Catching Up (on running)

So sometimes I just don't feel like writing. Other times I don't even think about it. I'm not going to force myself to write something that comes out awful. Today, however, I feel like catching up.

October 18, 2014 - I ran my first full marathon. I trained for it using my Nike + app on my phone. I used the 'Coach' feature inputting my goal, 26.2 miles, and the date of my race. From that, it mapped out a training schedule for me to follow. I'll admit to slacking some at the end while I was in a show. I was always running several times a week, but a few of my long runs towards the end were not as long as they should have been.
My goal going into race day was two-fold. One realistic goal and one more optimistic goal. I knew I could finish the race in under 5 hours. I wanted to attempt to finish it closer to 4:40. I came in at 4:53. My iphone/music/nike + died at mile 18. Coincidentally my calves started to feel like rocks at mile 18. Miles 18 - 23 were a struggle. I had pushed harder than I maybe should have in the first half of the race. I was ahead of the 4:40 pacers for a good chunk of the race. Then I saw 4:40 and 4:50 pass me by. I didn't let it discourage me though and by mile 23 I got a second wind. I just kept telling myself it was a 5K at that point. My friend, Kelly, was outside the chute cheering me on and telling me to, "finish strong". I did it. I ran a marathon. I dedicated my run to my Dad who has Multiple Sclerosis and to my Mom, his caregiver.
Just under a month later I ran a half marathon. This time Kelly was running. It was her first half marathon and she was nervous to say the least. I stuck with her and instead of coming in after 3 hours like she feared, we came in together at 2:46. It was 32 degrees at the finish and in the last mile snow was pelting us in the face. I'm sure she enjoyed my Christmas carols.
Now to plan the next one for a PR time.

Now that it has turned cold, I still plan to run. I don't have to be as strict since there is not a race planned yet that I am training for, but I will layer up and get outside in addition to some treadmill runs at the gym. I asked for YakTrax for Christmas. I do have a fear of slipping and falling in the snow/ice conditions. I am slowly getting back into using my Turbo Fire too. Dropping everything else and only running did no favors for my mid-section. So I'm looking to whittle that down before my Mexico trip in Spring.

Week 10/24, Callback, World Cup Love

So first off, my training is still moving right along. Scheduling has been tough so I have had to utilize the dreaded treadmill still. For example, Monday night I had a theatre audition so I hit the gym afterward. I will do the same this evening as I just found out I got a callback for the same show. After this week the long runs increase steadily before there is another recovery week. Bring it!

Scheduling will stay challenging if I am offered a role after tonight. Rehearsals seem to be Monday through Thursday, 7pm - 9pm and even some weekends. The show performs in September. My marathon is only a month after that! Eek! :)

Other than running and theatre related stuff, I have been enjoying my favorite quadrennial event - the World Cup! USA made it out of the "Group of Death", but they did not survive the knockout round. I enjoyed three of their games out surrounded by other soccer fans. One outing was at Power & Light District with thousands of other fans cheering on team USA!
Now that my home country is out, I have been cheering on my heritage  country of Germany. Deutschland! Yesterday they killed Brazil in their home country. 7-1! Today the Netherlands and Argentina play. My brother is rooting for the Netherlands and is calling a World Cup final of 6-2 Germany over Netherlands. Could be! We'll see. Soccer is really growing here in the states. Most MLS teams now have their own soccer specific stadiums and are charging ridiculous amounts for beer. That's when you know they're doing well.

Enjoy the game!

Week 8

It is week 8 of 24 of marathon training for me. Really since my trip to Dallas, where I still did at least two 6 mile runs, I have struggled with my schedule. This is partly due to a children's theatre camp I am helping with (doing choreography) for two weeks. We are on the final week. The schedule of going straight from work to camp until 9pm, plus my 40 minute drive to my town, not to mention not having air in the theatre and maintaining 50 kids (not even near as much as our director), has lead me to be pretty exhausted. Never the less, I have made post camp trips to the gym at 10pm to run on the treadmill. Treadmills are not my favorite, but I don't want to run in the dark for a number of reasons. So I make the best of it with speed intervals and such. Last night was a 5 mile run and below is my post workout photo. It doesn't really show the sweaty mess I was. 

Oh since last post I signed up for a half marathon that takes place almost a month after the KC full marathon with a friend of mine. Yay for running pals! 

