My Truth

It's been over two years since I've been back here.

I almost deleted the whole damn thing.

Who am I to come back to this page and try to pick up the pieces of the life I had here that has shattered.  Can I ever be made whole again?  Can I patch together this wreck of a blog to actually mean something again?

I've come back to this spot, so many times that I've lost count, to see if I could re-create that spark.  That fire to make this a joyful and meaningful outlet for me.


I will admit, I have been too afraid.

Refocus

Well hello there, long time no see.  I know, I know.  I should write more, and I don't call back when you leave me messages.  I'm so bad about communication sometimes, I hate talking on the phone, I rarely text or email, and don't even get me started about Snapchat.  (Really, I feel so dumb trying to maneuver through that app. SO not a millennial.)

It's Christmas Eve and I feel inspired to write.  To post here.  And since that rarely happens, I thought I would ride that wave for as long as I could.

I've been gone a while.  A lost soul of sorts.  I've been dealing with a chronic physical issue for over a year that still has no diagnosis, only more questions with no answers.  Due to this physical issue I have done far less working out than I'd like and even less running.  Though I have been able to make some strides this year with working out and losing weight I still have a long ways to go.  

In April I started Tone It Up and it was a breath of fresh air for me.  I was able to workout at home, make nutritious meals that my whole family could eat and in a matter of 3 months I lost over 20 pounds.  Something I haven't been able to duplicate since then as my physical ailments came back with a venegence and it makes my ability to workout very difficult, if not impossible.

I ran a few races this year and had a great time, but I didn't make any breakthroughs or achieve any better results because of my lack of training overall.  Something I am hoping to change this year.

Which leads me to the title of this post, refocus, which means to me that I will be making some changes this year and putting my life and hobbies/goals back into focus.  I have been lost along my way for a couple of years now, for many reasons (or excuses), which ever you choose to use. Regardless, I haven't been "here" and it's something I have noticed and am making the concerted effort to change.  I want ME back.  I want to be present and feed what my soul is hungry for, and that is connection.  To myself, to what is around me, to my family, to my friends.  I need to ground myself and fight for what I want and need for and of myself.  This year is about change.  This year is about giving a shit and not giving up on myself.  I have felt myself spiral in and out of control all this year and most of last year and I'm done. Done, done, DONE with feeling like this.  It stops and stops now.

I am ready to flash my confidence again.  I'm ready to take back what is mine.  I am looking forward and up this coming year and I seriously cannot wait to attack this coming month.  I have a lot I am doing, including a refocusing of this blog with more posts about my coming journey.  What is that journey you ask?  Ahhh...I'm not giving it up that easily.  You've gotta wait and come back to see what I am up to and what changes I'm making.  

Until then, enjoy your holidays and please have a safe New Year everyone.  Let's make it to the new year together, so please drive safe and sober, or take an Uber.  I can't wait to see you all soon!  Merry Christmas!!

Embers

I think I have written this post at least a hundred times in my head.

I would have this witty, bold opening statement.  Clever quips and meaningful stories that offer a steadfast moral.

I start...

and then stop.  Unable to finish because I never really knew how to start.

Me, right now...

What do you do when others stop believing in you?

Do you plead for their attention and belief again?

Do you wallow in your sad state by finding the bottom of a pint (or quart) of ice cream?

Do you say F* this and do your own thing regardless of what others think of you?

Do you pull yourself in, shutting yourself off to everyone and sink deeper into that despair hole?

Best Hotel Accommodations - Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend

When planning a Disney racecation, there are certain things that are important to lock down fairly early on. First of all is your registration to the race (they sell out so quick now!), flights/transportation and of course, your accommodations! When thinking of a hotel for a racecation it is all about location, location, location. Oh and price! Whether you are going with your family or sharing a room with your best running friends, it is important to get the most for your dollar. And since you are travelling somewhere to race (and possibly sight see) you really would like to have a hotel that is close to the action without breaking your budget.
Luckily, with the Disneyland races there are many hotel options for you to choose from that fit all price levels. Now with all the options (44 in all between on property and Good Neighbor hotels) it would be tough (and a bit long!) to write a comprehensive list of all the available hotels. So I am going to pick a few options to review and hope that they give you a broad sense of what is available to book on your next racecation to the Disneyland Resort!

It just so happens that the three Good Neighbor hotels I will be talking about happen to be in the Moderate category, however they offer very different experiences and are at different locations around the Disneyland Resort!

Run Disney also provides comprehensive information on shuttles to the resort for race and expo days. They have outlined the hotels and routes that ART (Anaheim Resort Transit) goes in order to get you to the expo as well as the race start and then back to the resorts after you have finished. Please make sure you leave enough time for the transfer in the mornings and prepare for long lines after you finish to be back to your resort.

The first best hotel (and my personal favorite) is Best Western Park Inn and Suites which is located just across Harbor Blvd from the Main Entrance to Disneyland. You literally cross the street and you are walking onto the resort property, it is very close and convenient! The rooms are spacious and nicely appointed. You have your choice between king or two queen beds and each room also comes with a pullout sofa bed! So if you are looking to save some money, you can get a double queen room and be able to sleep 5-6 people! Though there is only one bathroom, so pick your battles!

