is a coyote that likes to go to he park early in the morning so I think avoiding the park while it is dark is a good idea! The heat and humidity are making my afternoon runs and workouts right now something that I just do not look forward to and they are much harder. Lucky for me where I work I am not required to be in business casual therefore pulled back hair and no make up are ok! Bonus! And a total time saver. 

With my training really kicking into high gear come July I really want to make sure I am able to get it in all my mileage and cross training. What do you enjoy....mornings or afternoons? Why? 

Now we don't have kids yet so I am sure all this will change when that happens! 

Goal Races for the Year

Once I make it public there is no going back right?

So here it goes.....The plan for the rest of the year!

August 15 is the 15K trail run in Corpus Christi at the Oso Creek Park. Dash 4 Cash will be my first trail run and longest non road run. So far it seems we will have a pretty good group getting together to run this one so having the encouragement should make it much easier. I ran Warrior Dash over a year ago solo; I finished but it would have been way more fun with friends. 

September is the Spa Girl Tri at the Lost Pines JW Marriott. So far we have a group of ten girls who are starting to train for this one. it is a 300 meter swim through the lazy river, 2 mile run, and 10 mile bike ride. I was a varsity swimmer until senior year of high school so the swim doesn't freak me out aw much as the 10 mile bike ride! Thank goodness a friend of mine Melissa who I swam with as a kid, her family owns a bike shop! Britton's Bikes in San Antonio is the place to go if you need anything for road cycling. 

July actually starts the official training plan for my goal of running (maybe a little walking) my first 1/2 marathon in December. Carrera Races hosts a training series for the Rock N Roll in December so I figured that would be a good long training plan with help along the way. The Gusto Series is 5 races held on a Sunday July through November, gearing you up for the 1/2 or the full. I plan on registering for the 5K, 8K, 10K, 12K, and then 10 miler. Three weeks later is the 1/2.  

This is going to make me mentally tough if I plan on completing everything as planned. I have been logging everything in my running journal and setting out my plans on a calendar. I am looking forward to the challenge and becoming a better run on the flip side.

JUST....wow!

Reading through my blogs this morning and I came across Mile Posts aka Dorothy Beal's

blog post - There Is No JUST In 13.1

It could not have come a better time. I am so guilty of this. I call myself a beginner runner because I know there are so many people that can run faster and farther than I can. I constantly compare my abilities to others. In her post she asks what a long distance is for us and for me, right now, running 10K's is my challenge. I have run 2 or 3 registered 10K's and just over 6 miles around the small town I live in so I know I can do it but they are still challenging for me. 

I have also been bad about comparing my average mile times to others instead of focusing on the fact that I am completing the mileage I set out to do. I am not a fast runner.....in comparison to the people I consider fast. I guess it is all a matter of perspective. I am sure some folks consider me fast. 

I am trying to focus on being consistent and more positive when it comes to my runs so that I will not get frustrated and give up for weeks at a time. I know if I had a running buddy that would help however I just can't seem to find anyone that has a similar schedule as mine to be able to that. 

Thanks Dorothy for the post! It was definitely the motivation that I needed to know that any mileage I get in is better than nothing and it still makes me a "runner". 

My first 10K for 2015 is January 3 and I am part of a two member team relaying the American Bank Half Marathon in Corpus Christi. My second 10K race is at the Cowtown Marathon at the end of February. I know I can complete the mileage however the challenge I know I will face is the weather. I am not used to running in cold temps. I live in a small south Texas town where the high tomorrow will be 71!

Dorothy if you ever make your way to South Texas I would love to meet you!

2015 Goals

1. To complete at least 6 10k's ( will complete 2 by the end of February!)

2. To log at least 10 miles per week

3. To PR on my 5k

4. To complete a 10k in 66 minutes or less

5. To run every Runner of the Year Race with the Corpus Christi Road Runners