Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Ren10- A new 10k

                                                   rv-REN10logo-Color web
Saturday, August 20 was the new Ren10. This is how they advertised the course:

The best part about the race, besides the beautiful scenery, is the ease of the course. Other than one hump in the road near the end of the lake, it’s pancake-flat. 

Great Group
Well in all of my past experience if they are saying its 'pancake flat' then its probably really NOT and the fact that I am know the course so yeah.......

Because I have been running so much better I was excited to 'try' my hardest for this. Several of my friends was there we all gathered up at the start talking getting ready joking laughing etc. then all of a sudden everyone in front of us started taking off!?!?!??? I never heard a single announcement or 'GO' I didn't even have my Garmin on yet??

It is hard to see me but I am all the way in the back of this photo in white with the girl in the white hat (Kristen) behind me, can you see I am still fumbling with my 'stuff' I wasn't ready at all!! But it was all good. I told my friends I was wanting to 'try hard' today and Tiffany told me to stay with Kristen :) and that we did! 
Running Selfie

Parts of the course is 'Pancake flat' like the start so we was easily able to keep a good pace and I was still able to talk and not feel winded! As we were talking I found out that Kristen hadn't ever ran this course before so I told her "well you don't know about the big hill then huh? I'll just go ahead and tell you its more like a small MOUNTAIN!!" not to scare anyone I just like to be honest :) We was still going along at a decent pace and then we saw the base of the hill, she said "That is where I draw the line with this pace" LOL no worries cause I am too!! ** umm hello another bad blogger moment- I had my phone why didn't I take a picture of the small mountain???** We got a little ways up it before we walked the rest but the best part down hill is just as great as the up!  We was able to hold the burst down and around to the water stop where we walked long enough to drink a little bit. The way we was heading I knew there was another mountain to climbed and said out loud "surely we DON"T have to go up that part too??" One of the ladies from that area told me only a little ways up it.....shew thank goodness! Once again we walked up the hill to the turn around point and almost back down to the water stop. I told Kristen I was going to start slowing down the 'faster' (for me right now) pace was starting to get the best of me thankfully it was overcast and wasn't too hot. Of course we had to go back up and over the small mountain to get back to the finish line but as we were going back this lady that was a little bit ahead of us dropped down and grabbed her leg, I knew her to so I sped us up to get to her and see what was wrong. She was crying holding her leg saying "it popped something in my leg popped" we told her to just stay there and we will send help. But when help came she waned to keep going ~ guess she will be ok! Anyway that was mile 5 and our slowest due to stopping and helping her. Oh how I was so ready to be finished thankfully I had Kristen by my side and just tried to stay positive for her sake but it was her keeping me positive and going I totally would have gave up and walked LOTS in the last mile. We or I did have to walk a little but I tried as hard as I could to keep going. When we saw the corner to the finish line and Mom the race photographer and Kristen says "fists up!!" and THEN that little turd didn't tell me what came next......

Sprint like the Wind

She takes off sprinting like the wind! What?? Wait for me!!! LOL The road was wet from where it had rained some and I almost slid across the finish line! I wasn't prepared to 'Sprint like the Wind' but I am extremely thankful she pushed me not just then but during the entire run without her I would NOT have done as well as I did. Thank You Kristen!!


Check out this AWESOME finisher medal!

Love Miss Haylee :) 


Look at These Awesome Ladies


RUN HAPPY :)

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Three Things Thursday- Upcoming September Races


Can you believe that September is just around the corner??  I am hoping with September it will start bringing cooler weather!! My #BRF keeps saying all this hot weather running will make us faster this Fall I am hoping so!

Anyway I have 3 big races coming up in September:

1. September 3/4 I am heading for the Virginia Beach Rock n Roll Mile in the Sand and Half Marathon!!! I am really excited for this! Last year I did the half but it was when I was battling my Plantar Fascitis issue and I bombed out big time I am really hoping to redeem myself this year!!
                      
2. September 17 will be the RJ Corman 10 miler
RailRunner-2016_600x400
This is a fun race because of the after food!!! Let's be honest I do run for food :) but they have a cookout or provide Zaxbys nibbler sandwiches along with homemade ice cream!!!! The worst part of the course is running on the airport runway it feels like it just keeps going and going and going!! Yeah I pretty much sucked at this race last year too and the have changed the time of year from March to September this year so hopefully I can redeem myself here too!!