Speaking of the bathroom, the shower/tub and toilet are separate from the sink area, there is a large closet with mirrors on the sliding doors, a large desk and comfortable chair, large entertainment center with a flat screen TV. There is also a mini fridge and microwave in each room as well as many plugs to charge all your electronic devices. They also offer an impressive complimentary continental breakfast each morning with eggs, bacon, waffles, along with all your standard breakfast items. Please note that it opens at 6am so it will not be open in time for runners to grab something on their way to the start line. (Side note: I would grab an extra banana and bagel and put it in my room for the next mornings breakfast while I walked to the corrals, worked out great!)

They commonly have discounts and we used our AAA membership to get a room for around $90/night during Disneyland Half weekend last year. It was a fantastic rate for a great room in a great location! 

The next hotel is the Anabella Hotel located on Katella Avenue just south of the resort by the California Adventure park. While the hotel is close to the parks, it is quite a walk to get to the entrance of the resort. You would have to take Katella to Harbor and follow that up to the main entrance there, or take Katella to S West Street and enter the resort via Downtown Disney. Either way will be about a 30 minute walk so just be aware! The ART is also available to transfer you to and from the resort.

The rooms are beautifully appointed and provide many rooming options from your standard to concierge level. Options include two queen beds or one king, with full granite bathrooms and free wifi (a must nowadays!) There is a fridge and coffee machine along with a complete entertainment system including a flat screen TV. They have a great restaurant on site, but do not offer a complimentary continental breakfast unless you are a Business First or Concierge level guest. 

The grounds are beautiful and the hotel is quite lovely with so many options (even bunk beds for the kids!). Their prices are a bit more than the Best Western coming in at $121/night for a standard room up to $150-190 a night for concierge or kids suite rooms. This is a great option for those that want to be a bit more removed from the parks and be able to enjoy some peace and quiet. 

The third Good Neighbor hotel is the Howard Johnson located on S Harbor Blvd just west of the Disneyland Resort. This hotel is also serviced by the ART and will be providing transfers for Run Disney for the races and expo. You can walk from the hotel to the Disneyland resort, just realize that it will take some time because you are walking along a busy area and can take approximately 20-30 minutes depending on traffic.

Howard Johnson is a world of its own! Not only do they have warm, spacious rooms, but they also have a pool and water park area (yes, I said water park!) that can rival some stand alone parks that you have to pay to get in to. And this area is complimentary to all guests! So if you have kiddos and want to have a place to come have some fun at outside of the park, this place is perfect!

Their rooms are nicely appointed, spacious and include a fridge, coffee maker (it's a Keurig!), free wi-fi (bonus!), desk area and TV. There are a few bed configurations with two queen beds, or one king, or one queen with bunk beds, a fold out couch, there are so many options. Basically you can fit a family of 4-6 easily in one of these rooms, just again, be aware of the bathroom situation, there is just one! :)
Unfortunately they do not offer a continental breakfast, but do have a restaurant on-site, along with other options on the street. The rates run any where between $175/night and upwards of $220/night. They do have rate sales and offers through out the year that can cut those rates in half sometimes, making it a very economical place to stay!

Lastly but not least, are a couple of on-property options for your magical Run Disney experience. The Disneyland Hotel has done some major room remodels and have provided guests with a room experience not to be missed! Including the headboards pictured below, with a flip of a switch a fiber optic light show appears with some music to add to the magic! The rooms come with two queens or one king and a fold out sofa, floor to ceiling windows with fantastic views of the grounds (and parks!), beautifully appointed bathrooms with hidden Disney touches, a coffee maker, and premium bath amenities.

The Grand Californian is a beautiful homage to the rustic Arts and Crafts period with dark woods and luxurious features strewn throughout the resort, it is tough not to get swept up in the whimsy of this Craftsman style treasure. The rooms are wonderfully appointed with two queens or one king bed with a pull out sofa, flat screen TV's, comfortable seating, a coffee maker and premium bathroom amenities. The views are also hard to beat from anywhere in the hotel!

In addition to these beautiful hotel accommodations both of their pool areas are fantastic places for an afternoon respite from the parks, offering water slides, hot tubs and cabanas, there is a little something for everyone. Neither resort offers a complimentary continental breakfast unless you are on the Concierge level, then there is a special room where there are complimentary snacks, drinks and offerings throughout the day for those guests.

What is wonderfully unique about these resorts is their proximity to the start and finish lines of the races, they are quite literally right outside. The runner area and finish line is staged in the parking lot and street right outside the front of the Disneyland Hotel and only a few minutes walk from the Grand Californian. You can reach the runner area in less than 10 minutes, talk about prime location! That location can come with a hefty price tag though, the Disneyland Hotel rates start around $300/night whereas the Grand Californian rates start at $400/night with Concierge level rates starting at around $650/night. Both hotels provide wonderful memories and amenities (including an exclusive entry way into California Adventure from the Grand Californian) and are a must see even if you don't have the ability to stay there.

There you have it! Some really great choices of places to stay that have many different offerings for any budget and age range. There are so many other places that have rave reviews from other runners, so don't just take my word, ask around and get opinions! With so many choices you will never run out of options for your next Disneyland racecation! 

I'm here...I swear!

Wow...I can't believe that it has literally been a month since my last post! How is that possible!?! It doesn't feel like it's been that long. I know I've created posts in my head, dozens of them. Maybe I just didn't get a chance to actually post them. That's probably it.

