Anyone else feeling this way...

So before I posted that I am doing some modifications but now I am doing even more modifications. So this weekend we went to Pittsburgh for a wedding. I was all prepared to run my 10k and I couldn't do it. I have to be honest the two 5 mile runs this week were so hard after doing that 8 over the weekend. My body needs more rest time with these longer runs. It was like my joints hurt. My muscles are fine but it was like I couldnt' stretch enough in my joints. So I bailed. I was also a little hungover but still I wasn't that hungover. It wasn't until yesterday...even after drinking a bottle of vodka mixed with cranberry that I could actually think about running. So now I think I am going to run everyday about 2 miles and then do my long runs and do that until race week. I just hadn't felt that physically tired yet so I am thinking I am just not able to run that many long runs cause face it ladies...5 miles is a long run. Remember a few weeks ago it actually was our long run of the week?? So that's the deal here. I am glad that a few of our old school ladies have touched base with us and I am glad everyone is doing well still. It is officially the home stretch. I can't believe it. I think this has helped me so much and I am thinking that after this I am going to keep running a few times a week but nothing more than 5 and nothing less than 3. I think those are good mileages for me right now and hopefully I will do another half in the spring. Maybe one in Nashville?? Ladies think about it. It's a long way away but I was thinking about doing it last spring but was too sick too often to train properly. It's a music marathon with bands every few miles or so. And it's not super hilly like Knoxville. Happy Monday to you ladies!!

Logging in from the parents house.

HI Girls, I haven't given up I just lost my internet for the time being. I am trying to get the courage to go out for todays run, I think I am going to do 8 again and I was checking back with the blog. I have been cutting down to one run during the week and the long run on the weekend just to make it through this thing. I just want to be done at this point. I am sorry guys for being such a downer but I just want to make it and relax. I am glad I have you guys out there doing the same thing because I would have for sure given up already if you weren't going through the same thing. Anyways, I am hoping to go out in about the next hour and then I will try to check back sometime soon. Our internet went out with the power outages and now we can't rebout our router because we can't remember our password. We are a bunch of dopes I tell you.

Runner's High

Sometimes I feel like the world is against me. We went to the lake this weekend for a little family trip, so I planned to get up early on Friday morning and do my eight mile run that I didn't do last week (in place of the 10k). I spent all Thursday washing, packing, cleaning shit up, the usual (it was Dave's poker night - super!) I get all the kids to bed and I'm relaxing on the couch when I here Jack yelling...he barfed, all over himself and his bed. I spent the next three hours watching him dry heave into a trashcan while Dave slept off poker night on the floor - so tempted to direct the boys spits toward his sleeping father, Jack finally fell asleep about 2am, I brought him to bed with me - you know, so he wouldn't choke to death, so I got some uncomfortable sleep until the baby woke up at 4:30am looking to do some titty sucking - it was at this point that I turned off the alarm and abandoned all hope of running 8 miles. But wait, this sad little story has a happy ending. Gillian and her family were at the lake with us and Friday night she said she was going to get up and run 8. I didn't want to, but when I came down the next morning and she was walking out the door to run I had to do it. I didn't have a computer and I hadn't mapped a route up there so my plan was to run for 1hour and 36 min, that way I felt like I would definitely be going at least 8 miles. I don't know if it was running along the lake shore or what, but I felt so good, I really enjoyed myself, it was the first time I really felt like I could make 13 no problem.

Truckin'

Last week I fell off the wagon. I did my first 4.5 don't remember my time, then I drank too much, and then I left for a wedding in North Carolina, blah blah blah. That was that. This week I am going to get back in the groove. I busted my ass on Monday 5 miles, 55min., the Olympic team hasn't called yet, but I'm waiting by the phone. I took it easy on Tuesday and ran 5 in an hour. I'm going to do 8 tomorrow, should be fun.

Health & wellness fair tomorrow -- free screenings, presentations & giveaways

Oh yes, and another thing. For those of you here in Central Ohio, I wanted to let you know about a health and wellness fair I am coordinating. (Amanda already knows.) It's tomorrow. Given all that you are doing to train for the race, I think you'd find it beneficial for a number of reasons. Plus, you can win prizes, like a gift card for shoes at Fleet Feet for one.

Here are are some of the details. You can also get mor info online -- hope to see you there! Even if you can't make it, please pass this along to others.

The fair is this Thursday, from 4-8 p.m. at the Westerville Community Center (350 North Cleveland Ave., at the corner of Cleveland and County Line Road). It's free and open to all ages and is being put on by the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group.

There will be more than 30 companies demonstrating and providing screenings, tastings, etc. You can meet health and wellness experts from a variety of disciplines, win cool prizes, try out the Wii Fit, get free health and fitness assessments, sample food and nutrition products/services, get a massage, attend short presentations on a number of relevant topics and much more.

