Tag Archives: half marathon

The New Year is here

Posted by sarah3030 in blogging, friends, growth, running, Sarah, The job. and tagged with , , ,

I don’t have any resolutions to share.

I am proud of myself for not waiting for this new year to put into place the things I wanted to happen.  I applied and was accepted to grad school when I had no idea how I was going to pay for it.  But thousands of people figure out how to pay for it, right?  I knew I would too.  I didn’t wait for this year to start to begin my longest half marathon training process ever, I ran my first 5K a couple of weeks ago.  I didn’t sit around and collect unemployment and wait for a job to fall in my lap.  I took on my random part time jobs where I met new people, learned new things and got out of the house, even though the combined total from those two part time jobs was never more than an unemployment check was.  My friend Claire likes to point out that I was essentially volunteering during this time because I still got partial unemployment during that time.

I have a “word” for 2012.  It’s FOCUS.  I have three big undertakings in 2012, things I began in 2011 and are only going to get more intense:

  1. Disney Princess half marathon training for Feb ’13  (I know – longest training process ever.  I know.)
  2. New job.  As a corporate trainer that has just moved to an entirely new industry (casinos to groceries) I know there is much to learn on top of a very rigorous training schedule.
  3. Grad school.  So much reading!  I’ve always been smart, but I’ve never been an exceptional student.  Creating good study habits is going to be a challenge.

Making time for all of these things in addition to life getting in the way is going to be my challenge.  Therefore, I choose to FOCUS this year.  So, instead of creating a list of lofty goals and books to read and instruments to tackle – I’ll FOCUS on these and see what else happens.

This new year snuck in.  I’ve been sicker this week than I can remember being in a long time.  I’m fortunate to never have sinus or allergy issues.  I’m experiencing my first sinus infection and it is wiping me out.  From a couple of days before New Years Eve until last night I was pretty much bed bound.  I had a few friends over for New Years Eve, but even they were out by 10pm.  I was even driven to purchase and experiment with a Neti Pot for the first time.  I have a few friends who swear by them and I will admit I felt relief after using it.  Also glad I live alone while using it.  Least sexy thing ever, I imagine.

Happy New Year to all of you.  I’m excited to enter this year with intent and purpose.  And a place to share it all.

Under 35

Posted by sarah3030 in Event, work it out and tagged with , ,

Not only is it my general age category, I wanted it to be the goal for my 5K race this morning.  My training has been stunted in the past ten days with the weekend in Toledo/Cleveland, the seasonal & part time jobs needing more time and general holiday merriment.  I was still committed to the 5K race this morning.  I had two goals:

1. finish under 35 minutes

2. it would be cooler if I finished at 33:38

Why that time?  I follow a blog called Meals & Miles and Meghann says that her first 5K was finished in that time.  I think her running history is a lot like mine (not a runner at all when she started) and I needed a goal, so there it was.

I finished in 34:30.

Sigh.  So close.  You know what the total bummer is?  Shoestrings.  At two different points in the race each shoe came untied.  I learned the value of double knotting.  I’m not saying that took a full minute, but I could have ben closer.  The race took place in the park a block from me, I intend to practice the route I ran today more regularly.  I may ween off treadmills and do outside running more.  I also think elevation played a factor in my performance today.  If I do run on a treadmill I’ll need to include some interval hills.

I was frustrated by my overall performance.  It didn’t feel quite as good as I wanted.  I do want to focus on the good stuff: I woke up, I made it out, and I finished.  I have my baseline.  I have a lot of work to do.

I am happy to say the cold didn’t bother me.  Dri-tech running clothes really do work!  Also, my awesome rhinestone headband arrived in time.  When I started running with the Disney Princess Half in mind I kept envisioning pieces of my fun running outfit for that event.  I was so lucky to find the dream piece in an etsy shop!

I have some really terrible photos, but I like you, so I’ll share.

Please forgive my morning face

Yes, that’s a mirror self portrait, which I’m generally not a huge fan of.  Oh well, at 6:45, I was not setting up self timers and such.  Also, you can see my “finish!” sign.  Those are sticky letters I found at the dollar store and sometimes I like to leave myself motivational messages.

Close up of the headband

The headband kind of played today.  This run was part of a winter series, and there were lots of holiday accessories on people.  I fit right in.  My plan is to wear this headband at every race I take part in leading up to the Princess Half.

So, there’s my recap.  The first of many, I sincerely hope.

Did I tell you about the time…

Posted by sarah3030 in growth, running, work it out and tagged with ,

…that I ran 20 consecutive minutes??  Oh, I didn’t?  Allow me.

I’ve been hesitant to post a lot about my running progress and goals here.  You know I have some issues ‘fessing up to things I may not finish.  I have started the Couch to 5K program no less than 5 times.  I always get scared at the end of Week 5.  That’s when you go from running two 8 minute stretches in a half an hour to one 20 minute stretch.  That has freaked me out every time.

With the Disney Princess 1/2 marathon as my goal, with the knowledge that I can probably run 20 straight minutes, and with the moral support from two of my Zumba acquaintances and an ex-husband (he’s become an odd running supporter.  I think it stems from watching the marathons together.  Or him knowing what kind of support I need from the old married days.  Whatever it is, he’s done a nice job of saying, “Of course you can do this and I’ll be on the treadmill next to you if you need me.”  Which I appreciate, but have never taken him up on.  If I do this, I have to conquer the mental game and achieve it for myself with only myself.  Anyway…) I totally ran 20 minutes this past Saturday.  Plus 10 seconds.  Just to say I really nailed it.  I gave myself the following pep talk, “Sarah – I would say good luck, but you don’t need luck.  You just need to keep moving.”  Genius, right?  But it worked.  Just keep moving.

People say running gets addicting.  That I’ll be hooked.  That it’s a way to clear my head, be alone with my thoughts, use it as time to day dream, etc.

That’s starting to happen.  I like it.  I’m actually in the middle of two Couch programs.  I am now on Week 6 of C25K, which I do on a treadmill at the Y so I can get pacing down.  I decided to download the C210K program and start working with that one outdoors.  I went back to Week 1 and am doing shorter, easier intervals without the distractions and timers and tvs and people all around.  I think it’s a good system.

I think I can get 13 miles down by the time I turn 33.  What do you think?  I have until September 30.  13 by 33.  I’m only adding about a mile a month, as I’ve got two miles down right now.  I think this might be the most well thought out plan I’ve had in a really long time.

Who knew wanting a running skirt would be such motivation?  (I’m totally scoping them out on Athleta.com and Nike.com.  This one has the cutest pleats!!  But this one is such a great color!)

Also, I’ve checked with my friend from grade school who makes super adorable tutu dresses and costumes for kids to see if she could whip something up for me when I run this bad boy of a half marathon.  She’s in.

Something like this - only shorter??

I love that it has those simple bustle designs on the side.  My biggest challenge will be deciding what princess to represent while running.  Belle is my favorite, but yellow is not my color.  Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) is my 2nd favorite and I look okay in pink.  Since I plan to wear a matching running tank/shirt with running capris/skirt with this over it, I need it to be something I look good in.  Because when you look good, you feel good.  I look good in purple, but that would be Ariel and I’d need a green mermaid tail-ish skirt.  Ice Blue/Cinderella may be my best bet.  Plus, I just LOVE those side bustles!

Okay – enough talking about my remarkable 20 minutes of consecutive running.  For today.  I think I’m going to stretch my new runner’s legs at a 5K in a few weeks.  Stay tuned…