I'm here though...I swear!!

Blogiversary - Two years and counting

With all the crazy going on in my life lately, my blogiversary came and went very quietly without a fuss or any pomp and circumstance. It was on March 31st. Two years ago on that day I started this little blog without a clear notion of what I wanted to do with it. I knew I was a beginner in the world of running and I wanted to be a guiding voice for all of those new runners just starting their journey. I was hoping to share my pitfalls and lessons learned so that they could hopefully not make the same mistakes I did. I wanted to create a place where I could share my stories and others could comment and contribute without judgement or conceit. This would be a learning blog for both myself and others.

Momentum Monday: A Cause

Happy Monday! Not only is it Cyber Monday (who of you are shopping online today?) but it is also the first Monday of December. Yes, I didn't stutter. We are in December now, one more month left in this year, can you BELIEVE that?!?! Where has this year gone?!? I swear it has just flown by and it will be 2014 before you know it.

I know it has been a while since I've posted a Momentum Monday, I have felt the absence of it and wanted to apologize. I am not training for anything right now, but that doesn't mean others aren't. I'm jealous of all my east coast friends whose race schedules are just now starting to peak, whereas the races over on the west coast are starting to dwindle, well at least in the PNW.

I can't wait to get back out running again, I really miss the time and mileage that I had to myself and with friends. My legs yearn for that sore feeling again. I've had dreams about running. Sadly waking to find that it was just a dream. It has given me more time to think about what I want to do and what I am wanting to accomplish with my running when I am able to again. More on that in another post.

In the absence of training, my focus has been working on myself, being a better person in general and refocusing on what is important in life and what is "fluff". It's both easy and tough to decipher which is which, because society tends to make us want to believe that the "fluff" stuff is important in life. So when I saw this quote, I thought it was nice to help bring us down to earth a bit during one of the most hectic times of year. Today's Momentum Monday is:

Training: Am I doing it and what for?

It's been a while since I posted anything about training for a race and if I had anything on the horizon. Between dealing with my back issue and not being able to run for over a month, my focus had turned to getting better rather than concentrating on my races coming up. So to answer the statement above, yes and yes. I am training and I have several things on the horizon.

Right now I am training for two half marathons with several smaller races mixed inbetween. Lets take a look at what I'm working towards.

My next race happens to be a 10K on June 15th. It's the Fall City Days Run, I will be running the 10K to try and get a new (and fast!) time for submittal to my half marathons for good corral placement. I have never run in Fall City before, however the website touts a flat and fast course, so hopefully that will be to my advantage! It will actually be my taper run before my next BIG race!

On June 22nd I will be running the Rock n' Roll Seattle Half Marathon.

First day of May and lots of news!

Sorry it's been so quiet here the past few days.  I did not intend on missing my regular Momentum Monday posting, but I was out of the area (cell & wi-fi reception) until 5pm PST on Monday.  So a late night post didn't make much sense when you wouldn't see it until Tuesday.  I had no idea I would be unplugged for so long, but my hubby whisked me away to a remote area for the weekend to celebrate my birthday and once I was there, there was no turning back.  I literally had to use a pay phone to make a call.  A PAY PHONE!!!  I haven't seen those in so long!!!  We couldn't even dial long distance from our hotel!  Talk about remote!  But I will go over that later this week when I give my trip recap.  Until then, I have some really exciting news!

Why worry?

It's Wednesday and yet it feels like it should be Friday.  This time change has really kicked me in the rear this week.  I feel like I've gone to battle all week just to get out of bed and I'm exhausted.  I'm drinking venti sized coffees (which is abnormal because I usually can't finish a grande!) and I've been feeling like a zombie all day.  Anybody else feeling like this too?

With all this and the fact that work has been bat-shit crazy lately, I haven't found the time in the days to be able to blog and it makes me upset and worried. 

Worried?  Why worry?

Race Recap: Princess Half Marathon

Many months ago I started a long journey with a goal in mind and an ultimate destination of this race.  Right here and right now is the culmination of all the hard work, time spent and sacrifices that I made to train.  It all comes down to this point, these series of moments, this final delivery of the prize I've been fighting so hard for.  This is it.  It's go time.

The 2:30am wake up call is an ungodly way to wake up, but the race started in three hours and there was so much still to do.  The room was already buzzing with everyone up and about getting dressed and ready to catch the first buses.  I've seen pictures and heard hellish stories about the lines to get on the buses to get to the race and if you didn't have a car to drive yourself there, the bus was your only form of transport.  The buses started transporting at 3am, so it was important to get on the first couple of buses to ensure you made it to the start on time!

I've got my take on Cinderella running outfit on and I'm ready to head to the buses!

Race Recap: Royal Family 5K

I woke up to a quiet room on Saturday morning to get ready to run the Royal Family 5K.  None of my roomies were running it, nor were they waking early to come and see/cheer anyone on.

3:30am was far too early for this one to be awake, but I was and I was getting ready for my first runDisney race EVER!

 

I decided not to dress like a Princess for this race, but rather let my inner Winnie the Pooh come out!

I arrived via bus to the parking lots outside of Epcot where the drop off point was and made the walk toward the bag check area.  There were tons of signs and volunteers to help us sleepy eyed runners get to where we needed to be.

 

Got my picture taken before heading towards the corrals!  This is the first time I'd ever been to a runDisney event and was pretty happy with how smoothly the transitions were between locations.

