Log Off - Shut Down - Go Run 10k

I hope everyone had great races this weekend... I know there were a lot going on.

Everyone breaking free of the cold & getting these road races under their belts.

While I missed the big race in town, I did get in the 10K sponsored by Gone for a Run.

I had been on my feet for 10 hours on Saturday for a wedding & my feet were killing me, but I didn't even let my mind think twice about doing the 6.2 miles.

Now, I knew my time would be affected - but as I've made it pretty clear this year, I could care less about time.  I just wanted to see the 6.20 on my Nike GPS watch & know I earned that medal.

 & earned it I did.

Luckily, it was a beautiful day, so it was a pleasure to get out in sunshine & inhale fresh air.  It was nice too because I saw some familiar faces & had some company for a few miles of the loop.

I actually started out pretty good keeping my intervals at 3 min walks/2 min runs for the first 4 miles. 

I wasn't sure I would even be able to do any running at first with the way my feet felt & plus, I wore tennis shoes that I don't typically run in. I use these shoes for my Les Mills Combat. I tried running in them when I first got them, but they caused blisters on the back of my feet. I'm not even sure why I put them on but noticed those were the shoes I had on once I got to the park.  Ooops. 

This was exactly how I felt when I looked at my shoes on my feet

I ended up getting a blister - but not in the back of my feet, but on the sole of my feet, the same place that I got them for the Ky Derby MiniMarathon.  What is happening with this spot on the bottom of my foot?  Anything over 5 miles & it pops up.

Needless to say, the last mile & a half was strictly walking... whatever... I was moving. I got my miles in.
I got my medal.
I EARNED my medal, I should say.

I just really enjoyed having the challenge ahead of me of doing this 10k the day after a wedding.  Made me see strength that I have deep in me - especially when others don't see it. I know I can do it.

Did you have any races this weekend?

 

How did you do?

Log Off - Shut Down - Go Run... another chance to run!

I had plans for the year to run the Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon this year... to get my 6th medal for this race...

I actually registered.. & then went to put it on my calendar & then DANG IT!!!

Noticed I had a wedding already schedule to photograph that same day.

I've already had words with my bride & groom about scheduling a wedding on the biggest running day of the area... they so don't care.

But I was very fortunate to get a refund, which they rarely do... & I have just been pouting about not being able to do a race that day.

Then I see what one of my favorite bloggers had posted....
 Fairytales & Fitness had information about a virtual race coming up that same weekend.

Sponsored by Gone For a Run

Even better - it's not a half marathon... something I'm not trained for... but a 10k.  Something I just did & am ready for.

AND its the same weekend of the race I wanted to do.... AND I can do it on Sunday, the day after the wedding.

ANDDDDD the best thing?  It has great swag. 

A cool tank top, a race bib, a fantastic race medal.... for cheaper then the half marathon I was going to do.

I'm so in.

I'm excited.

If I can't run the race I wanted to, this is totally a great substitute that works for me.

I love having goals on my calendar.

 

Have you ever done a virtual race?

Joining in with The Secret Blogger Club
 

Training 02/10-02/16/14 ... with a virtual race...

Another week of moving, moving...

Feb 10 - Monday
2.77 miles (3 min Walk/1 min Run x 10)
Did this late & it was almost two late.  I didn't want to do it. But it was thanks to laughing at the dumb moves of the ladies on the Bachelor that got me through it.  I probably said, "Really?" & "Ewwww" a few too many times.

My reaction to Juan Pablo lately

My knees felt really tight but did OK with moving up the intervals from 8 to 10
Sleep: 6:17
Steps: 10,442

Feb 11 - Tuesday
Crunch Master Sculpt
This is an old school work out.  I like that old school work outs focus a lot on inner thighs.  Something you don't see a lot of any more.
you just have to ignore the fashion of the 80's in these videos...
Sleep: 7:18
Steps: 4,360

Feb 12 - Wednesday
Yoga
Check out my post from last week on my thoughts of that...
BORINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG



In honor of a downward dog, its a yawning cat

But getting more flexible - so I'll keep on
Sleep: 7:02
Steps: 3,766

Feb 13 - Thursday
2.78 miles (3 min walk/1 min run x 10)
Right knee was feeling it bad.  My runner's knee was really flared up.  This was how I ended up actually

Hello ice pack, my old friend

Sleep: 7:31
Steps: 10,423


Feb 14 - Friday
Valentine's Day
REST DAY...
Sleep:  7:15
Steps: 3.529

Feb 15 - Saturday
3:10 (3 min walk/1 min run)   424 cal burn
Used this as my Jost Running virtual Race ... I just love these medals every month.  So cute & creative...

Sleep: 8:29
Steps: 11,038

Feb 16 - Sunday
REST DAY
Sleep: 8:34
Steps: 6,980

Another week done...

We got into next week where my long run is up to 6 miles.

Fingers crossed my runs get OUTSIDE this week too...
Please Lord... let it be...

Run your Mass Off

This is why I love virtual races...

So I can do them whenever I want to..

Which also means that I'm at the last day of the month & thinking, I didn't do my race!

