Liebster Award

You like me... you really like me...

Sorry - I can't hear "award" & not think of Sally Field.

But I did get this Liebster Award that is going around from two awesome bloggers.



The first from my amazing blog friend Lauren from  Lauren's Glass Slipper ... she's always so faithful in commenting & being a source of encouragement...

Then I got it again from Unexpected Runner who I met on Facebook & finding to be another cool running chic... gotta love those kinds of chics...

So there are rules to this award business... here they are...

The Liebster Award Rules 1. You must link back to the person who nominated you
2. You must answer the 10 Liebster questions given to you by the nominee before you.
3. You must pick 10 bloggers to be nominated for the award
4. You must create 10 questions for your nominees
5. You must go to their blogs and notify the nominees

So I'll answer the first set of questions I got first & then the next...

Good thing I love questions...

here we go

1. So far, what is your favorite race that you have run and why?
The Ky Derby Mini Marathon in 2012 ... I hit my time I was trying for & when I realized I was going to do it, I saw my husband. I started crying & asked him to finish with me. I crossed the finish line under my time by like 0.5 seconds & I cried like a baby in sheer joy.

2. What is your favorite childhood memory?
So many... I had a fantastic childhood. Memories of late night kick ball games, fishing trips with grandparents, Gatlinburg trips with my parents every year... I have no complaints about my childhood

3. What is your favorite thing about blogging?
The voice to say what I'm thinking on any subject... & then finding like minded people who you really get to know...

4. What are you most passionate about?
Animals.... Being a vegetarian & taking care of my dogs... I hate animal abuse & hate to see any animal get hurt in any way...

5. What is your dream job?
I wish I would have been a school teacher...

6. If a movie were to be made about your life, what celebrity would play you?
Drew Barrymore or Rachel McAdams...
neither one looks a thing like me but I always tell everyone I think I look like them.
#wishfulthinking


7. If you could have played a character from any movie, who would you pick?
Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge.   Those Clothes... a musical... Ewan McGregor singing with me?  Yes to all the above.
Plus, I'm sure I can rock a death scene.

8. What is your favorite Disney movie and why?
If you never need to know anything about me, its that I'm obsessed with Beauty & the Beast. I mean OBSESSED.  I had 2 bedrooms dedicated to nothing but B&B collectibles at one point. I fully believe I am Belle... & yes, my husband is exactly like the Beast... at the end that is... when he turns into the Prince - the long red hair. It's my husband.  You have no idea how long I've been obsessed with the whole Beauty & the Beast story. I even go back to the TV show with Katherine & Vincent... I'm telling you - OBSESSED

Don't be mistaken for me & my husband here

9. What is the #1 race on your bucket list?
Disney Princess Half Marathon - without a doubt

10. If you could choose one food to have zero calories, what would it be?
Chocolate

OK... hanging in there with me?

Let's do the 2nd round of questions...

1. Road, trail, or mud?
I'd go with Trail... just because that means I'd probably be in trees & trees are the best.

2. What is your preferred distance?
I love a good 10K... long enough but short enough

3. What is your “dream” race?
Same as above... Disney Princess Half Marathon... I've gotta do it before I die... just gotta!

4. What fitness app do you use the most?
I use my My Fitness Pal more then anything... always good to depress myself & talk myself out of snacks I would otherwise eat.

5. What do you do for cross training?
Right now, I'm in the T25 for my cross training... but I have a good supply of awesome 80's work out videos that still rock you out pretty hard core.

6. What is your funniest running or race story?
I'll go with this past half marathon I ran... it was over & me & my hubs were walking back to the car.  You had to cross the road where the race was happening. My poor husband is oblivious sometimes & walked right out in front of the marathoners & he didn't even noticed them.  The runners were going all around him & he STILL didn't see them.  I just stood on the side of the road laughing at him.  I was afraid to tell him to watch out because I know him - he would have ran into every single one of them like a bowling ball in a bowling alley... I still laugh about it.


7.  If you have one, who is your favorite running partner? If you don’t have one, what celebrity would you most like to join you on a run?
I don't have a running partner - so I'll go with a celebrity & it would be Drew Carey... I say that because I would imagine he would be entertaining on the way & I know he's a runner. 

8. How many pairs of exercise-related shoes do you own?
Oh wow... off the top of my head, I know I have 6 boxes of running shoes on the inside of my closet - that's not counting what is stored over head...

