10 days later

I'm in a very movie centric mood right now. All I can think about with my title is the movie 28 days later, which I haven't seen but totally want to. And Forrest Gump (random I know!) .

I'm still running. But not like Forrest did, I stop. I get up in the morning, do my two miles (I'm adding more miles starting August 1st) then am glad that I did it. Funny, isn't it? I never thought I'd be glad to run. The only bad thing is I live in a not so great area of Los Angeles, and no one bugs me on my run (I did have two stray cats follow me from my front yard down the block yesterday though!), I decided to (re)start carrying my pepper spray with me, since I pass homeless people and run past a few sketchy alleys, maybe I should have my phone too. I'm a bit of a klutz so I have to make sure that it's always locked.

My running is still slow, but my pace is constant. My miles are with in seconds of each other, it's really weird and funny. 

It's funny the people who give me the motivation to keep going - they probably don't even know that they are. The interesting part, is I've never met them. I only talk to them on twitter, or see things that they retweet. One is Lisa - @runlikeacoyote - she lives in so cal....I'm hoping to one day meet her. She's crazy awesome. She runs in the morning then bikes to work. This morning she ran 12 miles BEFORE WORK and then rode her bike to work....oh and she's training for the 100 mile Javelina Jundred in October. 100 miles. Running. at once. She's freakin awesome. Another person is @Running_Hutch, who also lives in so cal, and we've "talked" in passing at a race (she encouraged me when I was struggling and she was going the other way), she started running with team in training, and is now training for the nuun team hood to coast relay this summer. I promise I'm not a stalker, these are just two of the women that I think are awesome that give ME motivation to keep going, that I can keep pushing and that I can reach my running goals. 

Starting over again

This morning I started training for my half marathon at the end of October. Yes, I realize it's July 9th, but to reach my goals I need to start now. I need to be prepared. I need to train. I also need sleep. I did not want to get out of bed this morning, I'm hoping with my gradual increase in running that falling (and staying asleep) will become a lot easier. I am also trying to eat healthier, and cut back on the sweets and alcohol during the week. I need to start making healthy desserts, sweets are my downfall. 


I am 5 pounds away from my first goal weight. Not my final goal weight, but my first. Hopefully by the time I reach my birthday on the 30th (I'll be turning 30) I'll be past my first goal weight and closer to my 2nd. I realize that I will never been a tiny, skinny person. My genetic make up doesn't work that way. I come from a line of large women. But that doesn't mean that I can't work hard and be healthy. 


We don't have any running events this summer, which is nice, it gets hot. I want to sign up for the  Awesome 80s Run , but we will see. It's a 3 day weekend and we have my stepsons - need to try to convince everyone that we should do it as a family event....we will see. But I am looking forward to my training runs at the beach on the weekends. Maybe I'll throw in a trail or two when the hubby goes mountain biking? 

Am I a runner?

My twitter bio says that I am a wannabe runner. Why is that? I've done half marathons where I've ran and walked the whole time....but I finished. Is it because I am not able to run as fast/long as I want that I don't consider myself a runner?


runner : noun

1.a person, animal, or thing that runs, especially as a racer.

It's a blessing and a curse

I married someone that is a runner, and worse of all he runs for fun. Which in my mind is a blessing and a curse. You see, he is who got me in to running. I'd be waiting for him on the sidelines of events and think, "Hey! That's something I can do!". He is also the person I blame & curse during the event for getting me in the damn situation in the first place! And worst of all, it's contagious. I should mention his youngest brother also like to run, his middle brother doesn't, he doesn't have the same build as the two of them. To date, since I started running, my sister in law, soon to be sister in law, family friend, and best friend have signed up to or have done running events, and even signed up for more than one! I blame my husband for this, of course in a loving way.

He doesn't have the same mental hangups that I do about running, or the physical (BLISTERS!) issues that I do when I run. But what he does do is support me, and encourage me, and push me to do my best, in his own annoying way. You see, marrying a spouse that runs or does any sort of physical activity is a curse, because you will eventually start to like that activity, and start participating. Since I've met my husband I've done, 5K's, a marathon, two half marathons, and by the end of January 2013 I will have done 3 more half marathons.

The more things change....

The more they stay the same.

I ran the LA Rock and Roll. I won't really say I RAN - but I finished. I think my time was around 3:20....NOT under 3 hours like I wanted. But, the bright side is there is always room for improvement.

Since then I've signed up for the Pasadena Rock N Roll half. Which is in a month. I have not been running as I should, so I am a little worried. I could blame it on a million things, but it all comes down to being lazy. I changed jobs, so my hours changed and if I want to run I have to do it in the morning before work, when it's dark and cold. My other option? Not running. Doesn't sound like a good option to me!

I actually did a 5K this past weekend, while my husband ran the LA 13.1, I didn't do it under 40 minutes like I wanted to, but I improved my time by 3 minutes from the previous year. I did a work out DVD this morning, will hopefully run tomorrow morning (late night tonight), and alternate my workouts until my half marathon. Improvement is what I am looking for. Improvement is what I need.

Speed Bumps Ahead

The last time (end of May) I was struggling through a run while I was at the beach, I saw a sign. Literally. Speed Bumps Ahead. It made me realize that this won't be easy, there will be issues I will face on the way to my training and even after that - but I need to figure out a way to deal with it.

April 6th

I am officially signed up for the LA Rock and Roll Half Marathon. Well, not Officially, they need to charge my card, but I am set to go.

I tentatively started running again last week, and I did good, I even had my best mile at 10:30something. Then I felt like I was going to puke. Not fun. Then last Friday, I was only able to do 1.3 miles...because of a horrible pain in my shin. I stretched it out, but don't think that helped. I am getting in touch with coworker of my husbands who runs, I think she might be able to give me some advise.

Sometimes, I feel like I need to relax when I'm running. I feel like I am so tense while running, that may be the reason I'm hurting myself. It's hard, but something I need to try. I don't have anytime to run this week - and maybe it's good that I rest a little bit longer. Next week I have spring break, and I am off for 3 days, in addition to cleaning my house top to bottom, I am going to find a route to run by my house. I have been doing other workouts. Monday I did Bob Harper's Yoga Warrior DVD. O.M.G. Now, I have never done yoga. I'm not that focused and need something more active. HOLY CRAP. Yoga is intense. I was able to make it all the way through the workout, but here I am, 2 days later and still sore. But it's a good sore. I am going to do it again today before the hockey game.

This past Sunday, my mom and I did the MS Walk - 5K. It was the first "distance" event that my mom has ever done. We only did 2.8 miles because her hip really started to hurt (she had both hips replaced with in the past 2 years). But we did it and I'm so proud of her for doing it.