Finished the Half

So this past Sunday, March 14...I walked 13.1 miles. I completed the Dallas Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. I think until about halfway through today I was in shock a little bit. It really hit me today that I completed it. I am always afraid of other people not wanting to hear about it or think that I am bragging if I am happy for msyefl and want to talk about it. But I figure that if you are reading my blog you have the option to stop reading if you aren't interested.

Fact is since Sunday my attitude towards finishing was kind of like this: eh. No biggie. Today I realized how weird that is. Why can't I feel happy about this? Why can't I just be proud of myself, at least for a little while? Well for one thing, I had planned on running some, so I do think that is part of it (the fact I did not run at all). But also, I think there are just some people who have made me feel like it's not OK to talk about my accomplishment or that this is not a significant enough accomplishment. I have decided though that I am proud of what I did, and that it's OK for me admit that!

So the question is: what now? What will I do now that I have accomplished my goal of completing a half marathon? Wendy and I were discussing this at work today. And during this conversation is when I really realized that I have officially proven to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to. Will I let this be a flash in the pan, one time in my life accomplishment? Or is this becoming a part of who I am? A part of my character? I know what I want to happen now: I want to become even more disciplined in being active and training, and I want to be a person who is active more often than not. I want to enjoy the outdoors, I want to love running, and I want that to be something ingrained in my being. I believe that completing this half showed me a part of who I really am, and what I can really do in this life.

In July, we are doing another half here in Abilene. It's unofficial and around the Lunsford I believe, but my goal for that half is again just to finish, but this time I am really going to walk/jog it. For me personally, running is the next step!

April 1, we hit the ground running with training for the half in July.

In November is the Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 and Full Marathon in San Antonio (the motherland). I'll definitely be doing another half then!

In February is the Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 and Full Marathon in New Orleans (Shannon's motherland). I'm contemplating doing a full marathon then. Not sure if I'll really want to do a full ever. So this is all very non-committal, just ideas floating around in my head kind of stuff. I would really like to at least do the half then and go to NOLA for a few days on vacation then. I love New Orleans and it would be great to see Shannon then!

I kind of don't know who this person is--this person who wants to do half marathons! But I kind of like her. :-)

This week's training...

So this week's training has so far consisted of skipping Tuesdays workout--my ankle was hurting bad enough for me to now want to go out w/o a brace and I didn't yet have one. Yesterday on my lunch break I bought a brace. After work I decided I didn't have much time to work out, so I would just run one mile. After about half a mile, my ankle started hurting again. I walked for a bit, and then ran the last quarter. I was going at a really easy pace over all. Not the best idea I've ever had though. Ankle feels okay today, but still is hurting. I also got this goldbond foot creme that is medicated and helps your feet and ankles hurt less. It is a miracle worker!

Due to inclement weather and sore ankle, I'll be doing an hours worth of walking off the pounds DVD workouts tonight and tomorrow night.

8 miles this weekend

So this weekend I am supposed to walk/jog 8 miles. I was bad and did not get all my work outs in this week, and then yesterday I was sicky. So, tomorrow I'm still going to do my 8 miles, but my time may suck and my body may hate me, and that's what I get I guess, haha. I am preparing myself for that so, at least I'm aware, right?

I guess I have like a month between now and the half. EEEK. I also need to book my hotel room soon...Hrmmm...I need to get on that!

I will update tomorrow about how the walk/jog goes. Say a little prayer!

8.5 Miles

I walk/jogged 8.5 miles yesterday. Thought I was doing 7 miles and felt kind of discouraged about my time when I was done. But then I found out that I did 8.5 miles!!!! That is CRAZY! I am so pumped and more motivated than ever to continue in my training. This week I'm going to try to especially focus on drinking enough water because I've been seriously slacking on that front.

Tomorrow I'm going to RAB's shoe supply to get a shoe fitting done and buy some new running shoes. After the 8.5 yesterday I basically sat at home with my feet iced down with ice packs from 5 until 11 just about. I could barely walk when I got out of the shower and it hurt to take any steps. Today my feet feel okay, not nearly as much pain, so I'm thinking that the shoes I currently have really need to just go!!!

This week for my training I'm walk/jogging for 50 minutes on Tuesday, Thurs., and Friday, cross training tonight and Weds. night. Saturday = long walk/run of 8 miles. Should totally be able to accomplish that considering I've already done it.

I'm a little proud of myself. I know pride comes before the fall (Prov 16:18), so I pray that I am not out of line here! But I am NOT athletic, and yet...I'm training to run a half and sticking with it and not dying after doing 8.5 miles. In crappy shoes! Okay, I'm done. :-)

Bee tee dub: If anyone is looking for a good Bible study to do...I highly recommend Blackaby's Experiencing God. Only done two weeks of the study (it's about 12 weeks long), but already this study is changing my life! Currently learing to see where God is working and to just join him there! No more stress over not knowing my "call." :-)

OK--off to finish h/w. Nighty night!

Training so far this week...