Week 5 of 24 Weeks

I am in the middle of my fifth week of marathon training. Everything is going smoothly (aside from left shin pain :( ). I'm even waking up early to run in the mornings before getting ready for work! I had to essentially. I get heat sick so running over my lunch hour was a no and running after work finally became a no go too. I have done a couple of late night runs, but overall morning runs have been the way to go. I wouldn't say I am a morning person now by any means. I hit snooze, roll out of bed in my jogging gear, splash cold water on my face and am out the door. My first miles have been "wake up miles" at a sad (for me) 11 minute/mile pace. Then I make up for it in subsequent miles.
I'm trying to add more gym time aside from the alloted cross training day in the middle of each week. Distance running can deteriorate your muscles if you're not weight lifting as well.
My new favorite breakfast protein shake consists of Skippy Naturals dark chocolate peanut butter, a banana, almond milk, plain greek yogurt, fiber powder and vanilla whey protein. Better than a Sonic shake! Yummy!
So there's a quick update. CANNOT wait for the World Cup to begin next week!!! Go U.S.A.!!!! For Club and Country!

Happy Nation Running Day!!!

Pain to Hope

It is four days into Spring and I am watching the snow fall outside my office window. I don't so much mind the grey, chilly day that is accompanying the snow. In fact, it is almost a comfort. The last few days I have felt a little empty inside, maybe even a little lost with ever so many questions on my mind. I silence them to the best of my ability though. What's the use in indulging in wonder and worry? Time reveals what is to come to pass.

Anyone in pain knows how annoying it can be to hear phrases like that about time. Such as, "time heals all wounds". "Just give it time." Just as we know hearing those phrases can be irritating, we also know that they are true. I believe that perhaps we never live so much so in the present as we do when we are in pain. It feels like there is no escape. It's difficult to see tomorrow and the past only ignites the pain with memories of someone or something lost. It is when we are in pain that we tend to call on certain people in lives more so than any other time and it is sadly when we tend to pray more so than when things are going good in our lives. I try to make it a point to pray at happy points in my life and to express my thanks, but I am afraid I call on my Father more often than not in times of doubt, worry and sadness. I cry, I get angry, I say, "why me?" How selfish of a prayer is that? My guilt kicks in before I am through and I always make sure to name off some things I am thankful for to give thanks to Him and to remind myself that I do have other things in my life to be happy about.

This reminds me of something I have come across a few times recently while reading about passionate and creative people. If I am anything in this life, I am passionate. It is evident when I am on stage, working on a project I care about, with my family and friends, in love and in pain. I realize loving a passionate person is not easy to do and not for everyone. Boy, do I know this. In my readings I noticed the mention of keeping a gratitude journal several times. This ties in with my reminding myself what I am thankful for when I choose to speak to God. A gratitude journal could be a great way to look back at different things I have been thankful for over time. It could bring me joy in times of hardship. It could be a good reminder of my ever evolving world.

So while it might be overcast and snowing outside my window, I am thankful that I am here to see it. I am hopeful that one day, on a day like today, I will be leaving my office to enjoy watching the snowfall   in the arms of the man that I am in love with and he in love with me.

Goals

Resolutions seem to always fail and just because we are in January of a new year does not mean that what I aspire to accomplish this year has to be referred to as such. I'm always making small goals for myself whether it be in my performing, my wanting to stay physically fit or strengthening my relationships.

This time last year I announced my goal to run the half marathon at the Kansas City Marathon in October. By May I finally got up the guts to register (on half off the half day :) - those of you who know my frugality will understand) and prepare myself. I ran on weekdays, weekends, mornings, evenings and on vacation. I had done 11 races, including 5K's, an 8K, a 10K and 2 several mile mud obstacle courses, by my half marathon race day. It was hovering around freezing that morning when two of my friends picked me up to drive me to the race and cheer me on. I don't ever remember feeling nervous that morning. There was no going back and I knew I could do this.

The amount of people was crazy. I wasn't even inside the barricades when the gun went off and several minutes went by before anyone around me was able to start moving. Approaching the mat at the start line where my chip timer would begin gave me an adrenaline rush that would last until mile 11 of the race. I just took it all in really. The race started off with us running through downtown so I enjoyed the views then listened to the music that overpowered my iPhone tunes from performers along the street. It wasn't just people performing or spectating/cheering along the roadside either. People were full on tailgating while watching the thousands of runners pass by. They had their smokey joes out, grilling burgers and hot dogs while I logged my seventh mile. Then the tricky part came.