3. Then there is the KY History Half September 24- this was probably my most favorite half from last year! I still wasn't too great but I did feel great this day but my #BRF hadn't ran in a couple of weeks so me and someone else stayed with him and just enjoyed the course. I am really excited to attempt this one again this year and yep you guessed it redeem myself !!!

Logo Circle-01



How about a little #TBT too

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Tackeling the Long Runs


I really enjoy long run day. It is not always the easiest day of running but it is the day that I get to spend the most time with my Running Friends the main Friends in my life!! I mean lets be honest #RunningFriendsRock !!

My #BRF was out of town for a couple of weeks so he missed the long run one of those weekends I took off as well :) so last weekend (August 7) and this weekend (August 14) I told him we was NOT going to worry about pace only completing the distance we needed!! The first weekend we had a crew of us!!! I love it when we all can get together!!!

My first #RunningSelfie

That weekend for some strange reason I felt really good and don't exactly know why since we ran cross country all week that week I think I was just excited & happy to actually be back on the roads!! This really was a nice relaxing run and was just what I needed! Not one single one of us stressed anything with this run I REALLY ENJOYED IT! 6 miles logged that day :)
Cute little sidewalk Library :)

Love the message!
This past Sunday (August 14) once again I said we are NOT going to worry about pace just completing distance. I really wasn't sure how I felt or how I would do. The first 2 miles was a little eh' ok but I started feeling better and more like running after that. We said we was shooting for 8 - 10 miles just see how we felt. It wasn't as humid as the day before during the Dash for Danielle but it didn't take too long to get HOT neither David or I had a single dry piece of clothing! Just as quick as we was feeling great about running we felt awful too. We settled for 9 miles.
Beautiful Morning Sunrise 

I'm going to master the #RunningSelfie 
But then when we was leaving.....David leaves his keys under the windshield wipers. Well they had slid down and neither of us could reach them! So I gave him a ride home to get a coat hanger LOL!!!

Yay it worked!!!
Oh the adventures in running!!! You just never know what may happen!!! And David thanks for the talks I treasure them :)

Do YOU prefer to run with someone or alone?  I seemed to run better with someone!

RUN HAPPY ;)

Monday, August 15, 2016

Another Weekend Gone........Already


Can you believe it? Its Monday again already!! You know what they say the older you get the faster time flies....well now that I am at the ripe old age of 40 time is flying and has been for some time now!! LOL

Saturday (August 13) I ran the Dash for Danielle 5k. This was actually a special event as it was held in honor of our (mom's and I) family friend's sister who was killed by domestic violence it was/is a very sad story.  In fact her story was played on CBS that night. Hard to believe some thing like that can happen to someone I knew of ~ SCARY!!
I have been running so much better and getting a little faster well back to where I was so I had already told myself I really wanted to 'try hard' in this race. Well except that I woke up with a terrible belly ache and couldn't stop making bathroom stops before it even started. And it was very humid as it has been all stinkin' summer long!! But even with all that already against me I was still going to TRY MY BEST! **Side note- Before the race started this lady looking panicked says "Quick what's the best app for running music mine didn't download?" Umm well I don't use my phone for that so I had no clue. As I was walking to the start line I was beside the same lady so I asked if she got it worked out and of course she didn't and was still acting in a panic. So I asked her if she HAD to have her music to run cause if so she could take mine??!! It was her first 5k! She was ok without it. Sorry but YES I just gave myself a pat on the back :) ** Off we went we have several races at out local park but this one was a route I had never run before and it cut out a hill or two! My first mile I felt pretty good and didn't feel like it was a struggle at all but I knew I was either way too fast or a few in front of me that I know are fast are being slow?? Yep I was too fast 8:44!! Now I am too hot and a little exhausted but still trying to hold on strong. Thankfully mile 2 included the downhill and I could coast for about a ¼ of a mile!! This mile pace is more what I should try to stay at for a 5k for now 9:38. Well then came mile 3 this is where I gave up. I think I was trying too hard and it was too hot. My stomach was telling me if you don't stop I am going to make you stop and throw up! I bet I walked every bit of .3 at the end I just didn't have anything left in me. It showed in that split 11:07!! Do What??? However with all of the walking I did I am totally thrilled to have finished under 30 mins with 29:49 overall pace 9:49!! And this was my first race in my new age group......