This week I have actually stuck to the training program pretty well! I walked the required amount of time each day! I hope on the long walk tomorrow I am able to face it with confidence knowing that I've done what I was supposed to do ahead of time.

I'm trying to also learn to just accept where I'm at. I of course want to get better, increase endurance, reduce my mile time, etc., but lately I find myself comparing myself to other people I know who are already really fit and feeling like a bit of a failure. BUT this is ridiculous! I've never been an athlete! Of course I can't do what they can do. But that doesn't mean I won't one day, as long as I keep working at it!

This week during one of my walks I invited a friend I hadn't seen yet this semester to go with me. It was a great time for us to catch up! I felt good because I got my social time in and my work out time, and didn't have to feel like I was neglecting one part of my life for the other.

Well, I'm off to make smoothies with my roomie and watch some tellie. :-)

6 miles!

We did our long walk/run yesterday--six miles total. It was intense, not gonna lie. I started out at a decent pace but ended significantly above what I would like and need to be at in order to finish this baby (the half) in 4 hours. I walked more than I wish I did, but last week's training was nil, so that's what happens I guess. This week we are walking/running 1 more day than we have in the past, so I'm hopeful that as time goes on, I can shave a few minutes off each mile.

I also just really need to build endurance! My legs felt like jell-o by the end of the 4th mile I think. Not good! Overall, the feet are doing much better, but I think I need to figure out something to do for them post work-out...I had a friend tell me to roll a frozen water bottle under them at night while watching TV, so I may try that. That's if I remember to get a water bottle and put it in the freezer!

I do feel accomplished that I did 6 miles and didn't die, haha. I also resisted the urge to vomit half-way through. Lesson learned: eat at least 2 hours before you go out for your walk/run!

One day I hope to be able to stop typing "walk/run" and just type "run." One day!

On a related topic, Shannon and I have done a really good job this semester of buying healthy groceries. I have eaten more fast food than I would like, but over all, I've lost 5 pounds since Christmas, and now that the training is getting more intense, I'm hoping to shed some more pounds at a little quicker pace!

My friend Ashley had a pair of petite running pants that she didn't want and they fit me perfectly! Running pants are usually way too long for me, so I'm excited. They are a good fabric, good length, good style (slight flare), and are black so they'll go with the work out stuff I currently own. She also gave me a watch that has lots of cool functions (tells you your heart rate, how many calories you burned, how long you've gone, etc, etc), so that is also handy since I'm trying to do the run for a few minutes, walk for a few minutes thing.

Well, that's it for my update. Tonight I have lifegroup from 6-7:30, then homework time, and then 35 minutes of cross-training...so this means exercise ball, weighted ball, and dumbbell time. Woohoo. Think I'll watch an episode of LOST while I'm at the cross-training. :-)

Oh and if any of you who read this know of any good volunteer opportunities, I'm looking to get into something I can do once or twice a week because I've decided that is something I've been neglecting in my life and need to work on. :-)

On the verge...

OK, today I was on the verge of giving up and quitting. I don't know why but I suddenly feel like I cannot do this! Here's the thing: I KNOW I could train and physically complete the half, but I am afraid that I am not finding enough time to train enough (work and masters and sleep take up all my time right now) and build up my endurance. This week I'm going to evaluate how I feel when we get done with our 6 miles and determine from there if I think I can do the half. Here's to hoping!

5.5!

Today our group that is training to do the Rock and Roll half in Dallas got together and did 5.5 miles. WOW, talk about inspiration. Awesome group of ladies who are working so hard and doing so well. I am ten times more motivated that I was before to continue my training during the week and to really push myself to be the best I can be each time I go out for a walk/run.

My glutes are somewhat sore and that was unexpected, but hey, at least I know I got a good work out in today! I also had a pretty good playlist today, only it was short, so I'm gonna have to beef up the tunes. Personal favs were "Replay" by Iyaz (cheesy rap, which is unusual for me to like) and "Fireflies" by Owl City.

I sign off tonight with a line from one of my fav Falling Up songs that was also on my workout play list today.

Your rhythm flows under my skin
I need you desperately

That's a song about Jesus, btw, and for some reason today I was feeling extra peppy, like there was an extra bounce in my step, and I know What that bounce is! Hoping and praying that in all I do, Christ will be glorified, and that the same is true for you. Goodnight!

Square One

Well, I did get in some workouts at home, but not enough. I am back to square one I think. But what I've decided is that I can DEFINITELY walk this half marathon. So that is my goal. Walking it. Finishing it. Learning to give myself grace over the fact that I'm not going to run it. That last one will be the hardest part of this whole thing.

I am going to wall-run M/W/F/S, and on Tues/Thur I will just walk. I think with this plan I will be more than prepared to walk the half. Cross your fingers, say a little prayer for me.

In other news, a huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders: I found out today I have plenty of fin aid to cover grad school. That was stressing me a bit, but I feel much better now about that.

I walked 2 miles last night, and tonight I'm walking/running 2. Hopefully Saturday I will do 4 miles, walk 1, walk/run 2, walk the last one.