I love my running shoes.

9. What is your favorite snack?
Healthy or not?  My favorite healthy snack is a Clif Mojo Mountain Mix Bar... mmmm..
Not healthy?  A York Peppermint Patty


10. What is one thing that you can do today that you never thought you would be able to accomplish?
I always said I'd never run. I tore my hamstrings in martial arts young & have knee problems ever since.  So that I've done 6 half marathons & a few dozen other races blows my mind... completely.... even still....

So my turn to forward it on... & I think most of the running blogs I read have already received it... but I'll pass it on anyways so you can see the links of some of my favorites... 

Corey at Fatherverse
Rennay at Vegetarian in the Ville
The Princesses at 2 Princesses on the Run
Maria from The Good Life Girl
 The awesome sisters at Fairy Tales & Fitness
Anita at Running Against the Odds
Katie at From Ice Cream to Marathon
Rachel at Running Rachel
My wedding co-hort at Runaway Bridal Planner

& my questions for you to answer, if you haven't already done so.
If you have, just pick one & leave your answer in my comments :)

1. Your favorite piece of running equipment?
2. When did you start running & why?
3. Favorite athlete (can be in any sport)
4. Shorts, capris or running skirt?
5. Favorite brand of shoes?
6. Worse running injury?
7. What you wish you could go back & tell your younger running self?
8. What one food do you usually eat every day?
9. Favorite TV show you're watching right now?
10. Favorite Disney Character you relate to the most :)

Thanks again for sending me the award.
Its been really cool - I have been blogging for 7 years at my other blog (link is above) but starting the 'running/fitness' blog has been a new thing that I'm glad I've done - have met the coolest people that inspire me!

Spider Tech Woman... please move closer to me...

So when I went to the expo for my last race, I was excited to see someone applying kinesiology tape.  I was ready to knock everyone out of my way to get there & get taped up.  I love this stuff.

I was hoping someone would be there because I can do my knee & my bicep tendonitis fairly well... my low back?  Yeah - not easy to get to on my own.

My poor hubby...

he tries...

He watches video after video on how to apply this stuff but it never works.  I'm not sure what's going on when he does it.

So yes, I was taped, it got me through the race & my back has felt great for the past week.

... & then... it happened...

Saturday evening, it came off.

I literally wanted to scream, "WHY GOD?"

I guess all good things come to an end.

I thought, its OK... it gave my back time to mend up, its all going to be OK.

Except it wasn't.

Last night, I got out of my car & my back got the worse pain.  Like it had a cramp right in my low back, right where my bulging disc is.

I almost didn't work out & then thought, "Screw that" & popped in my T25 video for the day.  It was rough.  I couldn't move my left leg very well, but once I would get it going, it felt better.  It's when I'd stop that the pain was & then I'd have to work to get moving again.

Actually, working out helped.  Don't know if warming up the muscles helped or what, but I was doing better after the work out then before the work out.

There's advertising for exercise for you.

I got my shower & then thought, let's see what we can do with my KT Tape - see if we can do the same sort of taping....

called the hubs, who said, "I know this isn't going to work"... I was keeping the attitude of, "its going to be just fine"...

It got it on... & it felt good...

except the tape popped off last night in bed while I turned over.

DANG IT!

The lady that put this on for me the first time has a shop, but its like over an hour away from my home.  I can't do that weekly.  Because believe me, if she were close by, I seriously would pay weekly for her to do it. Not even joking.  $10?  Heck yeah, once a week please.

So I just ordered the Spider Tech tape that is pre cut & I'm going to make my husband study & study & study again this video...

Its going to work. He's going to be a Spider Tech pro...

& I'm going to have a happy back...

First Double Day...

I woke up Saturday & thought, I can't believe its been a week since my half marathon.

You work for so long to get there...

But this past week, I've been doing good on the T25 path.

Stuck to the calendar of what to do - except it has Saturday as your rest day.  I actually took mine on Friday.  So Saturday, with no race, no running planned, I went to grab my T25 schedule....

& then noticed something I didn't pay attention to before...

There's 2 work outs for the day...

exactly my reaction when I looked at the calendar

Saturday called for the lower Focus & the Cardio...

Oh sweet mother of all things fitness... this was going to be tough.