PHM Weekend Day 2: Expo and Meet-ups!

An early morning for Marcia and I as we woke up at 6am to be dressed and at Coronado Springs resort by 7am for the #RunShopEat meet-up!

First, the run!  We had a few people that were interested in meeting up with us for this, well meet-up, but by the time the morning came it was just Marcia and I.  Oh well, it was fun still!

The Coronado property is really pretty and I would consider staying here in the future.  Expansive and quiet!  These are just a few of the vantage points from our run.  After we ran and were thoroughly sweaty (it was quite hot at 7:30am, lower 70's in the sun I would say) we went inside to get in line for the expo.

 

Momentum Monday: Run your own race

Well this morning started off with a bang!  As you know I will be running my first half marathon this weekend at the Princess Half Marathon weekend in Disney World.  Well, runDisney holds these amazing meet-ups where you can sign up to meet their official dream team consisting of trainer Jeff Galloway, dietician Tara Gidus, along with elite runners, celebrities and other special guests the Friday or Saturday of their race weekend.  It is a bloggers DREAM to be able to participate in one of these meet-ups, if not for the ability to meet AND run with this elite group of runners, but to also get tips and advice from them that you can pass on to others that maybe don't know and are just as curious as you are.  OH and also running through a theme park when it is completely empty and closed to the public sounds amazing too!

 

The reason today started off with a bang is, well there are two reasons, 1) I woke up at 3am (ugh) trying to get my body on east coast time so that waking up early all weekend long doesn't debilitate me and keep me from running my best. And 2) the coveted runDisney meet-up announcement posted on the Disney Parks Blog this morning.  EEEKKK!!!  The only way I found out is that I was reading my twitter feed and a fellow blogging friend tweeted that the meet-up info had posted.  I ran to my computer and sure enough, there it was!  So I sent my RSVP that very instant and I'm praying I get in, what an amazing opportunity it would be to be selected for the meet-up.

 

**UPDATE: Did not make the cut -off and was not invited to join the Princess Half Marathon Meet-up.  Bummer-sauce.**

 

I was one of the people constantly watching their blog page on Friday to get the info on the meet-up so I could sign up, but I believe they were having technical difficulties and the post wasn't able to be made.  I'm so glad that I'm plugged into social media the way I am, otherwise I might have missed my opportunity completely!

 

Now that I'm up and pretty alert this early on a Monday, that is also a holiday nonetheless, it is time for a little Momentum Monday love.

 

 

This one is tough and one I will battle with this weekend FOR SURE!  Being involved in any sort of sport creates competition within yourself to do better, but also with other people in hopes to improve yourself, and hopefully best someone else.  It may be conscious or unconscious, but it is there.  You could know the person really well or have never seen them before in your life, it doesn't matter, there is something that pushes and pulls us to be in competition. 

I have, since when I first started running, always said that I don't care who around me is faster or slower, I am always going to run my race.  Man, I have eaten my words so many times.  I will get into a race with blinders on and then at some point I either get pissed because I'm being passed or I gloat to myself because I was able to pick people off. 

It's tough, I'll be the first to admit it.  I'm not mean spirited in any way, but damn it if I'm not competitive.  I don't really compete with or get angry at other people, I get angry with myself on why I'm not better to be able to keep up with the persons who have passed me.  It is silly I know, because this person maybe fitter or have been an athlete all their lives and run miles and miles everyday, I can't possibly compare myself to them.  But I do, I guess it is human nature and I hate it.

So this weekend I am going to try and let it go.  To run and enjoy the moments during the race.  Take pictures with characters and not pay attention to the time clock.  Enjoy the miles as they pass by and run for the love of running and not because I'm trying to beat someone else to the finish line!

Question for you:  Do you find it difficult to be passed during a race?  Do you judge your performance based on your own past experience or how you perform against other runners?

Slackerdom and a kick in the pants!

Holy cow...I just looked at the posts (or rather lack of posts) that occurred in December.  I feel like a total slacker because of it.  Although I strive for quality over quantity, I know there were some important topics that I did not discuss that could have been therapeutic for me and helpful for others who may be going through that same thing.

Typically December is a month full of gatherings, events and lots of joy and happiness.  Not so for me this year.  My health issues made it difficult for me to participate in any activity or even get wrapped up in the Christmas spirit like I usually do.  This past December I battled a stomach issue that sidelined me from running and ultimately lead to a few pound weight gain.  Crappity-crap-crap!

I did all I could to make my tummy and digestive system not go on the fritz and when you just look at lovely green veggies and your stomach turns, it's never a good feeling. Carbs ruled my diet for about 2 weeks, then as my stomach started to feel better, I was able to reintroduce the veggies I love to eat.

Because I was so down on myself, I didn't want to post, worrying that all I would be was Debbie Downer and too much of that is just no good.  Even for the person going through it.

So I apologize for my absence and look forward to a much more productive January and 2013 as a whole!

This year I have really set myself up to have a busy year.  In February I have my first half marathon at the Princess Half Marathon in Disney World, then my second half marathon in June for the Rock n' Roll Seattle Half and then a third half marathon in August at the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend.  I'm going from never having run farther than 10K to running three half marathons in one year.  Talk about stacking the cards against you!  With this lineup of races, I have to work on keeping up my endurance and working on getting fitter.