Yay I got 2nd place and a door prize to our local Bike & Footwear store! SWEET!! (Actually I traded door prizes the one I won was an oil change but my husband is a mechanic so I will let him do it :)!!)

Now that I am all better with my feet and legs are better (hopefully) I need to work on getting faster well back to where I was and could easily run a 5k at 9:15- 9:30 pace. At this moment I struggle to get close to that.

What kind of 'Speed' training do you do??

RUN HAPPY ;)





Thank You- Thank you for saying you adored our friendship yet you turned your back on me. Thank you for leaving me in tears. Thank you for turning your back on me during my time of NEED!  Thank you for showing me NOT to get THAT attached to another friend again even though I told myself not to do it this time. Thank you for showing me there obliviously isn't many true friends out there  Thank you for showing me you don't want to talk or try to work things out.

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Lordy Lordy I am 40.....

Age....It's just a number right??  You are only as old as you feel, Right??

I knew this day was coming (hopefully anyway!!). I am not one to let birthdays bother me ever. In fact I usually love birthdays, that is each persons one day in this crazy world that is (should be) all about YOU!
**(Well let my own pity party begin now)** 
I did this all to myself. I had expectations. WHY??? We never "celebrate" my birthday WHY would we do it just because I turned 40?? (We are always on vacation for the hubs b-day, hmmmm ??) He doesn't ever remember its my birthday until after leaving the house WHY would it be any different just because I turned 40?  And then there is my friend issue. WHY did I expect to receive at the very least a text even though we don't talk anymore WHY did I feel like I was special because I turned 40??  (Not to sound greedy because I totally do not feel that way at all but for her bday I made an extra special point to get up extra early to make sure I had a special Facebook post & time to leave her gift waiting at the doorstep to be the first thing seen that morning!! And I am late for everything!) Then I see said friends post for another friends birthday and gifts I was crushed. WHY am I starting to dwell on this again just because I am 40??

 WHY did I sit myself up for failure and failure feelings??

However my work best friend did NOT let me down! I walked into Birthday Wonderland!




And of course my MOM never lets me down. Check out my awesome "Pepper Bouquet"!!!

Ok party is over now. Time to get back to reality.........

RUN HAPPY :)


Thursday, July 28, 2016

That was a New Experience



My BRF is out of town so I wasn't really sure if I was going to long run this past weekend. I still have flexibility in my schedule that I can skip a week here or there if I need to. I knew I was running a 5k on Sunday and really wanted to "try hard" for this so I didn't want to over do it on Saturday. I figured an easy 6 miles would be ok.
My newest running friend actually had asked me to join her if I wanted which thrilled me to death!! (My running friends are numbered as some still don't like me!!) She is a very SERIOUS runner/trainer (actually she does personal training in her home!) and follows a schedule like you are suppose to! I may try that one of these days LOL!  Anyway she said she was doing 14 miles @ 11:15- 11:30 pace run/walk 3/1....that sounded perfect for my easy run. Unfortunately when Saturday came her back was messed up and wasn't sure if she could run but would try. Yeah we made it about 20 steps and she was in pain but she still wanted to walk. Sure I will walk too that's no problem with me!! Well she trains with "power walking" during her training just in case she needs to do it in a race. I am NOT experienced in power walking and barely experienced in running. I almost had to slow jog at times to keep up! She kept telling me I could go on and run but I enjoyed walking and talking and learning things about each other since we have just began running together! I still got in my 6 miles power walking (she completed her 14 power walking!!) with a 14 min overall pace! **Bad blogger moment- I meant to take our selfie and forgot!!**
Later that afternoon the hubs and I went to Sams Club just to have something to do that was cool and inside since it was 100° out. While we was in there I noticed that my legs was a little sore mostly in my upper thighs hamstrings and lower butt. Sunday morning I had a 5k to run.....OMG I was so sore I could barely get out of bed!! From power walking??!! Maybe I need to do that more often! The 5k wasn't so well for me but I was still ok with my time considering my soreness and how crazy humid it was (Sunday was the hottest day of the year thus far!!). First mile was the best and way to fast and in the last mile I just kinda gave up and didn't care anymore I did find two little girls to finish with they was cute and funny! 3.12 mi 31:44

For whatever reason this week I have done NOTHING for exercise! I am really trying not to stress over it and enjoy a short little break like I feel like my body is telling me I need!!
How do YOU take breaks from exercise/running? Do you feel like it HELPS?

