My First 10K

In February of this year I signed up for two races.  One of them was my first 10k race.  It was the Dam to Downtown in Iowa City, IA, on April 28, giving me about 2-1/2 months to train.  In an effort to stay in shape and try to avoid gaining weight during the wintertime I had been running and walking frequently on the treadmill.  I think I got up to about 2-1/4 miles by the time the weather warmed up enough for outdoors running in March.

It was so good to be able to run farther and farther every 10 days or so, and about 8 days before the race I was able to run 4.8 miles (a 10k race is 6.2 miles).

The night before the race was very stormy and rainy.  I was so nervous and excited about the race, and scared that it would be raining that I woke up pretty much every hour of the night to check on the weather outside.  The race started at 8:00am, but the shuttles that were taking the runners to the starting line were running from 6:30 to 7:15.  I wanted to make the first shuttle so I got up at 5:00am (after a night of fitful sleep) and made it in time for the first shuttle.

I took this photo on the shuttle on the way up to the starting line.  It was quite cold, windy, and cloudy.  The shuttle got to the starting line at 7:00 am, leaving the early bird runners to wait for an hour in the cold.  This is one case where being early was not a good idea.

Finally, it was time to lineup and start the race.  I knew the course would have hills, but I wasn't expecting the first and most severe hill to hit as early as it did - in the first 1-1/2 miles of running.  My goal with every race I've run has been to never stop running.  I came extremely close to walking on that first hill.  It took just about every bit of determination to not.stop.running.  The second hill was somewhere around mile 3-1/2.  It was very long, but had a pretty gradually climbing grade.  The third and last hill was at some point during mile 5.  I had run this hill during my training runs, and it was quite easy compared to the previous hills.

That last mile was so hard.  I had to keep telling myself I could do this, God made my legs and my body to be able to run, to be able to do hard runs, to not give up.  Finally, I saw the finish line, and the desire to be finished and excitement that I had finished kicked in, and I was able to sprint the last 100 ft. or so to the finish.

I got home and had breakfast.

Because that's the other not-too-smart thing I did:  I ran on an empty stomach.  That breakfast was delicious.  I then took a nap for about 2 hours.

I learned a lot from my first 10k.  One, I have more determination than I thought I did.  Races are a wonderful way to push yourself to run farther.  Getting proper sleep and nutrition before a race is very important.  The feeling of finishing a race, especially a longer one, is wonderful.  And even though while I was running this race I wondered if I was absolutely out of my mind to think I ever wanted to run a half-marathon, I signed up for my second 10k right after my 2 hour nap.  I think running is becoming a habit.  And I'm so glad it is.

The Past Month via Instagram

Well, that was an unintended break.  I'm so thankful for a wonderful spring.

I was so happy when Instagram was released for Androids.  I've been trying to take a photo a day - I love going back through the photos I've taken and remembering things.

I ran my first 10k on April 28.  This blurry photo was taken at 6:45am in the shuttle that took the runners to the starting point.  The race deserves it's own blog post - it was a great experience.

Been going to lots of my siblings softball games.  This is one of my favorite things about spring and summer.

Summer officially came to Iowa City.  School is over and now there are events downtown on the weekends and all the families are out and about.  Such a different environment than when all the students are in town.  This bike race was so much fun to watch.

Been going on lots of runs.  This is a huge change for me, and it's been so good to be disciplined in this area.

I never go grocery shopping.  But I'm starting to, and I'm trying to eat a little differently, too.  So far, so good!

Ran my second 10k on May 12.  

The weather has been so perfect for outdoor eating!

Froyo with my little sis downtown.  I think summer might be my favorite season.

I is for Instagram

I really should not be surprised that I totally failed this blogging challenge.  I also should not be surprised that I'm going to attempt to catch-up.  Somewhat.

About 3 weeks ago, Instagram was made available to Android users.  I've been enjoying it quite a bit since then.

My first Instagram photo - I didn't use any of the cool filters.  Going to my siblings' softball games is great fun.

My birthday cake, Pastel de Tres Leches.  It wasn't nearly as moist as usual this year for some reason.

Dinner at Noodles & Co. after my longest run yet at this point - 4.3 miles.

We went to see October Baby and I took a photo in the theater.  It was so good!  I highly recommend seeing it if you have the chance.

E is for Exercise

This is Day 5 of the A-to-Z Blogging Challenge.

Exercise is something I don't like doing but am very glad I've done after-the-fact.  A few years ago, I really never exercised, and lived a pretty much sedentary lifestyle.  But, spurred on by my Dad who knew exercise was good for me, and the desire to lose some weight, I began exercising and eating better a couple of years ago.

With my Mom after my second 5k in October 2010.

I'm so glad I started exercising regularly two years ago.  Not only did I lose weight, but I feel better, too.  I used to be cold all the time, but I'm really not anymore.  I also used to lay in bed for 30 minutes trying to go to sleep every night; now, I go to sleep within 5 minutes of getting in bed.  

Speaking of, I need to get some exercise in this week.  I've been busier than usual lately and haven't gotten in very much exercise, and I have a 10k race at the end of this month, which will be the longest distance I've run yet.

D is for Determination

Time for my fourth post of the A-to-Z Challenge.

Determination is something I lack when it comes to exercise.  I'm always so glad I did it afterwards, but getting myself into running shoes and out for a run is a different story.  Signing up for races does help with forcing me to run, though, and that's a large part of why I run them.  So here's to race season - hoping I'll be able to beat my 3 races last year!

