IT'S ON LIKE DONKEY KONG!

I don't think I have ever been so nervous and so excited for anything in my life. Well, except for having for three beautiful kids.  I wasn't even nervous getting married.  CRAP~I sign up for my first ever half marathon and I just don't know what to do with myself. 

Today Leah and I started our OFFICIAL TRAINING for our first half!  Whoop Whoop!  We are kind of following Hal Higdon's Novice 2 half marathon plan.  I know we can do the intermediate, but I don't want to mess with the numbers. 

If you followed my last post, you saw that Saturday was our longest run at 7.5 miles.   Needless to say the legs were still slightly sore so we took it easy.  Let's call it a recovery run.  I think I am going to start running with my husband on Sunday mornings just a few miles before church to loosen the legs, because once we ran today my legs felt great! 

We went our from my neighborhood which is a pretty easy route, nothing exciting scenery wise.  Occassionly we get surprised by sprinklers or by the country club mowing their lawn, but nothing crazy.  By the time we reach my 'hood again, we have about a half a mile left so we usually do two small intervals.  We ran the last .15 at a 7:24 and it felt great.  I know it's not a big deal for my ELITE friends, but for me it's kinda a big deal. I know my awesome ELITE friends love me either way.  They don't care how fast or slow I am and I am grateful for that.  You will read this statement a lot~I have an AMAZING support system.  My family, friends, and our running group the SUNCOAST STRIDERS are unconditionally supportive.  They never make me feel stupid(even though I feel that I way sometimes), they are my biggest cheerleaders, they bring me water or let me sip theirs, they stop and talk to me while they are running, and give great advice.  I couldn't get through this journey without them.  OMG~ I am getting teary eyed as I type this.  So~if you're reading this THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.  ALL OF YOU! 

I decided on New Years Eve, as Leah & I were signing up for Iron Girl that if I was going to do this I was going to train smart.  Training smart= clean eating, or at least better eating ;)  So if you want to follow me on Myfitnesspal.com my username is Staubin5.  I am by no means perfect, but I am going to try to eat better.  I know that it will make a difference.  I need to find  a balance in what I am eating and how it effects my runs.  It's going to take some work, but I will figure it out.

Cheers til next time!

LONGEST EVER~BOOYAH!

So from here on out through the rest of this training every Saturday's post will probably be a LONGEST EVER!  Leah & I's training plan doesn't officially start until January 28th, but we decided we would go for it anyways.
So if you followed last week, went went 6 miles in Starkey Park.  It was nice, calm, serene, and we saw new scenery.  This was a big deal.  It also intrigued us.  We knew we were almost to the enchanted forest so we wanted to go a little farther this week.  I am proud to say that our curiosity made us go just a smidge farther.  We had planned on seven and we did 7.4.  WOOHOO!  The point four miles was because I wanted to make it to the little building on the trail (which we did~and i was SERIOUSLY hoping it was was a bathroom~it was not~boo).  I was happy that curiosity sucked us in because we met up with Rachel and Becky for a few minutes and then they carried on with their run because they were cold. 
At this point,  we decided we would try out some of the goods I brought with us~Shot Blocks.  One word~YUCK!!!!!!!!!  They were so freaking gummy.  How the heck do you chew those damn things while you are running?!?!?!  I could only suck down one and we were off.  (Still trying to suck shot blocks out of my damn teeth).
Off we went, gummy teeth and all, and now the cold was starting to set in.  It seemed much colder than when we started, I'm guessing because we were sweaty.  GET READY FOR IT.....THIS IS TMI, SO IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE MOOD~STOP READING!
Around mile 4.5 My legs were starting to hurt, but not like muscle hurt.  Like rug burn hurt.  Yep, you guessed it, freaking chafe!  What the hell!  This only happens when it's cold, never when it's hot!  Yes~now the word is ~GLIDE! If you're a runner, you know what this is!

I was hoping that I would never have to buy this, but I guess if I don't wanna have issues I am going to have to.  BOO!
ANYWAYS~we ran our last few miles stopping at  the water stops and maybe one time before we saw the awesome brown sign.  When you can see this it means you're almost done.  Usually when we see we pick up pace.  I was wondering if I would still be able to pick up pace after adding more miles, but I don't know why I was sweating it because I did.  I think more or less because I know we are almost done, but I also like to see if I can push myself!

So we did it~7.5 beautiful miles.  We saw a baby buck with his horns growing in, they were so little.  Oh and we had 2 or 3 deer cross our path while we were running. 

6 miles~almost to the enchanted forrest....almost

Six Mile Saturday

Leah & I are two weeks out from our official Iron Girl training beginning!  Whoop~Whoop!  I am so excited.  We may be two weeks out from training, but we also have THE BEST DAMN RACE 10k in two weeks.  For my non-runner friends a 10k is 6.2 miles.  Sooooo, we did our 6 miles and it was freakin awesome!!!  It was seriously best run.  We had great weather, good company along the way, new scenery.  It was so refreshing. Here we are at water stop #1, approximately 1.25 miles out.