So Saturday, November 30th - the last day of the month - we were out Christmas shopping all day.  I mean, ALL DAY!  We were out in our first store at 10:00am & shopped until we literally couldn't fit another package in the car.

I was exhausted.

& that's when I got home & saw the medal sitting on my dresser.

When they send them ahead of the race, I put it on my dresser - don't dare thinking of putting it around my neck & NEVER goes on the medal wall until the miles are done.

So it was either throw the medal in a drawer, or get to the treadmill...

Ricky ended up falling asleep & I headed to the basement.

Luckily, there was a Glee episode on the TV in front of Miley (my treadmill's name).  It only gets 3 stations - one being Public Access TV which isn't very entertaining, so I try to do all my treadmill jaunts on specific times where something actually grabs my attention & not makes me want to slit my wrists from boredom on the treadmill...

Even better?  It was the Glee episode with Neil Patrick Harris.. my secret BFF... I say secret because I know we would be BFF's... Neil just isn't in on this idea yet though...

I ended up walking this one... walking all day shopping, my low back still aggravated, & my runner's knee still hurting getting up the steps, I knew not to push it.  After all, December 1st started the #RWRunStreak ... one mile a day till 2014... I couldn't get to that day with even more pain.

Walking it was... & it worked out well.  Not much pain in the back, the knees did OK, & I still got the miles in... 3.10

I laugh because my walking time isn't too much off my running time :) 

46:38

May be slow... but it was done... I could wear my medal

So I am in love with Jost Running's medals... It has become my favorite Virtual Race place.  Even better?  They use part of the money to fund charities - changing every month.

Check them out...  www.jostrunning.com

So there you go.. another virtual race in the books...

Now let's start the posts on the Run Streak & the Plank challenge...

Virtual 50k for Breast Cancer

At the end of September, one of the cool running bloggers that I follow offered up a Virtual Race.

Jess ( www.runwithjess.com ) has put on virtual races before & does them well.

This one was different.  It was about biking... for a good cause.  For Breast Cancer Awareness.  It was labeled #RaceOutCancer ... I'm all about that...

I hate cancer...

I also hate riding bikes...

I hate cancer worse....

But I was willing to do it for the cause & to give my body something else to work at.  I love goals.

Jess made it easy on us... either ride the 31 miles in one shot... which my butt screamed this...

Have you ever rode on a bike for the first time after not riding for awhile?
Ohhhh.... the pain in places you didn't know could hurt!!!

Or you could ride 7.74 miles once a week for 4 weeks
or 1 mile a day in October
or take 2 spinning classes

Well, I ended up doing my own thing... I ended up riding longer on some days then others & broke it up.  I think it took me 5 rides. 

The longest was last night... I had 6.40 miles to go... & October is running out & I wanted to knock this in the butt..
no pun intended...

Hopped back on the spinner & nailed it out...

In the end, my rear end is really getting used to the spinning thing.
Now, not so sure my low back is... but my bum is...

I take these things seriously too... thought about the aches & pains in my low back & my rear ... & to think that aint NOTHING compared to the awesome people who battle cancer every day... to the beautiful women who knock out Breast Cancer every day...

Tough people in this world...

So this new experience was for them...

Who knows... maybe I'll get a real bike & find that its my calling...

This would totally be my luck

you never know...stranger things have happened.

Aches & pains, virtual racing & 2 lbs?

 

Last night I got on the treadmill for my hour of Biggest Loser.

 

Actually used it as my virtual race for US Road Running ...

 

If you've never done a virtual race, this place is very nice.

 

http://usroadrunning.com

 

You register for a race, do it during the month, send them the times & you can compare yourself to everyone around the US... AND you get a medal!! They are NICE medals too.

 

I'm actually trying a new virtual racing program - Jost Running ... http://jostrunning.com/

 

Their medal for November is awesome!  They're also more expensive.  So you have to decide what you like best.

The medal for the 5k



 



 

So I'm on the treadmill & the whole time, my low back is just aching & moaning at me.  Its so frustrating.  Don't know why its so aggravated again.  I think from the 12 hour wedding I did while carrying 3 bags around my body the whole time.  Could be something to do with it..  mm...

 

But I keep on.

 

 

 

Running really is this for me... an argument...

 

My brain tells me to stop... but the other part tells me to keep pushing myself.  My back would hurt if I was sitting on the couch, so why not try & make myself healthier?

 

So I did my virtual race on the treadmill, watching Biggest Loser... trying to get lost it in so I can get my mind off my back...

 

I love the hour long shows now... not messing around.

 

But this week, it all came down to one person's weight.  Talk about pressure.  I'd freak out.  And on the White Team, the roll of the dice came down to Fernada.  Bless her her.  She only lost 2 lbs while every around her was shedding it off.    Her team lost, she was below the red line... she was sent home...

 

Jillian just reminded her that she did nothing wrong - it was just the weight for that week.

 

I get it... it feels like you work so hard sometimes & then that's all the results show?

 

Its so unfair...

 

It makes you want to quit... to give up...

 

Its that struggle with the brain - not even with running this time... but everything.  Want to give up?  Or you want to keep going?

 

These battles happen every day...

 

I know I want to keep going...