This leads me to my goals for this year!  YAY GOALS!!!  (Don't everyone get excited now!)

1) Continue with my half marathon training all winter, spring and summer.  I have a few months inbetween races, so I need to keep my distances up and work on being more consistent with my time at the longer distances.

2) Work on my strength training.  I need to incorporate more weight work into my running schedule.  I know this cross training will help to keep me from getting injured as well as assist me in the long run for improving my endurance and time. 

3) Try something new.  I got a Groupon for 20 CrossFit classes at a local Box.  (That's what they call their locations, right?)  I've heard from many people, both close to me and in my blogging community about how much people love and have been changed for the better by CrossFit.  I am willing to try something new where people are there to help you improve and will encourage your growth.  I hope that this will be a positive experience.

4) Change my eating habits.  During the previous year I had lost 40 pounds, mainly from improving my diet and cutting out white sugar and white flour.  This past year I let those two things back into my daily diet and I've suffered from it.  I wasn't losing like I should with all the running I was doing and I wasn't feeling as good as I had when those things were out of my daily intake.  My goal this year is to make the positive strides in my daily diet and find recipes that I can use in replacement of poor food choices.  Cutting out the processed food will make me feel and function better.

and finally, 5) To be more consistent with my workouts and running.  I struggle with this all the time, I have a goal or even a workout schedule and I can't seem to keep up with it.  I always let something get in the way or some excuse keep me from my workout.  It's troubling to me too because I always feel great after a workout/run and I always tell myself to remember this feeling.  But then the lazy settles in and I give in to it.  I will make the commitment to myself to workout or run when I say I will and not give up on myself or let the lazy get me.

So these are my 5 goals for this year and I am really excited about all of them. Being excited about your goals will help you in your pursuit of them.  If you are not excited or ready to attack your goals, then you need to think about why you have those goals and if they are right for you at this point in time.  Use your time and energy in the pursuit of what you want to accomplish and in doing so you will have one hell of a ride. 

So let's attack this year together and push ourselves in accomplishing our goals! 

Question for you: What are your goals for this year?

Momentum Monday: Be strong and my 100th post!

source

This little saying above is pretty much right on with how I feel right now.  I have been battling a stomach/GI issue for three weeks now and I didn't know if I was ever going to feel like I could or would be able to run again.  I've had to be strong in my resolve to get better and be brave when I was at my lowest points.

I am now one day post run after an 18 day hiatus and it feels great.  To be sore again is, ironically, a wonderful feeling.  Though I am feeling very reserved about not "jinxing" the whole situation with how I'm feeling, I know that this is a personal victory for me, and I'm humbled by it.

It's been three weeks since I had done a long run of any sort and I am amazed and humbled at how the body can do such great things.  On Sunday, I was able to pound out 6 miles at about normal pace for me...and not fall apart.  Don't get me wrong, my hips were screaming at me.  But I didn't feel like I was going to die or that it was an insurmountable task.  I was able to run it and finish with enough energy to possibly run more miles, not like I would, let's not get too crazy now!  I am amazed at what my body has been able to accomplish and it still wows me.

I have 9 miles up next on my training schedule and I'm so excited to attach that run.  I felt amazing yesterday after my run and I loved how it feels to knock out those long runs again!

This post also marks my 100th post!  WOOHOO for milestones!  It has been a fun ride blogging in my little corner of the world and I've met some really amazing people along the way.  Thank you for following with me on my journey, I couldn't ask for a more welcoming, supportive and friendly community!  You all are amazing!  Thank you!!!

With that being said, I wish you joy and happiness on this Christmas Eve.  Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Race recap that never was

I should have had a race recap for you this week.  But I didn't.

Last Sunday was the Jingle Bell Dash, my raceiversary race and I had my outfit all ready picked and ready to go.  But my great little outfit was never put on.  My race packet was never picked up.  My bib was never pinned to my great little outfit.  And I never left the house for the race.

I had my very first DNS and I couldn't be more bummed about it.  I've been sidelined with stomach and GI issues for the past two weeks.  So bad that at one point the doctor thought I might have appendicitis and I had to have a CT scan of my abdomen.  Tests were run on everything you could extract from the body, blood tests, urine tests and yes, even stool tests.  Warning oversharing coming!  I'm telling you, there is nothing more difficult/unpleasant than having to divide your poop into little tubes for testing.  Ugh. 

In the meantime the doctor advised that I go on a course of omeprazole and see if my symptoms got better or worse as we waited for the test results to come back.  Well the results came back and everything was normal.  Even the stool samples came back and the results were negative.  Lovely.  WTF is wrong with me!?!?!  So far nothing has been figured out and during all the waiting the omeprazole has been helping, I am feeling better and am hoping to begin running again on Monday.

That's the thing with this issue I've been dealing with, the doctor didn't want me to run in fear that whatever it is might worsen if I ran, especially since we didn't know at that time what the test results would reveal.  Since all that occurred the Saturday before the race, it was deemed that I should not run the next day.

I was shattered.  Heartbroken.  Destroyed.

This stomach/GI issue, whatever it was, had taken away something I had looked forward to for months.  It stripped me of my festive mood.  It robbed me of my joy, the one thing that is for me and me alone, my running.  I was devastated.  I know some of you maybe feeling like I may have been overreacting, but I don't care.  This was something that was important to me and something I worked for and wanted to celebrate, and it didn't happen.  

