Coming Soon

I'm starting to formulate my 'end-of-the-year' reflection post. This was a BIG year for me. One that started BIG and ended much smaller.

I have the stories and photos to prove it.

Coming towards the end of December!

My First Turkey Trot!

Thanksgiving morning - Ebensburg Area Running Club sponsored a

Turkey Trot 5K! Their hope was 50-100 runners. They got over 200! I was one of those 200 runners. We woke up to a 'wintry mix.' I never ran in the rain (not even a summery shower) let alone a wintry mix. I didn't know what to wear, I didn't know how to prepare myself.

This is the main intersection in Ebensburg - notice the trees in the distance are FROZEN!

Not having the opportunity for many photos, Jeremy shot this one of me prior to the race. I think this is my "I-must-be-crazy-for-signing-up-for-this" face. Or maybe I was just trying to keep the rain/sleet out of my face. I decided to run with a rain coat (in addition to the many layers I had on to keep me warm) to try an keep as much of me dry as possible. Check out that super-cute hat. It's from Turtle Fur, a company in Vermont that makes cold-weather accessories. And also check out my Relay For Life rain coat - I earned that for raising over $1000 for Relay in 2007 (it's a little big....I was a tad larger then).

The race finished near the fire station and we were allowed to go in to get warmed up and dry off. Imagine the pure joy of my boys when they found out that we got to hang out in the fire station with about 7 different fire trucks............Jude kept insisting that we go find the 'old-fashioned' fire truck and finally we walked into the side garage and found an antique fire truck. We've never been in this fire station before and have NO idea how he knew it was in there. I guess when you're that into fire trucks you can just sense those things.

As you can see, the rain coat didn't really keep me too dry. You can see the big water marks on my shirt and about 3/4 of my legs were wet. The rain just kept beating my face and although my initial strategy was to try and run around or jump over the puddles (which I came to realize lost me precious time), I eventually gave in and welcomed the refreshing, freezing water gushes into my shoes!

Smiles! Looking a little wiped out. For some reason, it took me about 15 minutes to recover from this run. I felt light-headed and nauseated. I'm not sure if it was because I ate breakfast too early or the cold/wet run? Here's my stuff!

I don't think I realized that Jeremy was taking this picture, but I think it's kinda funny.

Me with my boys - no matter how I do in races, they (including the one behind the camera) are always at the finish line waiting for me and cheering me on (even in the wintry mix). They are my everything.

So, a race is about racing and I've impressed myself this year with the number of times I've placed in the top 3 in my age category. This race wasn't one of them. I finished (unofficially) in 27:37 and that placed me last in my age category :( 

That's a bummer. I mean, someone has to be last, but it's no fun. It is a little motivating to be honest, though.

I'm not sure where I finished overall.

Next race is on December 31 @ Lakemont Park in Altoona. I'll run through the Holiday Lights on the Lake - that should be fun and exciting.

Time to pick my butt up off the ground

I just read my previous post and man did I sound like a loser - come on, Amy, suck it up and get on with things. Geeezzz!

It's Monday and so far this week, I've logged 12.24 miles.

Now, that's more like it!

Running Mantras

I didn't get out for a run today. I didn't do any form of exercise today -add to that my enormous appetite and now I'm feeling like a big blob. I stumbled upon a website this evening and found some sayings that I am hoping will get me on the right track tomorrow.

Courage to start; strength to endure; resolve to finish

Running: Oh the places you'll go!

Never back down

One more mile and the cake is history

If found on the ground, please drag to finish line

Run like a mother

If you can't run, walk; if you can't walk, crawl; never give up

Inspiration

I've been reading a lot about the ING NYC marathon - it's tomorrow morning. Trying to find a station that has some live coverage. Man, those runners are inspiring. Al Roker, Merideth Viera, Bobby Flay, that Subway guy, the Chilean miner - I know none of them are in it to win it, but I think they're inspiring nonetheless.
So, 26.2 miles - that's from my house to my parking spot at work, the entire way back home and more than 1/2 way back to my parking spot at work. Whew, I got tired just typing it.
Someday, maybe.............

SFU 5K Race - Jackson's 1st

Today was Jackson's 1st race- a 100 meter tot trot. It was part of the DiSepio Fitness Challenge. There were only 5 kiddos who ran it, but we're pretty sure that Jackson tied for first place (they didn't really keep time or award prizes for this race). I'm so proud of him - he said he liked running :)

Jackson just before his race

 Trying to work the 'sillies' out of systems before our races!

 The tots line up - just about ready to take off. It was so cold; pretty, though!

And they're off - Jackson loves this photo because both of his feet are off the ground!

And the 5K is off! I was really anticipating this race since I had a calf injury 2 weeks ago - I really only got 3 practice runs in before this race.

Course was tough - 4 significant hills, 1 mild hill, and several slow grades uphill (yes, there were a few down hills) - it really seemed that most of the course was uphill. If you know Loretto and the SFU campus, you can appreciate when I use the word, "hilly."

I started off pretty good - lots of people passing me. I was hoping to warm up quickly since the sun was out, but man was it cold - I don't know the exact temp @ start time but it was definitely under 40 degrees. It really took till about the 2 mile marker that I felt like I could take my gloves off.

 Here I am coming around the loop before heading out around campus. I was smiling for the camera- I think my lungs were burning a little at this point.

 Love this shot - it looks like I'm the only one running. This always happen to me - I'm somewhere in the middle - lots of people pass me and I always assume I'm like the last runner. I guess I just find this pace that no one else runs at - I'm not fast, but I'm not as slow as I think I am.

 All done - time: 27:54 - not my best, not my goal, but I'm OK with it (I guess). I really wanted this race to be my PR, but I was about 1:33 over that goal. I still ended up taking 2nd in my age category. And even if I came in in the 26-minute range, like I was hoping, I would've still taken a 2nd place, so I guess it worked out just as it should have :)

 My motivators, the reasons I run - my boys (including the one behind the camera ;) It was a really great race - well organized, amazing breakfast at the finish, nice medals, great facilities. Highly recommend it!

Jackson and I doing a practice run before his race - he's obviously faster than me :)

Running has been so good for me and so good to me. I really think it's the ultimate form of exercise. It's brought me such a long way. I think back to January and how overweight I was and, yes, it's taken a lot of hard work to get to this point, but I am so proud of my accomplishments. I am also so excited that this newly found love of running is catching on with friends and family, because, really, isn't getting healthier all about wanting to live your best life with your favorite people? I think so!

On the Road Again

What a beautiful morning for run. I met up with my friend from work, Sandy, and did a 3.1 miler this morning. This is the 1st I've been out running since last week (and my minor injury).We ran a slow pace, but it's just what I needed - I needed to see if I could do the distance with no pain - success! We ran the SFU 5k race course, so it was good to see what that course is like b/c that race is next Saturday!