We'll have the following screenings available at no cost:

• Blood pressure
• Blood sugar
• Cholesterol
• Body fat/BMI
• Strength tests
• Ear scans
• Personalized health & skin assessments
• Performance stress evaluations, including posture and computerized nerve assessments
• The American Cancer Society's "Great American Health Check"
• Information about how to get assessed so your shoes and bras fit properly

And there will be short presentations/demos on the following:

• Balancing Your Body’s Energy
• Dance demo — Learn to tango, salsa and cha-cha
• What You Need to Know About Health Savings Accounts
• Ease Your Mind by Improving Your Credit Rating
• Five Weight Loss Myths & Four Ways to Permanent Results
• Recycling 101
• Healthy cooking demo
• Lifting Weights to Prevent Injury
• Maintain a Healthy Work/Life Balance

Hi ladies,

Sorry to have disappeared for so long. I do appreciate Kelsey getting my Marco Polo reference way back when! I monitored the blog for a few days after that without posting, then haven't been back in so long till today that sadly, I couldn't even remember my password and had to reset it. I have just been trying to juggle so many things and so this fell off my radar even though it was the last thing I wanted to.

I am so proud of you all. It's awesome that you are all still training for this. I am so impressed that you are balancing it with everything else going on in all of your lives.

I do want to report that, although running the half may not be practical for me at this point, I have been working out regularly and seeing results. I've been running about 2-3 times a week, anywhere from 2.5 to 4.5 miles each time. For the first time in my life, I am really enjoying it. It's no longer something I have to do that I dread. It's starting to become something I really WANT to do. I used to feel great after runs but never at all during them. I am starting to feel lighter on my feet and almost fast. (Mind you, I'm not fast, but sometimes it feels that way.) Mike and I did the Abercrombie Challenge two weeks ago and ran it in 28:38, which may be the fastest I've ever done a 5K so I was very happy with that.

I've also been lifting once or twice a week with a trainer and trying to eat better and I signed up for a class I used to take at the rec center again -- it's twice a week. I've dropped about ten pounds overall plus gained some muscle mass and people are starting to say things about it. I put on a pair of jeans I hadn't worn in awhile this morning and they are loose. I'd actually hoped to have seen more results by now, but I can be patient.

I am still disappointed that I haven't made it as far as you guys. I'd still like to participate in this blog if you'll "let" me back in. It's very inspirational to hear about everyone's experiences along the way.

Happy training!
Kacy

Slight correction..

I meant to say 40 minutes for 3 more miles....

Seriously Sucked...

All I have to say is that 8 mile sucked. Seriously...I did 5 miles in an hour and then another 40 minutes to complete 4 more miles. It sucked. And sitting still was not an option for the rest of the day. If I sat still for too long my legs froze. I felt fine the next day but that night not so much. And I had to go out on Saturday.

Modifications

So ladies. I think I have decided to modify my runs a little bit. After not running last week I have realized how important the rests are to me completing the runs. But not necessarily completing resting but doing more short runs. I think I am going to try doing this next week. I am going to do the 5 on either Monday or Tuesday and then eventhough I said I was going to do it before but just hadn't gotten around to it, do a quick 2 the day after and the I am going to split up the next 5. Then do my long one on the weekend. Depending on which days my other runs have fallen on. My 5 felt awesome on Tuesday but then went to do it yesterday and the first part felt ok and I was actually running faster than normal but I stopped to get something to drink and went to finish the final 2 cause I was attempting another 5 but I just couldn't get my legs to start back up again. You know when you are walking and you say you'll give yourself til that sign, tree or whatever and when it comes you just can't do it. That was me. So I did 4.5 cause I couldn't motivate for the final .5 and I walked the last 1.5. So it made me rethink things. So that's what I am going to attempt this upcoming week. I am dreading this 8 this weekend. Longest run EVER in my life. But I can't wait to finish it. It will feel great when it is over. We're getting into the home stretch ladies!!

AMAZING!!!

So ladies...I have to fess up and say I didn't do any of the total runs last week. As all of you are all aware how F'ing hot and humid it was in Ohio and I tried to do 7 on Sunday but I made it about 3.5. I just chalked it up and said we'll just start a new week and hopefully make up some of the mileage. Well let me just tell you...I decided to run 5 yesterday and it went great. It was a beautiful 80 degrees out and by the time I went out to run it was overcast so I did my run outside. It took me almost exactly 1 hour. The first 2-3 miles went great and I was doing about a 11 minute mile but the hills were taking their toll so I had to walk a little more than I intended but I felt great. Amanda, you were so right about recovery time. I think about my first 4 mile and then 5 mile run and by the end of the day I felt as though I was 80 years old. My legs would freeze if I didn't keep moving. Now I feel great. I felt as though I could of kept going. I would of if I didn't have to pick up Brody but I am pretty pumped. I get a nice normal week this week so there are no excuses. Next week I gotta go to Pittsburgh but hopefully there is a workout room that I can run on the treadmill. Hope all you ladies are doing great. We are more than halfway there. We can do it ladies!!!