I awoke the morning of the race on my own, at the time that I would have been getting up to get ready, it's as if my body knew that I was supposed to be up.  No alarms were set, my body just woke up.  I stared at the clock, watching the minutes go by, thinking of what I would be doing if I was running the race.  All I wanted to do was go back to sleep, but I couldn't, my body was restless.  Then as the start time for my wave came onto the clock, I burst into tears.  I didn't intend on it and the emotions were just too much to hold back.  I sobbed silently in the dark.  Cursing my body for turning on me and keeping me from the race and cursing at it again for being awake at that moment so I could have another reminder that I'm not at the race.  It was my low point and I was deep in self-pity.

My lovely husband woke up when he heard me crying (he had taken to sleeping on the couch while I was sleeping propped up in the recliner, hoping that would help with my GI issues, he didn't want to be far away from me).  He helped me up out of the chair and gave me a big long hug telling me that I will get through this and that I need to take care of myself and that I will run and race again.  His never ending positivity is a light in my darkness and it may not have felt like it at the time, but he was right.

I have spent this past week off my feet and out of my sneakers and I have never wanted to get back into them so badly.  But no matter what my training schedule says, I am ignoring it, because getting out there too soon will send me back to where I was almost two weeks ago.  Last night was my first night back in bed in over a week, and it was the best night sleep I've had.  Each day the pain is a bit less, each day I make baby steps back into my "normal" routine, each day I get a step closer to running again.  It's painful to be making this slow progress, but I'm getting there.  All I know is that however short or long that first run will be, it will be done with a huge grin on my face, for I will finally have my joy back.

Race Day Do's & Don'ts: "Beginner" lessons learned!

Since my race-iversary is on Sunday (Seattle Jingle Bell Dash), I thought I would share some tips with everyone and especially those of you new to racing and running.  These are all from experience, so I lovingly bestow my mistakes as ways to help keep you from the same pitfalls! (Please note: this is a general list and not specific to any distance in particular.)


Do: Pick up your race packet before race day.  If they have the option to do that.

Don't: Be the first one in line to pick-up your packet the morning of the race.

          Yeah, I was that person on race day morning of my very first race ever, the very first person at packet pick-up, 2 1/2 hours before the race start.  Ugh...  They weren't even completely set up yet and I'm hovering over them wanting to get this thing they call a "packet".  I was thinking "Give it to me because I have to figure out what this bib thing is and how to put it on!"  Then I was at the wrong bank of tables and had to go and get my packet from somewhere else, then I put my bib on my back...it was a mess.  Just remember this, packet pick-up day before (if possible) and bib on the front. 

Do: Set out your outfit the night before the race. 

Don't:  Wait until the morning to choose your outfit.

          I can't stress this one enough, it is so much easier, less stressful and reassuring to have everything set out the night before a race.  You will sleep more soundly knowing everything you need/want to wear is prepped and ready to go.  You may need to wash something or find a particular item that you might not have the wherewithall to find early in the morning.  There is nothing more stressful than sleeping through your alarm (or five) on race day, and if your gear isn't prepped already, you are feverishly tearing through your place trying to find everything you need just to be clothed for the race, let alone anything that matches (or fits).  Yes, even shoes, I've heard of many horror stories of people running with mismatched shoes (even two of the same foot) because they hadn't set up their items the night before and were in a mad dash to the race.  Do yourself a favor and set everything out before you go to bed.

Do: Dress appropriately for the weather.  Layers.

Don't: Wear clothing too warm for running in that weather.  Again, think layers.

          This can be a tricky thing here.  You don't want to freeze your butt off while waiting for your early morning race to start, but you also don't want to have to run with your favorite hoodie tied around your waist the whole time.  If you dont't have family/friends to hold onto your clothing while you run, then bag check your warm items and wear either items you don't mind shedding before/after you start (most races donate left clothing to charities or shelters), or a garbage bag.  Garbage bag?  What?  Hear me out...a large heavy duty garbage bag helps to keep your body warmth trapped close to you and you can shed it when you are ready to run.  Just cut a hole out in the bottom seam and invert it over you (empty, preferrably).


Do: Be festive and dress in costume.

Don't: Wear the race t-shirt.  Think DNS and DNF.

          Part of the fun is dressing up in costume and getting into the "spirit" of the race.  Dress in green for your St. Patty's day race, dress like a turkey for your neighborhood Turkey Trot, wear a mustache for your cities Mustache Dache.  I like to "sparkle" during my races, so I highly recommend Team Sparkle skirts.  They are my FAVE and I love how I feel running in them!
Wearing your race shirt during the race, there is a long debate about this and the simple way to deal with it is to treat it as a reward not just an accessory.  Show off your race shirt with pride for finishing the race and participating in the cause afterward.  There are two phrases runners hate to hear, DNS (did not start) and DNF (did not finish).  Superstition is tied to those acronyms and wearing your shirt prematurely (before you finish the race), so do yourself a favor, wear it after. :)

Do: Hydrate, even in the cold/wet weather races

Don't: Go to the first table of the water stop, go to the far table, better service.