RUN HAPPY :)

Mindy & I
#RaceDaySelfie

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

The Long Runs


Last year was such a terrible year for me with running I just never got anywhere with it and got worse and worse as the year went on. The beginning of this year started that way until I decided it was time for a change! Granted I had trouble last year and early this year with my feet and legs but a few months ago I could tell that all of that was getting better that's when I decided it was time to change. Now I am back to normal running aches and pains you know the ones that daily ibuprofen fixes :) I have seen so much improvement in both my short and long runs and I am so excited about it!! Actually loving to run again!!!

Here's how my last three long (ish) runs have gone-

July 2- this was my first long run that was all by myself it has been a VERY LONG time since I have ran alone. I really thought I'd be terrible as I have a hard time pacing myself or making myself run any kind of speed I do so much better with a partner. But on this day I dragged my feet on getting up and getting ready so by the time I finally started running I was on a time schedule of having to take our daughter to work. I think that helped me have a much speedier run than I expected!
8 mi 1:19:38 9:56 overall pace


July 10-Thankfully this week my wonderful BRF(best running friend) was able to join me and thankfully it wasn't crazy humid and we slept in an hour longer (YAY!!!) David my BRF was really jealous of my 'fast' pace from the previous week but I told him I thought it was a fluke and on this day we was not stressing over pace. We had 8 miles on our schedule again at mile 5 it had warmed up more than we expected it to and was contemplating if we wanted to run 7 and walk 1 or what our pace was great hovering right around 10:15 and we didn't want to lose that. At the end of mile 7 we got the pace down to 10:05 and that tickled David to death!! SO we decided to run the last mile and run it as fast as we could! We ended up having to break it up into a few segments since we was sprinting I had to stop and catch my breath a couple of times BUT we knocked our overall average to 9:59!!! My watch didn't say the 9:59 overall but I had a little more distance than him however I will say this run was 8 mi with an overall pace of 9:59

July 16-After having several great runs I was afraid of this one. This entire week I felt exhausted and run down and just knew this would be a terrible run. I told myself to wash those thoughts out of my mind and just roll with it thankfully David wasn't feeling too speedy either. However we ended up not being to much slower than we have been we kept telling each other that we needed to slow down so we wouldn't skip out on some distance as we had 10 on schedule. We ran into our newest running buddy about mile 4 she was doing 18 miles and was doing run/walk 3/1, since we was starting to go downhill and wishing the run was over we decided to join her for a few miles thinking it would be a little easier with the 3/1. OMG that ended up being way harder on us than we ever imagined and WHY???  We went from running 10:30's to 11:30 to 12:30 I didn't think that last mile was ever going to be end!! Very thankful we made the whole distance we set our for and didn't back down!
10 mi 1:55:12 11:31 overall pace

What are YOU training for?  I am hoping for at least one decent Fall Half surely all this summer HOT training will pay off this Fall!

RUN HAPPY ;)

Friday, July 15, 2016

Have You Seen - Skinny & Co






I was recently introduced to Skinny & Co and I can NOT wait to try out their products! I am more and more becoming a believer in pure and natural products and love finding new ones to try out!

Here is a little info I have learned so far about Skinny & Co:
Skinny & Co. sources 100% of their coconut oil from their own factory 
Skinny & Co. coconut oil boosts metabolism, supports thyroid function, supplies energy to insulin-resistant cells, helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels, and promotes oral health when used in oil pulling 
Skinny & Co coconut oil can be used as a one-for-one replacement for butter when baking, grilling, or cooking 
Skinny & Co. coconut oil is pesticide free and handpicked from the jungles of Vietnam
● Skinny Coconut Oil will last for at least 15 months, but could last up to 3 years if stored properly 





And look at the cute gift pack available

Again I can NOT wait to try some of these products out and share with you MORE about them and how wonderfully they are! 


Triple the Racing Fun- What a Weekend

So this was suppose to be a Three Things Thursday post but yeah well Friday works too :)


It has been a while since I have ran 3 races in one weekend or 2 in one day.  I was really curious as to how I would do especially since I feel like I am seeing improvement in my running.