Just another run

I was really dreading getting back out there after my collapse on Saturday morning, but I drug myself back out to the trail today. It was more like a steeplechase than a marathon with all of the trees down in the path, but I churned it out 4.5miles, 50:30.

Another brick in the wall...

It was pouring down rain on Saturday morning so I decided to wait until later in the day to run. I finally headed out at about 1:00pm and it probably wasn't a good idea. When I walked out of the house the heat just hit me in the face, it was like running in some one's armpit, there was no relief, if the breeze did blow it was hot, like someone was blowing a hair dryer in my face. I made it an hour, I think I got about 5 miles in and then I ran out of water, and then I ran out of my will to live. I stopped running and started walking, it took me 40 min. to walk my sorry ass back home. I tried to get running again, but I just couldn't do it, I was dead. So, it was a little depressing, but I did finish, 7miles, 100min. I have left myself lots of room for improvement next week.

Keep On Keeping On.

Well, went for the 7 miler today and I made it in 77 minutes so I felt good about that. Kelsey, it sounds like you have had an exciting week, don't worry about it just get in the long run and I bet you will be just fine. I have been running two times during the week and then trying to do the elliptical one day on the weekend and the long run the other, but it is hard to get it all in sometimes. The seven miles today was rough but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. No pounds are coming off but at least I know I am getting "healthy" (isn't that what you are suppossed to say). That part sucks, you run and run and run, and my weight is still the same. I think I need to start Weight Watchers again. Lori

Fessing up...

So I have to admit to you ladies I haven't run this week. Things have been crazy. Gary and my dad have been trial since the middle of last week. In case you guys didn't see or hear, it was on national tv. It was the student love triangle. This guys wife was sleeping with one of her students and the husband shoot him. Anyway. I usually always run on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the week and on Tuesday Eric, the defendant, was testifying and I didn't want to miss it so I said I will run Wednesday but the closing arguments were running late on Wednesday. So we were waiting for the verdict on Wed and Thursday and I packed up the car and Brody was with me at work most of the day cause he had a doctors appoitment and as I am loading up to go run at 3:30ish Gary texts me there is a verdict so we ran back to the court. We were hanging out and talking with the family after the good verdict. I went to run but I mentally wasn't with it and I felt so rushed cause we had to meet for the celebration dinner. So I have to do 4.5 today, tomorrow and then 7 on Sunday. Not happy. But I am still with it ladies I promise. This thing is right around the corner. I find myself saying holy shit every once in awhile.

Take a little time for howlin' at the moon...

Monday - 4.5miles, 52:00
Tuesday - 4.5miles, 51:30

Great weather, good runs, looking forward to 7 on Saturday morning. Take a little time to feel good about how far you have come...

Back In Stride

Hi Girls, I was just about to quit this whole thing...back to work, Luke is overwhelming right now, just a bunch of crap, and then I had a good run today. I have not been doing as many runs (missing 1-2 a week) but I actually think it might work for me. I felt good today, no pain, which is a nice thing. Well, keep up the good work and lets watch those pounds melt-away hopefully!

1st Annual Water Buffalo 5k

The long weekend screwed up my schedule for this week, so I ran four yesterday(45:30), it went pretty well. Then today I decided I would do the 5k because I had to run early and I have soccer tonight so I figured less miles would be best. My goal was 33min, which turned out to be a little too lofty, I finished in 34:30. I swear, that first mile I was flying, but I ran out of gas, I think if I would have rested a day maybe I would have done better.
Today's running thoughts - Things that annoy me on runs:
1) People that say good morning or smile at me
2) Geese and their disgusting shit
3) Dead animal smell
4) Old people that are more fit than me
5) When my shuffle plays a slow song

I'm going out after soccer tonight, resting tomorrow and running 4 on Friday. Then I'm going to try and enjoy my weekend and not think about the new mileage until Monday, it's starting to get interesting, keep going girls, happy miles!

Out of touch

So ladies! I am still here...barely. It has been a crazy week and it is going to conitue for this week and then basically until the marathon. We just got back from Brody's first birthday weekend and now Gary and my dad are in trial which is tiring for all of us. Which by the way..their trial is on TruTV so check it out. Deadly student love triangle. But anyway. Thru the chaos I did my runs. The 6 sucked. I went up to Atrium park and ran the lake and down the path some. It was hot as hell though. I think my diet is affecting my runs this last week cause I have eaten like shit and I have noticed I am lethargic more so than before. I struggled on my 4 yesterday so I am going to do a quick 2 today. Who would of ever thought I would think a quick 2. Crazy. It really starts getting hairy in the next few weeks. I have to admit I am a little scared but excited cause I think that's when the weight will really start melting away. Have a great rest of the week ladies!!