I actually started with the Lower Focus & then thought, "Cardio?  I'll go run - I haven't done that in a week anyways"

... & then about half way through, I thought a few things.

1. my allergies are acting up CRAZY & being outside would make it work.
2. I really didn't want to get on the treadmill
3. If I want to see what the 90 days on this program is about, I can't alter it - I want to stick to it.

So I thought, I'll do what it says.

I'll just deal with the schedule & what it says....

... & then I thought I would die...

Thank God for the modifier when I got to the Cardio video.

Truth be told, I should have done Cardio first & then the low body afterwards.  Doing it first, my legs were jello. 

BUT.... I did it... both videos all the way through...

Yep... some calories were BURNED in an hour!

Score for me...

I made it through week 1 of T25... & now we start doing videos all over again in different combos.  I'm so anxious to see how I feel when I go to do workouts for the 2nd/3rd time... if I can feel a difference in my body.

As of this morning, I weighed in & am exactly the same... which still bites fat donuts...

But we'll see what it looks like next week.

I'm still Pressing On!!!

What did you do this weekend to work out?

Confessions

Friday... time to spill my guts...

* Got my race pictures & goodness gracious - I literally sat & cried.  I knew I had gained weight.  I didn't know I looked so awful. The picture in front of the "Finishers" board, I know better.  I'm a photographer. I don't know why I positioned by body to look so wide.  #Photofail #beachedwhale

* I will have to buy one of the pictures though - the one with me & the hubs running across the finish line.  Still debating if I'll post it anywhere though.  Its good memories though so I have to buy it.

* If anyone goes & looks up the pictures online, you aren't my friends & you never will be.

* Scary to think awful race pictures are out for the world to see for years to come... yikes...

How I looked when I saw my race pictures

* I can't make myself buy flavored coffee in the K-cups.  Have you ever read the ingredients on those?  Disgusting. I'd rather just buy it at Starbucks & not have the ingredients in front of my face.

I can drink in so much more peace without reading words I can't pronounce

* Day 5 of T25 ... I can't wait to do next week to see if I can tell a difference yet.

* I miss running.  I think I may venture out to do a 5k this weekend... in between 2 baby photo sessions I'm doing.  Maybe I'll just bench press the babies as my work out for the day.

* I can't tell you how happy I am to turn off the alarm on the clock tonight.... I haven't been able to sleep in for the past 3 weekends.  Tomorrow is my day.  I need to inform the dogs of this.

Don't even TRY to get me out of bed early tomorrow

* I am feeling overwhelmed with my schedule... I'm trying to focus on one day at a time.  I'm feeling a full on panic attack gearing up deep inside.

* Got 3 new pairs of Fila running shorts from Kohl's online... I think it's probably my best purchase I've gotten in awhile. They fit great. Hard to find good running shorts that don't do weird things.

 

Anything you need to get off your chest?

Forget pretty....

I've been a subscriber to Birch Box for almost 2 years.

If you're not familiar with Birch Box, you pay a monthly fee & get a box every month shipped to you with beauty products.  Samples of things you have no idea even existed... or at least I didn't.

I'm not a big make up person.  I do good to slap on Bare Minerals & some mascara.  The plus side, it takes me literally 5 minutes to put on my make up...

I totally don't have time for this kind of hair & makeup!!!

So I thought it would be fun to try this & see if I could find something to make me beautiful... or at least cover up my age spots...

Well, over the past year & a half, I probably use one or two products out of each box.  I have one big box where I throw everything else.  I couldn't use half of the other products because my skin is so sensitive.  Let me try any sort of moisturizer or face product & I'm like a teenager in puberty with an acne face like you wouldn't believe.

That's not attractive on a 42 yr old woman...

So then yesterday, I noticed something on another blog...

Nature Box

Same sort of thing.  You purchase a subscription & they send you items once a month.

The difference?  This box is full of healthy snacks.

Food over beauty?

EVERY TIME will be my choice.

So I clicked right on over to Birch Box - canceled that subscription & joined Nature Box.

You can pick how many snacks you get a month & can even add in what you want. 

Decisions decisions...

I chose 4 & decided to let them surprise me with the last one...

I can't wait to get it & try it out.

The good thing - I know there won't be a box full of things I don't use on this one!

Have you ever tried Nature Box before?