Barely even breaking a sweat!
By the time we got to this water stop we had already ditched the water belt and long sleeve shirt for me.

Again I forgot the freaking Garmin.  I figured Josh took the Garmin with him when he left since he was going for a longer run, but he didn't. Boo! Oh well.  I think we averaged between a 10:30 and 11:00 for the 6 miles. I know not real fast, but hey I'm not looking to win the race.....let's be real...that's not happening!  I'm just looking to prove to myself that I can do it.  I know that I can! 
AND guess what?  I am actually starting to like to run.  I mean really like it.  First I just went for social hour, but now I really like it.  Miracles do happen.

I love running at Starkey Park.  It is just so beautiful and it has a calming effect on me.  Leah and I ran out 3 miles and we realized we had finally reached new scenery.

I know some of you may be looking at this like what's the big damn deal, but when you run week after week and you finally see something new it's awesome!  So of course I had to stop and take a pic & then Leah got a little silly.

Hey~we had all the time in the world and let's face it we're fun!

After we took in the scenery we picked it up and started heading back to the shelter.  Life was good.  We talked along the way, teetered tottered with another runner, and then came across Petey the friendly deer.

I like looking at deers from a distance, but they terrify me.  Most things in the wild terrify me, but deer really do it for me.  ESPECIALLY after one of the girls from our running club just recently had a hit and run with a deer.  That's right, the deer did a hit and run!  She was ok, a little banged up from falling, but ok.  So I took a pic of Petey from a distance.  Bye Petey~til next time.

Our last mile and a half was pretty uneventful.  We just chilled at our chill pace.  Again~I am liking running.  By the time we got to where we had a half mile left I was ready to bring it home and kill that last half mile, but I needed some good jams.  I got out my phone and I knew exactly what I was looking for!  TURBULENCE by Steve Aoki.  OMG~whaat a killer song!  Our last half mile was fast and amazing!  We felt awesome!

So that was my Saturday.  Looking forward to my runs this week.  Here's my schedule:

Monday~co-teach Body combat

Tuesday~Run 3miles 530am

             Teach body combat10am

             Teach body combat 7pmn

Wednesday~learn the new combat release

                  teach spin 445pm

Thursday~Run 4 miles 530am

Friday~work on new combat release

Saturday~7 miles

Glow Run 1/12/13

This was all about the GIRLS!!!!!!  Running with friends is awesome so why not do a "fun run" and make a weekend out of it?!?!?!  That was exactly what my girls and I did!  Best decision ever.  We left our husbands, significant others, and kids at home and headed out Saturday at noon for a night of fun!

We checked in at the hotel, had lunch, went to packet pick up and got ready, blah, blah, blah!  Get on with it right?

The girls and I headed out an hour and half before the run to check it out.  We so kindly asked the valet dude to take our picture~i'm pretty sure he thought we were crazy, looking the way we did.

Tutus~check.  Neon socks~check. Glow necklaces~check.  Corn rows~check.  Yep you read it right, this girl rolled out in corn rows.  Had to try something different.
Anyways I digress.  We left early to go check things out, I mean this was a fun run.  There was a DJ and we had to go people watch!  We waited, waited, and waited.  There's only so much people watching you can do before you start getting anxious.  Soooo, what do you while you wait?????

DUH~ you dance!  Um, yeah that was us at the start line dancing.  REMEMBER~"FUN RUN."  I'm all about it.

FINALLY~6:30 came and we were off.  Like most starts it was kind of cluster.  Especially with this kind of run.  I mean I'm no ELITE runner by any stretch, but seriously there were people in the front who were walking and just pissing around.  Just GET THE HELL OUTTA THE WAY.  Not only did we have clueless people we had to deal with kids who were weaving in and out of the people and making a dead stop right in front of you just to pick up the freaking glow necklaces that people dropped along the way!  I wanted to scream~for real kid, go ask your mom to buy you some, we got them at the dollar store!
It took us about a half mile to weave and get in a good groove, but we did and it looked something like this..