          Most people equate needing water to how much you sweat, well yes, that is true, however people don't realize how much they sweat during cold weather races.  They can see and feel during warmer weather races and tend to actively hydrate.  However I cannot tell you how many people I saw coming in from the Seattle R&R this year that were suffering from dehydration because they hadn't hydrated enough over the course of the race because it was wet and cold.  Some mistook wet for rain wetness, not sweat, meaning they were loosing vital fluids and not replenishing.  Please, even if you don't think you need to, take some water, it will help more than you know. 
ALSO...don't be a part of the crowd that can essentially stop a race in its tracks by stopping at the first table of a water station.  Keep running past that clamoring crowd and go to the very end, it's almost always empty with plenty of water easily accessible!


Do: Check a bag or have a loved one hold a bag for you with warm clothing to put on after the race

Don't: Assume you will be fine with the clothing on your body to keep you warm, especially during cold weather races

          This goes hand in hand with what I said above.  Don't assume you will be able to stay warm in the same clothing you just ran a race in, especially if the weather hadn't gotten significantly warmer since the start of the race.  You sweated and your clothes are damp, you will get cold.  Regardless, you should always try to keep warm after you've exerted all that energy and sweat.  :)

Do:  Enjoy music during your run

Don't:  Tune out everything around you, be cognizant of any announcements being given on course

          This is important to remember.  We want to be able to zone out during our race so that we can concentrate on having a good finish time or just being able to finish.  However there were points on almost every course I've run on that there were volunteers barking out information to passing runners.  Please always be cognizant of these possibilities.

Do:  Use the zip ties provided for your timing chip (if applicable)

Don't: Tie it to your shoe lace as shown on the insert, the volunteers won't untie your shoe for you to get the timing chip back.

          I was guilty of this one time only and that was all I needed.  Because when I bent over to untie my shoe to get the tag off, not only did I nearly fall over into the volunteer, but I also almost puked all over her.  No Bueno!  Make it easy on yourself and the volunteers.  They have snippers and a foot stool, it takes 10 seconds, just use the zip tie.


Do: Enjoy the post race refreshments and fuel options

Don't:  Be greedy!  They got enough items for the racers in attendance with minimal leftovers, be kind to the people finishing behind you, take only what you need.

          I am still a slower runner, so that means I finish after a good portion of the other runners, so I've been victim to this issue.  I get into the finish chute and all there is left is bottled water.  The granola bars were taken (by the boxful) by previous racers, the boxes of bananas was empty and the volunteers were packing up the tables as the rest of the racers were still finishing.  Poor planning on them and greedy participants as well.  Please take only what you need when you finish the race and enjoy the little fuel pick-up that you need for a race well done.  Oh and dispose of the banana peels responsibly, I can't tell you how many times I've seen them on the ground...and it's not funny.


Do:  Eat a carb heavier breakfast before the race.  Your body needs the fuel to carry you through your race.

Don't:  Drink caffeine before the race.  The caffeine constricts your blood vessels making it difficult for the blood to pump and puts strain on your vessels.

          If you have been training and have found a carb heavier breakfast that works for you, awesome, have that before the race.  If you haven't, my suggestion (and favorite) is a bagel (I have a wheat one) with some kind of nut butter and banana on it.  I also add some fig spread on top of mine for that added good sugar.  It is said you should consume your breakfast no sooner than one hour and no less than 30 minutes before you race.  I've had friends that had their breakfast a couple of hours before the race and had to consume their during race fuels earlier than anticipated because they had run out of energy reserves.

Also, caffeine constricts the blood vessels so your body has to work harder to pump your blood more efficiently.  I'd read about this when I first started running, so as a precaution I don't drink caffeine before a race and if I drink it on a day that I run, I make sure I leave a 2-3 hour window between end of consumption and beginning of run.  I thought it was interesting information, but I know tons of runners that drink coffee and then run, so do whatever floats your boat.


Do: Eat complex carbs the night before the race to sustain your glycogen levels for the next day

Don't:  Eat greasy food, try to avoid food high in fat, cooked in oil and very spicy items.  It isn't pretty when it wants to come out and when you are pressing hard during a run, it may not be a good situation for you.

          Everybody knows about runners "carbing up" or "carbo loading", what ever catch phrase you use, it does happen and in many different variations.  Depending on the extent of your run, some runners increase their carbs over the span of several days in order to keep "reserves" for the race.  Most, load up the night before.  Experiment with it and find what works best for you.  For me, pizza is my carb of choice the night before a race and the only time I get pizza, so I look forward to it every time!
In the same token, please watch your intake the night before when considering greasy/fatty foods.  Your body goes through turmoil when you run and your intestines can make a mess of things, no pun intended.  If you don't want to hit the porta-potties (or worse, trying to find a bush) during and immediately after your race, ditch the fried/fatty stuff and stick to things you know your body can handle.  You'll thank me later.

Do:  Stretch and warm up before the race.  Limbering up your legs and stretching your muscles is essential to keeping your legs from being too stiff or cramping up.

Don't:  Do extensive warm ups that you could over do and put unnecessary strain on your muscles and joints.  Do what you have done during your training and you should be golden.

          This should be pretty much a no-brainer.  Keep warm and stretch your muscles before AND after the race, it helps with your performance and recovery.

Do: Get plenty of rest the night before.  At least 8 hours is the recommended amount.

Don't:  Stay up too late and spend lots of time on your feet.  Your legs and feet need rest in order to be fresh for the next day.