Now what?

Its always so weird after a race is done, isn't it?

I mean, you invest so much time in training. 

I have on my calendar exactly what the training was for that day. 
I have canceled appointments or rescheduled them when my long runs hit on the weekend.
Life revolves around training.

& then the race happens... & BAM, its over & its like, "What now?"

Its just like when you plan for a wedding.  All that time on the details & when the wedding is over, you wake up the next day & say, "You mean I don't have to call the florist to change the flower order again?"

Life just feels like something is missing...

I will say, after this last half marathon, I woke up on Sunday feeling fantastic - only my blister hurting & my legs just a slight bit of tightness.  Nothing that felt like I was miserable. 

I told Ricky I could even go running on Monday...

But I've decided not to.

I'm taking the running down for a bit. 

Oh, I'll still do it.  No doubt.  It was a beautiful day yesterday & I was itching at the bit to run....

But I started on Monday my next 90 days - I'm going through the whole T25 program.

I'm going to see if I can get some of this weight off & get my body toner & tighter...
I want to become a better runner & I think this is a good way to get it started.

I actually took my measurements to see what the difference will be in 90 days...
there BETTER be a difference!

I found out that the right side of me is a half inch bigger too... fun fact...

Yes, I'll still sneak in some 5k's...
I love some Jost Running medals so I know I'll be doing a 5k at least every month...

#medalsrule

I'm excited to get my body in better shape...

& I can't wait to start looking ahead at my future races.

I already have the next Kentucky Derby miniMarathon marked on my calendar for 2015... have a Fall half marathon in mind. 

But these next 90 days?  I'm going to turn into a fitness BEAST!

YEAHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Kentucky Derby Half Marathon Recap ....

I woke up early & refreshed.  Something that never happens on race day.  Usually butterflies swirling in my belly keeps me up all night long, afraid I'll over sleep through an alarm.

I woke up right when my alarm went off, my eyes bright & my tail bushy (that doesn't sound right... bright eyed & bushy tailed is what I'm going for)....

& it was the craziest thing.  Literally, the first thing that went through my mind when I woke up was the song,

I will not fear... His promises is true... my God will come through... always!  Always!





I had the most amazing sense of peace come over me right then & there...

I hopped right out of bed & headed into the kitchen.  The dogs were all sleeping in, & Ricky was still snoozing, so I made my race breakfast (an egg sandwich with hot sauce) & sat in the kitchen just reflecting on how the day was going to go.  I made up my mind to not freak out ... to enjoy the day... to be IN the moment... & know God was with me, was going to get me through the day...

I had everything laid out the night before so I got done with breakfast & started getting dressed.  Its always exciting because the news stations are already covering the start line & it gets me fired up, ready to get down to the crowds.

They had said that the temp was in the low 50's & it was going to be a perfect sunny, beautiful day.  I went out the door with just a short sleeve shirt & figured it would warm up as I got to moving.  I didn't expect to walk out the door & have such a cool breeze hit me.  I was freezing.

We got down to the race & Ricky parked & walked with me to the start line.  Getting in the crowds, hearing the music, seeing the corrals, my nerves really kicked in.  It didn't help that I was still cold, so I was just shaking with the big ball of emotion. 

Me Shivering before the race. 
Look how tight my hands are.
Nerves were kicking in

Ricky went with me even in the corral to keep me company & he kept his arms around me to keep me warm.  Is my husband awesome or what?

Before I knew it, we were moving forward. I didn't hear the horn go off, but I knew we had started.... Ricky walked with me all the way to the start line & veered off right as I got ready to hit my watch to begin this adventure.  I told him he was lucky they didn't tackle him coming off the course :)  The things you do for love.

Mile 1 - Of course, felt great.  The first mile is just full of cheerleaders & spectators ... I think I just look at all the faces looking for their loved ones & it is just full of joy & expectation in mile one.

I was determined to keep my pace of walk 3 minutes, run 2 minutes - but the first mile, I ran the first 5 minutes & then started my pace....