Sometime before the bbq aroma, I realized that after all the water I had consumed pre-race, I needed to use the restroom. Like now. Every couple of miles there were Johnny on the Spots with long lines in front of them. So mile after mile I continued to pass up the opportunity and I passed up water for a while as to not add to the already miserable situation. Plus my last "water" cup contained gatorade, which came as a shock.
 When you're running, you have nothing but time to think. In this case I spent miles 2 through 10 thinking about relieving myself and how great that would be. I was also calculating the time for a porta potty break. It is a race after all. Mile 9 consisted of both a water and porta potty stop where much of the group pulled off creating long lines again. I whimperingly passed this mile marker just knowing I would have to wait another two miles before there would be porta potties on the route again. Coming around a bend to mile marker 10 was like seeing the gates of heaven... wait, what? Ok, so it was just a row of Johnny on the Spots with no waiting! So at that moment after running with a full bladder for nearly 8 miles and depriving myself of anymore intake of fluids, it felt like heaven. I literally ran in, leaving my mile pacers side and ran out rubbing hand sanitizer in between my hands as I sped up to meet with my pacing group once again. I took a deep breath of relief, giving myself a mental pat on the back and then buckled down to finish strong in the last 3.1 miles.
So that was it! I was down to a 5K left. I thought back to all those mornings I ran races that were only 5K's and I said to myself, "I got this". I pushed hard to get from the back of my pacing group to the front. I experienced a period of slight boredom in miles 11 and 12, but then I got into focus for the grand finale. I saw Kenyan's (presumably - is that wrong?) passing me at mile 12 that were at double that milage running the full marathon. Then I passed my final mile marker, came around a street corner and took in my final stretch of the race to the finish line.
As I got closer the crowds grew thicker of people hoping to spot their family member or friend. My legs were heavy; probably the heaviest they've ever felt in my life. I wanted to sprint, but I couldn't get my legs to rotate fast enough. Then I heard someone yelling above the crowd. I heard my name. I looked ahead to my right to spot my two friends yelling at me to "finish strong" and hell, since now I had an audience I had to give all I had left. I sprinted as fast as my legs could carrying me across that finish line feeling completely exhilarated and more accomplished than I had in a long time when a Chick Fil A sandwich was tossed at me. I quickly reacted and caught it having no clue what was going on. I looked at the sandwich and thought, "Huh. Really?" But I quickly went back to feeling pretty damn pleased with myself. Then a man wrapped a heat sheet around before I came to where the medals were being handed out. I proudly put the medal around my neck after a quick debate about neck sweat getting on the ribbon in my head. I grabbed and downed nearly an entire bottle of water before my friends met up with me. I was ridiculously pumped for a person who had just finished running 13.1 miles. I was jumping up and down, mainly to keep my calf muscles from tightening up. At any rate my friends thought I was insane and should be worn out. I tied my heat sheet at my neck making it like a cape that caused me to feel like Wonder Woman and I was off to get my post race beer... and eat that sandwich (shame, shame).
 I ran errands with my friends that day, never napped and acted in our second performance of 'Moon Over Buffalo' that night. I was continually moving and stretching in our small quarters backstage much to my fellow cast members delight. That evening, post show, I marveled at the day I had just had and smiled. I do recall moments in those first few miles where I got misty eyed thinking of my Dad who can now barely walk due to his MS and here his daughter was running in a half marathon. I would later post a picture of myself after the race with my medal on Facebook dedicating my race to my parents. My Mom immediately commenting that her and my Dad had followed me on my race and were overwhelming with pride made me tear up and feel very loved.

So that was the story of my big goal for 2013... didn't realize I was going there in this post... now I need to get on with 2014. One can probably guess that my goal for this year is to run the full Kansas City Marathon this fall. Don't get me wrong, I want to do this and I am determined to put this goal in the books, but I think when I register... I might throw up a little.

I also recently came across four script ideas I had jotted down nearly two years ago and I have decided to run with one of them. After completing a playwriting course in college I was convinced I was too detailed a writer for strictly dialogue, but I am determined (there's that word again) to give this script idea my best shot. If it sucks, it sucks. Who will know except for a couple of family members and friends I may pass it along to if they're lucky... or unlucky depending on how bad it is.

I would say one of my goals is to blog more, but I don't want to set myself up for failure. I am, however, writing more in my personal journal so that's something.
I have a few other little goal ideas floating around this cluttered mind of mine, but the ones above are the biggies and thus more worthy of sharing.

While blogging didn't make the goal cut, a theatre update will soon follow.

Year of Running

It was all leading up to this: 

My first Half Marathon!

Finishers shirt a friend graciously bought me ^

And then this past Saturday, two weeks since my 1/2, I finished in 4th in my age group at the Zero Prostate Cancer 5K. 

I even said I was going to "slug it" that morning. This hill at the end tried to kill me, but I conquered! 

Too bad I didn't PR even at my previous 5K PR at my first race this year where I came in 3rd in my group so that I could have been 2nd in this race. Oh well, I have another race this Saturday. 

I have a race in December I have my eyes set on too. 

Finally, an update!