First up was the  Bill Pollom Memorial Father's Day 5K   on Saturday June 18. This was held at our local Millennium Park. (Which is not an easy run but not so terrible do able run) My last 3 5k's have fairly  been consistent on time being 30:31, 31:39 & 30:38 so I was really hoping to break 30 even if it was 29:59. My first mile was way way too fast (8:43) as I was trying to be smarter and go out a little slower and not be dead for the finish but once I took off and was going I felt too good and couldn't slow myself down until after the first mile of course. I tried holding that pace or close to it until I hit the big hill, that is the only spot that I walked more than I really wanted to but that hill is a booger! (I will conquer it though!!) I knew I was slower in mile 2 (9:34) & mile 3 (9:58) but I ran most of them and if I walked I only took a few steps. I had no pacing whatsoever I was all over the place I kept hoping/thinking someone I knew would get up beside me that I could pace with but that never happend. I was totally THRILLED & SHOCKED when I finished with a 28:33!! I think it shocked my friends too :) And I was 2nd in the age group!!
Right at the end of the 'toofast' first mile!
Cruising into the finish




Second was the  Saturday June 19 
Last year this was a really fun but extremely HOT night, this year they had it a month earlier and started 30 mins later. All of that was a tons better!! I am not really sure why but the crowd was lots smaller this year for this race. My #BRF David said we had to do better than last year (10:55) so he wanted 10:30 or less for an overall pace. I was a little worried I wouldn't be able to do that since I ran so well that morning. However it was easier than I thought it was going to be I still struggled a bit in places but overall I was happy with both of us and how we ran. And what do you know we averaged 10:21 by my watch but David had 10:18!! Our finish time was 37:52





Last but not least for this racing/running weekend was the 
 Father's Day 5K Run For Prostate Cancer
Why in the world they would have this race in summertime in the middle of the day is way beyond me, in fact they would probably get more registrants if they changed things up a little. But anyway there was only 19 people pre registered for this one and I think they ended up with about 25 finishers. I told myself before I even got there to not worry about my time/pace since it was my 3rd race for the weekend and I am just now starting to run decent again. My first mile was a little too fast for me with the heat and my legs was tired in the second mile. In the last ½ mile a lady with a stroller passed me I again told myself its ok I am on my 3rd race of the weekend, its HOT, my legs are tired and there is only about 25 people. Well that thought lasted until I could see the finish line and I decided I wasn't going out like that and I sprinted as fast as I could and passed her of course. I about paid for it too as I felt very ill and almost had to puke....love it that shows how much effort I put in :) Come to find out it didn't really matter anyway (except for my own well being) because they didn't do awards. This one was a little bit slower than I really wanted but I will still take it 31:11 since I was still under a 10 min pace!

Geez that was a HOT run! 

What is on YOUR training schedule? I am currently training for the KY History Half in September!

RUN HAPPY ;)

Monday, July 11, 2016

Another Week(or 2 or 3) Gone....



Can anyone else believe how crazy fast this year has gone by?!?!?!! Goodness we are already half way through 2016 and it seems like it just began yesterday!
So I told myself I was going to keep up with this whole blogging thing and here I am behind again. I (think) have a few pretty good excuses to be behind though.

Here's what has been keeping me busy the last few weeks:
On June 20 our youngest daughter FINALLY went for her drivers' permit! Our oldest daughter (22 years old)doesn't drive and to be truthful it's probably a good thing!

This one though.......she is going to be Hell on Wheels (sorry for the language!!)! She has probably been ready to drive since she was born! Its funny how your kids can be so different! I was worried about her passing the written part testing just isn't her thing
                                                                    BUT.....
                                                     YEP she PASSED!!
And the girl can drive pretty darn good!! She has been working at a local Marina since she was 14 and they have golf carts & ATV's that she has been driving since then so technically she has been practicing for a while now. Now she just has to wait 6 months and get her full license.....Watch Out Streets!!!


Then on June 23 we had a terrible evening thunderstorm. We heard a fairly loud noise and one (out of 4) of our cats kept on meowing like crazy. Didn't really think much about it. Then I went to try and get the outside cat in (she's usually under the truck right by the door) and I had to do a double take.....
There was a tree in my driveway!! Guess the cat was trying to tell us what was going on and we just wasn't paying attention!

 Needless to say that was a weekend worth of work! The funny but not so funny thing when we saw the tree in the driveway it knocked down our cable line and my husband said "WOW we still have cable though!" About that very same moment.......Zap there went our power!!! I looked at him and said "But we still have cable LOL!!" We ended up not having power all night and half the next day GRRR!!



How are things in YOUR neck of the Woods??

RUN HAPPY ;)