Mile 2 - There was a church called Liberty Temple - they were amazing!  They had to get there early & they had bought full bottles of water on their own & handing them out.  Plus, they had the Rocky theme going & honestly, they were the BEST CROWD OF PEOPLE!  They were on chairs, on tables, screaming, hitting everyone's hands... they deserve an award for "BEST CHEERLEADERS"


Mile 3 - About this time, I'm getting sick of winding up streets, back down streets, to wind back UP the street... get me out of these small roads...
It was also about this time that my new hand held phone gadget that I bought turned out not to be the best gadget I thought it was.  It was cutting into my thumb... so bad, I almost couldn't even FEEL my thumb.  Hmmm... let's get this thing off of my hand before my thumb turns blue.




Good in theory
Bad for swollen thumbs

Mile 4  - Ahh - on Broadway - a big wide road where you feel like you can breath.  I'm still keeping my same pace & feeling really good actually.  I saw ahead of me people going to the side & grabbing something at the next water station.  I thought there may be oranges there.  No - there were about 20 dozen boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts.  UGH!  I don't get how people eat junk when they run. One year, I saw people eating White Castle hamburgers.  I can puke thinking about it.

 

Mile 5 - this is where you take the turn to head down the road that leads you to Churchill Downs.  We pass a retirement home & I love that the front of it is always full of people cheering us on... people in wheelchairs, people who are elderly... they just clap & clap.  I want to just stop & hug them all.


Mile 6-7 - I hate this part of the race.  I was still keeping my normal pace, doing OK.  I just hate it because its so long at this point going down the road.  I just want to get to Churchill Downs & it feels like you're never going to reach those twin spirals. 

This part of the race really is my personal hell

I will say, my song "Press on" by Mandisa came on & I was kicking butt running through that whole song.
It was right after that that I could feel a blister coming up on the bottom of both my feet, on the balls of my feet.  The right foot was worse, but it was nothing to slow me down.

Mile 8 - The coolest part.  We got to run into Churchill Downs... I hadn't even taken my phone out during the whole time but had to document going into the track.  It was the first year we got to actually go in the front way.

My favorite part of the race ended up turning into the worst for me....

Proof I was still smiling at mile 8

When I was coming out of the tunnel of the track & heading into mile 9, I had 2 issues hit me.  First, those blisters that were coming up earlier had been getting worse & the one on my right foot was becoming unbearable.  I've never had blisters on the bottom of my feet before so I didn't even know how to deal with them. 

They had me limping & walking funny, which in turn, had my legs tighten up...

I was in trouble.

It was about mile 9.5 where I broke my pace for the first time.  Every time I went to do my 2 minute run, the blisters felt like they were bleeding... I was getting ready to just cry...

Luckily, I saw a friend on the side lines with her new baby & she ran out & hugged me.  Its funny how the small things give you energy again.

Ricky called me at mile 10 & asked where I was at.  I told him where & he said he would meet me up the road.  I didn't tell him how bad I felt at this point because I knew he would freak out & not let me go any further...

But I got to mile 11 & here comes Ricky.  I see him & smile & wave & then he got up to me & I told him how miserable I was.  At this point my pace had dropped something CRAZY... I couldn't run at all anymore. 

I, at first was so disappointed because I started off with an actual goal... something I didn't think I would do.  And the thing is, I was going to make it!!! I really was!  I was like 3 minutes ahead of the game... all up to mile 9.5....

& then I had a small self pity party...

But actually, it was a very small one - especially compared to some of the other ones I've had in races.  I kept thinking, "I wasn't even sure I was going to make it.  & here I am.  Screw the time."

& at that point, Ricky & I stepped to the side of the road, he sat down & I stretched my tight legs & I eased off my foot some.

They say, "crawl if you have to" - I almost was at that point.  I got to the 12 mile mark & I looked at Ricky & said, "It would be crazy for me to not make it now..." & at that, I was basically a snail.  My 14 minute pace went up to a 22 minute pace.  I was just literally taking a step at a time.

& again?  I didn't even care.  People were passing me up & I didn't care.  Time was ticking faster then ever.... & I didn't care.

Ricky was walking with me & we just were laughing, talking about where we were going to eat, listening to a little girl on the side singing in a karaoke machine "Do you wanna build a snowman" from Frozen....
Enjoying the moment... being IN the moment... & that's what I cared about.

We made the turn to the finish line & Ricky said, "Do you want to run?"

I told him, "I'm not sure I can." - every step felt like someone putting a hot knife in the ball of my foot...

but the closer I got to the finish line, I said, 'Let's go!' & I ran the last bit...