          This can be tough if you are away at a race location (not close to home) and especially for those races at theme parks (ahem...Disney), but sleep is SO important!  No amount of fuel, coffee or training can help you if you don't get a decent amount of sleep the night before a race.  You may be meeting up with friends and want to have an all night gab fest, but resist the temptation.  You may also need to start climatizing your body the week before if there is a time zone change involved with the race location, ie. you live on the West Coast but the race is on the East Coast.  That 3am EST alarm is going to be BRUTAL if you don't get used to the time change beforehand! 
Also, take it easy the day before, or if it's a night race, the day of.  Make sure you spend enough time off your feet and legs, get plenty of rest and stretch as much as possible!


Have anything else to add?  I'm all ears...er, eyes.  :)

End of Week 9 Half Marathon training

I promise I will keep up on my training recaps, this is for last week's training, so I'm on the right track, right?  Right!  Now let's get on with it.

Last week I was reeling off the good vibes from my 7 mile run the Saturday before, so I came into this past week of training with a renewed sense of accomplishment and appreciation.  My training schedule for this week was pretty standard:

Tuesday:  30 minute run/walk
Thursday:  30 minute run/walk
Saturday:  8 mile long run (again, my longest distance)

The wet and rainy weather really moved into the Seattle area this past week and it made its presence noticed.  The Tuesday I was set for a run, the rain was so significant that most roadways and sidewalks were overrun with huge puddles and "land lakes" that it was just not safe to be out on the streets until the drains were cleared up and the water had gone down.

Wednesday was looking more promising and surprisingly dry in the morning, so I jumped on the chance to take a noon time run.  I suited up and went out for a good 30 minute run.  I was happy to be out of the office and let my legs stretch a bit.  I was reveling in the fact that I was now able to cover longer distances in the same amount of time I had previously, it was such a great feeling...until my shins started screaming at me!!

It was so painful to the point that I HAD to walk, running just wasn't an option and walking was a bit of a chore.  I was so disappointed.  I really wanted to have a good run and was poised to do so.  Stupid shins!  So I finished out my run and got it done in the prescribed amount of time, showered and got back to work.  I felt good about getting my run done and all before the rain started up again.  WOOHOO!

Thursday I was meeting up with my friend Danielle to do a track workout.  This would be my first time doing this type of running workout, so I had no idea what to expect.  The intervals she had us running at were ones that she had learned from a speed work class she had taken a few months ago.  Man did it ever push the boundaries of my lungs and legs!  Whew!!!  It was a 3 mile workout, but boy did I ever earn the sweat I was covered in!  We did series of sprints and faster running sections and then another series of sprints and more faster running sections.  It wasn't until the second set of sprints that my legs really started to stretch out.  I had a bigger lung capacity and my strides were long and quick.  It was fun actually.  But boy did I feel it the next day, phew!

Saturday I got together with friend Danielle again for a long run.  I had 8 miles planned and she had 6 miles, so I was going to drive over to her place, run two miles on my own and then do a 6 mile loop together because I knew I would need the encouragement of another runner during my last couple of miles.  Only, I woke up not feeling well AT ALL!  My tummy was upset and I was feeling SUPER sluggish, almost like I was coming down with something.  I contemplated calling in on the run and doing it on Sunday, but I was meeting with someone and I'd eaten almost half of my pre-long run breakfast, so I decided to just do 6 miles and make up the other two later. 

When we set out on the run, it wasn't so bad, well other than it was really breezy, cold and starting to rain.  Yay...or something.  So we mostly ran to keep warm.  The miles started going by pretty quickly and before I knew it, we were half way through the 6 miles and I was feeling great!  My body had fought off whatever yuckiness I had going on in the morning and was really taking to my run.  At that point I made the decision that I was going to continue on with the extra two miles after Danielle had finished with her six.  So I began fueling accordingly during the rest of the run so that I had plenty of energy to make it through the last few miles.

When it was time to finish the last two miles the rain really started coming down, but I didn't stop, I didn't turn back, I kept going.  Kept the legs churning and getting that mileage.  It was tough, my legs were toast and my body was just done with the run.  My form was slipping and I was getting really cold from being soaked.  I finally finished and felt this amazing feeling of "badass-ness", I had kicked those 8 miles and I was still standing.  A bit water logged, but still standing!

And of course, just as I was finishing, the damn sun came out and it stopped raining.  Figures.

Sported my new baby blue argyle pro compression socks.  So stylin'!  Loving my baby blues!

It was an amazing feeling getting through those 8 miles.  I had never run that far before in my life and I was amazed I was able to do it.  The body is quite an amazing thing.  The rest of the day I took great care on hydrating and fueling myself accordingly so that I didn't have issues like I had the weekend before with my 7 mile run.

Now my sights are set on a different goal this week, my raceversary is on Sunday with the Jingle Bell 5K in Seattle.  I'm so excited to be running this again (and this time I'll be chipped for timing!) and see how I do compared to my first time last year.  Considering that was the first race I had ever ran and I had trained for only 7 weeks beforehand, I hope it's a better showing this time! :)  Good thing my schedule calls for only 3 miles this weekend because I'm going to make every single one of those miles count with extra exertion!  OH!  Did I mention that I was going to debut a new Team Sparkle skirt?  I'm so excited to add some extra sparkle to a fun race!