What We Have Here, Is Failure to Communicate

Communication.  It really is important.  Unfortunately, it's something my siblings and I don't do very well a lot of the time.

Take, for example, this past Saturday.  My sister and a friend were running a 5k and I had planned on doing it with them.  The 5k was taking place about 40 minutes away from where we live, and my sister was spending the night before the race with her friend who lived 5 minutes away from the 5k location.  The plan was for me to drive up in the morning, run the 5k with them, and then drive home with my sister.

The morning of the 5k I drowsily woke up and decided I didn't want to run the race anymore (this happens for pretty much every 5k I've run, and I'm always glad I ran anyways.  Usually my sister is around to drag me out of bed to go with her.).  My sister had mentioned possibly spending the day with her friend and hadn't confirmed whether she was coming home after the race or not.  For some reason, I had in my mind that she was staying with her friend for the day and wouldn't need a ride home, so I decided to just stay home that morning.

My sister called me shortly after I went back to sleep to make sure I had left.  I was going to have to go up to pick her up anyways, so I decided I might as well run.  The only problem was that race-day registration closed in about 30 minutes.  I got in the car and drove as fast I could without being dangerous, parked in the parking structure, ran/walked to the event tables and made it to register in time!

I then got back in my car and drove off to pick up my sister and her friend in time for the start of the race.  My sister kept calling to make sure I was on my way, and giving me directions to a place whose location I thought I was sure of.  So after spending about 10 minutes (the race started in about 10 minutes at this point) driving around trying to follow her directions I find out that she and her friend have been at the event for the past 1-1/2 hours and she's trying to give me directions to the race.  So I race back to get parking in the parking structure.

I find parking and my sister and her friend are trying to find me.  I don't find out that she and her friend need to give me their sweatshirts and purses before running the race until now.  I'm on the second level of the parking structure and not sure if it's the A or B section.  I'm trying to get to them to get their stuff and put it in the car in time, but they give up and run off to join the race (carrying their sweatshirts and purses) that is starting in approx. 2 minutes.  I go back to the car to lock it and pin on my number and time chip.  By the time I finish that and get to the starting point the race had already started and everyone was long gone.

I was pretty frustrated and honestly, I'm getting a bit frustrated again writing this.  But it was a lesson in clear communication to my sister and I.  Megan, I'm so sorry you had to run in 70 degree weather wearing your purse and a sweatshirt.  And Priscilla, I'm asking you lots of questions to have everything clear next time :)

My poor timing chip that never got worn.

And if you have no idea where my title comes from you have not watched the movie Cool Hand Luke.

Friday Favorites

Friday is here! I hope you all had an awesome week!

Here's a few things I'm loving this Friday.

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Passion's new album.  So good!  I think my favorite is Not Ashamed by Kristian Stanfill.

I'm still not completely adjusted to daylight savings time.  And I love this photo I found on Pinterest.

Subway's veggie sandwiches.  So good.

RunKeeper's smart phone app.  It tracks your run distances for you.  Oh, yes, I've run OUTSIDE twice this week.  Felt wonderful.

This post by Kristen.  She asked her friends to be her bridesmaids in such a thoughtful, personal way.

And my favorite Scripture reading from this week:

"This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.  Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.  "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!"  The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.  It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. ~ Lamentations 3:21-26

Daylight Savings Time

Daylight savings time this year happened to come right when spring summer weather arrived.  It's almost like spring was here for about a week and the weather is now in the high 70's and low 80's.  Not that I'm complaining.  Not.at.all.  But, now that I think about it, this is spring.  Summer usually has humidity.  And it's not humid here.  Yet.

I love that we have more sunlight in the evenings now.  But, I don't really enjoy this:

It's dark again when I get up.  It is soooo much easier to get up in the morning when the sun is out.  Yes, I know, first world problems.

And, thankfully, I have been exercising consistently, getting ready for a 10k at the end of April.  Last night I ran about 2.25 miles.  It feels great!

Way Into 2012

I had intended to write this post shortly after the New Year.  But, better late than never.

At the beginning of the year I did make a list of things that, Lordwilling, I'll accomplish this year.  I'm teased quite a bit in my family, especially by my Dad, for setting lofty goals and acting like I've accomplished them, and, of course, not following through.  It feels like I'm accomplished in my mind, though :)

Anyways, I decided to make the goals a little simpler this year.

1.  Exercise regularly and run more 5k's, the Dam to Downtown, a Duathlon and Half Marathon.  Ok, so this one isn't so simple.  My sisters and I have been running the past couple years and have really enjoyed running 5k's.  I ran three last year at the beginning of summer, before exercising got pushed to the wayside.  So this year, I'm hoping to change that.  I've started running regularly, and signed up for a local race, the Dam to Downtown (10k) at the end of April, and the Rock n' Roll Half Marathon in Chicago at the end of July.

2.  Knit, sew and craft more.  Because of school I hardly did any of this last year.  I'm not in school this year (so glad!) and I've already been doing a lot more knitting.  Now I just have to get onto the sewing part.  I have a skirt that I'm about 3/4 through but have stalled because I'm kinda scared of sewing in the zipper.

3. Don't just pin on Pinterest, do a project a week.  I actually have been doing some nail ideas I got from there, and last week I made this cake.

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Mine had one less layer, but it came out so well!  This is the only photo I got of it, after 99% of it was devoured:

4. Shop less.  This has actually been going quite well, thankfully.

5. Blog more :)

Well, I've got a lot for my easily distracted self to do today, including some Pinterest baking :)  Hope you all have a wonderful Saturday!