Probably a good thing. I think I made my foot completely numb at that point....

It was the funniest thing though because as soon as I crossed the finish line, I didn't see the people handing out the medals & I just crossed the finish line & stopped dead in my tracks & said, "WHERE'S THE MEDALS?"... Ricky busted out laughing.  He said I looked like a child wanting my candy...

well, duh! :)

I limped down & got my medal & I looked at Ricky & said, "I know its an awful time, I know I'm hurting, but I actually feel proud that I did it again"....

I had a whole new race experience... the one where time didn't even matter to me... where I felt self doubt fade away...

it made it a pretty awesome race....

My new addition to the Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon collection
Not my worst, not my best, but a new experience

I will say, I really didn't know what to expect in this race...
Didn't expect to start out so well...
REALLY didn't expect to have the pain of a blister (that was new)...
& Really REALLYYY didn't expect to throw the cares away of the 'comparison' away like I did. 

I honestly didn't even see what my time was until I checked my email 2 days later.  Seriously.  That's how little I cared.  I just knew I finished....

& that was my goal.

I like doing races like that.... I need to make that the habit.

(Side Note:  I took a picture of my blister on my foot, but decided to spare everyone that... you're welcome)

Kentucky Derby Mini/Marathon Race Expo....

So before we say anything, let's just put out there, I did it & I finished.

Yahooo!!!!

It has a story of its own & I'll do the recap tomorrow, but today, we'll start with the day before - the race expo...

Friday I ran down to the Louisville Convention Center to get my race packet.

I will say, this is the one thing I HATE about this race.  It's not convenient to get into the convention center during work hours.  Parking is a night mare.

Last year, I ended up driving so far DOWN in a garage, the ceilings were so low & it was like dirt paths, I literally had a panic attack & felt like all the walls were closing in. I seriously FREAKED OUT & had to call Ricky to talk to me until I got out of there... so I refused to park in a parking garage this time. 

I drove around for 10 minutes until I said "screw it" & went further out & found an empty meter.  It only took me 15 minutes to walk to the convention center... geez...

Good pre-day race workout - right?

Got in the expo & immediately had a camera crew following me to get my stuff.  OK then... they never asked me my name, never said they were going to follow me, but stuck right with me.  I figured they would just use it as snippets since they didn't need my name.  But I tell you what, it made me walk a lot straighter & smile a lot more then usual.

A lot of Vincent's in the race

Found my name on the list & got my race number & I headed to get my packet...

To a guy who could NOT get my number right.  16,700... Seven Zero Zero... I saw him kept thumbing through the bibs, going the wrong way so I repeated it again... he still was going the wrong direction.  I don't know if the camera's being on us were making him nervous or what... so he asked me AGAIN what my number was & then  he just stood there.

At this point, I'm feeling like the camera's are just a part of Candid Camera (did I just age myself) or Punked (is that even still on too?) ... & then the lady next to him just reached in & got the packet myself...

Thanks Mr. Man... you probably ruined my chances of being a star.  The camera people were probably like, "let's find someone else to follow"... because they left at this point...

I walked around & decided to take time to look at more booths this time instead of zooming in & out like I normally do...

Glad I did... I found a booth that would tape you up.  Now, I believe 120% in KT Tape - but this was different.  It was called Spider Tech...

& it's precut & they apply it on you for the race.  Only $10?  Sign me up...

there were 2 ladies in front of me getting their shins & feet taped up so I had to wait...  OK - time for more shopping. 

Literally, the booth right next to them held these HB Tunes hand held things I've been wanting... I seriously was going to the expo looking for this & it was right in my face.  The lady was like, "Let me know you how it works"... I told her, I don't care, just sell me one.  I've been wanting one for so long...

She took my phone, found out which one fit best & BAM - another product in my bag...

Still waiting for the 2 ladies to finish getting taped up.  They were taking pictures & enjoying themselves - I don't blame 'em - that's what these things are for - enjoyment, so I went shopping some more...

Found another product I'm anxious to try... Primal Sports Mud.  I heard the guy say it works for tendonitis & I was sold.  My bicep tendonitis is ridiculous & I'll try anything ANYTHING to ease it up...

Apparently its some sort of mud you put on, put heat on it & it does some sort of magical thing & eases it up... we'll see... I have read up on it since I got home that night & I did read a lot of good things about it.  Fingers crossed.

