It's been almost a year since we've written in this blog and with all that's going on in our training lives, it's time to bring this thing back to life. Since I wrote in the blog, I've completed a number of races... two triathlons, multiple 5K and 10K races, but most importantly, I completed my first half marathon!! Here's a glimpse of what I've been up to this year so far....
February 25, 2013-Rock n Roll Half Marathon in New Orleans
This was my first half marathon and I must say, it was perfect weather. My legs didn't feel the greatest for the first few miles and honestly I thought this was going to be a loooooong race because of it. However, around the halfway point, my legs started feeling refreshed and I was able to push through. I think the hardest part was when I hit the ten mile mark. That last 5k felt like the longest 5k of my life but I turned up the speed because I knew the faster I ran, the faster I would finish. My sister also ran this race and it was her first half as well. We both had a great time and it was definitely a special moment to be able to share this experience with each other.
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| Me with my sister after our first half marathon |
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| Me crossing the finish line! |
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| I was quite pleased with my results for my first half :) |
March 2013- I participated in a 10k race in which the year before was my very first 10k race to participate. I can remember this race being difficult because it had only been two weeks since my half and my legs still didn't feel fully recovered yet.
April 2013- For the third year, I participated in the Blue Bell 10k run in Brenham, TX. Free unlimited ice cream afterwards?! Of course I'm signing up!! This is always a tough course because it's nothing but rolling hills but up until this year, I had lucked out because it was overcast; however, this year the sun was out it all its glory and I wanted to die. On a side note, I'd like to slap the person who designed this race course because putting a monstrous hill at the end of the route is NOT funny. Oh, and I did eat my weight in Blue Bell snacks afterwards. Don't judge.
Back home in Mississippi, we have a group of runners called the Mississippi Mud Pirates. It's a mixture of people with different fitness/running goals but we all share one common passion: we love to run!! In May of this year, while I was visiting home, I had the opportunity to participate in a 5k race in Ocean Springs. I can remember it had rained a lot the whole day and just before the race, I locked my keys in my mom's car. Go me. Lol. When I called the locksmith just before the race, he said he'd be there in 15 minutes to unlock my car and I immediately said, "Oh no! Can you wait like 30 minutes? I 'm about to run in a race." Needless to say, he said no. OBVIOUSLY he's not a runner.... I completed the race with a time just over 25 minutes and placed second in my age group. It was sort of a tough run because when we were on the stretch running next to the beach the wind was horrible but I sucked it up and pushed through it.
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| Mississippi Mud Pirates |
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| Placed second in my age group! |
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In June, I was able to go home during my hometown's annual Blueberry Jubilee. As part of the festivities, there is a 5k race that morning before the jubilee starts. I had another opportunity to run with majority of my fellow pirates that day. Not only did I PR that race, but I also placed first in my age group. Woohoo!! And to top it off, my parents were there to meet me at the finish line at the end. What a great way to end the race!
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| About to cross the finish line! |
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| New PR!! |
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| My sister, dad, me after the race |
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| Mississippi Mud Pirates |
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Earlier this year, I, along with my other fellow belles, decided that we were going to achieve something great this year. We've tackled races of all kinds of distances and we decided to push ourselves a little further by signing up for a full marathon. One belle, Ashley, has already conquered a marathon and this will be the first for my sister and myself. To train properly in order to try preventing injuries, I have been using Hal Higdon's 30 week marathon training program. I'm currently in week 15 and I am telling you, training for this is no joke. These past 15 weeks have been full of easy runs, hard runs, new PRs, waking up before the sun comes out to go running, going to bed early on Friday nights to get ready for long weekend runs, shin splints, aching joints, bleeding toes, muscle cramps, tears, LOTS of sweat, and most of all, dedication. It hasn't been an easy journey, but the progress I've made over that past several weeks has made all the sacrifices worth it. I can remember the time and effort I put into training for my first half, and boy I tell you, there's no greater feeling of accomplishment than the one you get when you cross that finish line. I had to fight back a lot of tears that day. Tears of joy. Tears of relief. It's one huge mix of emotions that only runners can understand. I'm excited to experience this marathon with my fellow belles on November 17th. It's going to be a great adventure and the memories will last a lifetime.
The belles are back and we are here to share this journey with you. We are just normal people with a goal and we're going to do what it takes to accomplish that goal. If there's one thing I've learned through this training, it's to not give up. You will have days when your runs are fantastic and there will be runs when you feel like you've never ran a day in your life. No matter what, keep going. I think it's on the bad days that we reveal the kind of person we really are. Do you just quit before you reach the mileage you're supposed to run? Or do you prove to yourself that you're not giving in to that voice that's telling you to just quit? Remember, if you ever want to see your biggest competition, go look in the mirror.
Till next time....Happy running, folks!!
April 2013- For the third year, I participated in the Blue Bell 10k run in Brenham, TX. Free unlimited ice cream afterwards?! Of course I'm signing up!! This is always a tough course because it's nothing but rolling hills but up until this year, I had lucked out because it was overcast; however, this year the sun was out it all its glory and I wanted to die. On a side note, I'd like to slap the person who designed this race course because putting a monstrous hill at the end of the route is NOT funny. Oh, and I did eat my weight in Blue Bell snacks afterwards. Don't judge.