Thanks Leah for being the only one smart enough to bring a small camera ;)
I felt pretty good as we chugged on along through the course.  The Glow Run's advertised "glow zones" sucked.  No one really knew what to do, we didn't understand what the big deal was.  So, Leah, Melissa, Jamie, & I just plugged on along.  We blew through two water stops and a really nasty smelling area. 
Stupid me forgot the Garmin in the hotel room, but I think his may have worked for me instead of against me.  I am a constant watch checker when I have it.  I want to see our pace and how much farther we have~ALL THE TIME!  This run I was feeling pretty good until I realized it wasn't an out and back.  Usually I don't mind that, but it was so dark and I could not see where we were finishing.  We rounded a few corners where people were telling us, "You're almost there!"  In my little brain~I was thinking I can't see crap, so I don't believe ya.  Then, it got really dark and Jamie & Leah took off.  I was a little hesitant with the inability to see.  THEN Melissa calls my name and screams," Let's GO~WE'RE RIGHT THERE!"  I picked up pace and then it got darker.  I admit I had a slight panic attack because I couldn't see, but I caught up to her and she held my hand to guide me to the finish line.  What a good friend!  I am so lucky to have her!  We were booking it to that finish line.  If you know me well, you know that's my style.  There is no measly stroll across the finish line for me, I am going BALLS TO THE WALL.   So we went balls to the wall and the our balls were stopped dead in our tracks at the finish line.  Not 20 feet after the finish, literally at the finish!  GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY PEOPLE! 
Are you ready for the best part?!?!?!?!?!  As we were crossing the finish line times were being called out.  Wait for it.......wait for it.......29:35!  Yep that's right!  This girl PR'd at a fun run!  I have never gotten below 30 minutes!  I was stoked.  WOOHOO!  Next up~find the rest of the crew.  First we found Leah & Jamie.

Then we found the rest of the crew!

This was a great experience and one to check off the list!  A good time was had by all!

unofficial training run

The BIG race is 14 weeks away and OFFICIAL training will start at 12 weeks~Woohoo!  I am so excited. 

Tuesday morning Leah and I set out from my house at 5:30am for a 3 mile run.  I couldn't see the dang Garmin so I'm not sure what pace we started at but I know it was a decent pace.  We got all of about a quarter mile and got soaked by sprinklers that we couldn't see.  Seriously!!!!  Why the heck do you need to run your sprinklers at 5:30am?  Why not 2:00am?  Anywho, our run was ok.  I was blah feeling after combat from the evening before and had heavy legs. (Damn jump kicks)  We threw in a few sprint intervals at mile 2 and made it back home.

All in all nothing to write home about.

I also taught 2 Body Combat classes, I was pretty feeling bad ass by the end of the day!


I think I am going to start blogging my food intake.  More for me than anything.  I figure it will keep me honest ;)


Tuesday
B- Multi-grain english muffin w/3 slices healthy ones ham, and a cheese slice
S- Mozzarella cheese stick
L- 2 pieces of buffalo chicken ring and strawberries
S- Snackwells chocolate pretzels (I really needed that sweet and salty)
D- Skinny Taste Puerto Rican Pork with Black Beans and Brown Rice
S- Strawberries   w/2 tbl cheesecake dip made with SF cheesecake pudding mix and cool whip

I logged everything into MYFITNESSPAL.com and my total calorie intake for the day was 1098.  Not too bad, but I should have more fruit and veggies.  Today is a new day!

I already can't wait for tomorrow's run.  Hopefully I will remember to take a picture or 2.
Happy Wednesday everyone!

The Year of GOALS not resolutions....Yes, there is a difference.

I am beyond excited for what is ahead in 2013.  I started this year with a different mindset just as most people do.  BUT unlike most people I am sticking with this positive mindset.  I am not going to be a resolutioner.  I am going to be someone who achieves my goals.

Since I started running a few years ago I think I have said every year, "I want to do a half this year."  That statement is always followed with, "I don't think I have it in me though."  Well, this year I AM DOING IT and to secure this I signed up for............................... Are you ready for this????  I mean really ready??

That's right folks, Iron Girl Half Marathon in Clearwater.  After much discussion with my awesome sister in law, Leah, we decide  we take the plunge and do it together.  How freaking exciting.  Not only am I going to do it, but I get to train with Leah!  WOOHOO!  We are totally going to rock it.  I am to use Higdon's Novice 2 Half Marathon Training Plan since this is my first ever. 


I am going to incorporate a few other races as training runs for Iron Girl.  It can't hurt right?
First up will be, THE BEST DAMN RACE, in Safety Harbor, Florida.  I signed up 6 months ago for the 10k.  This is another first, my 10k. 

Next up will be Gasparilla  and I am  going to go with the 15k here.  Again another first! 

This is going to be such an amazing adventure.  It is going to force me to train hard and never give up.  Keep my eye on the prize!  I have had many people tell me that I am crazy because Iron Girl is a tough course.  Ummmm hello, have you seen me???  I'm a tough chick!  Yes, this is going to be a hard course.  It starts and ends at Coachman Park.  This means going over not one but two bridges.  The Causeway and the Sand Key Bridge.  I am choosing to take the approach that it is going to be a beautiful run.  I love running by the water, it is so refreshing.

I have also been running more with the Suncoast Striders Running Club and I am so lucky to have their support throughout this adventure.  Here is the two and a half mile water stop pic.  WOOHOO~I never get to be in water stop pics, so this is huge for me ;)  AND~this is only a fraction of the group.  They are absolutely amazing and I have made some awesome friends!

I hope you all will join me on this journey.  Let's do this!

I have some big news coming up!  Can't wait to share with you my new adventures!  Be on the lookout!