MAGIC!!!
This is how awesome I hope it works
Unicorn on a pink shirt kinda awesome!

I headed back & it was my time to get taped up... good thing I came back.  There was a line of other people to get taped up.

I had to lift up the back of my shirt & lean over & the lady slapped that baby on me in 5 minutes... I was nervous it would come off because when I try to apply KT Tape to my back, the curve of my low back makes it slide right off.  That's why I was happy to have someone else apply it. 

Side note - its Monday morning & after the race, Easter, showers, a LOT of moving, its STILL on... & you'll see in my recap, my back didn't cause me one bit of issues. 

I need this lady & this Spider Tech tape in my life every week... please...

I was ready to leave & head back to my car, happily swinging my bag full of goodies...

the only bad thing?  They had no Honey Stinger products... what? 

I hate gels.  They give me diarrhea for days after (TMI?) so I try to avoid anything that isn't natural based. 

So after I got off work, I headed to our local running store & loaded up on my favorite products...

The rest of the night, I just tried to relax...

I made some yummy spinach ravioli & incredible bread & carb'ed up... the best part of a race...

I tried to get my mind where it needed to be.  I think I was more afraid of this race then any I've ever done. Which I'm not sure why.  But I just was trying to switch on the mind to be positive... visualize myself finishing...

I normally can't sleep well on race night, but luckily, I've ran so much during the week doing everything in life, I was exhausted...

& I hit the bed early & slept right through the night...

so tomorrow - race recap & how it all went down....

Confessions.... the day before the half marathon

Time to do some confessions... & I may have to focus on my race tomorrow & confess some of my thoughts about it today... let my blog be my therapist today...

~ I'm scared to death.  I don't normally get scared about a race, but I'm scared. & I hate that I'm scared.

no no no no no... this kind of thinking has to stop

 

~ I think I'm having flashbacks to the race last year where I woke up & my back pain was so severe that I couldn't do the race... so now, I'm nervous that my back is going to pull a sit-in-protest again on me.  I've trained all these weeks with back pain... what's one more day - right?

~ I hate saying "race"... To me, it will NEVER be a race.  I'm not that good or fast. 

~ I keep doubting myself... but have to remember I did train (except the last 2 weeks) & I did get up to 10 miles.. I should be prepared... right?

I really need to snap out of it!!!

~My upper lip has been twitching like crazy since yesterday.  I refuse to look it up on WebMD so I don't feel like I've gone some sort of horrible disease.  But I think its my nerves kicking in.  I know anxiety causes a LOT of 'twitches'

~ I will say, I'm excited about the race expo today. I'm on the hunt for some Honey Stinger products, & a contraption that holds my cell phone while I run - preferably a hand held one.  I've only seen one in the back of running magazines to order.  Even Amazon doesn't have the one I'm wanting. 

~ Also hoping they have KT Tape people at the expo ... I may get in line to have them tap my back.  I am good at taping my knee, but my back?  It always pops off when its on the low back.  I need to know their trick.

~ I have the worst sore throat now & am freaking out thinking I'm getting sick on top of EVERYTHING ELSE... really?

~ I think you all can tell how honestly crazy this half marathon is making me... I've NEVER been like this before...

~ I saw a preview of the medal online ( just a small glimpse)... what is it about a medal that makes me willing to put my body in extreme pain just to hang it on my wall?

~ I have to do a practice for a skit only 3 hours after the race... where I have to toss a young lady across the stage & jump & move dramatically... last time we practiced, I was so sore in my obliques from all the moving sideways over & over... doing this practice for 3 hours after a half marathon?  I may be checking myself in the hospital after the skit is performed (twice) on Easter...

I'll say this to everyone during practice on Saturday :)

~ I'm taking money for a massage after the race

~ The one good thing about being slow & near the back, hopefully the massage table lines will be short.

~ I want to not focus on time... I want to just focus on surviving (I make it sound like I'm being chased by a lion or something), making it to the end, as pain free as possible... however, whatever that looks like

~ I need to remind myself to "stick with the plan" - I have a tendency to have a pace planned & then get all caught up in the atmosphere & take out too quick & am dead by mile 10... I can't do that this time.

~ I usually like to start in the middle of the pack.  I think I'm going to start near the back - that way, I'm not being passed so much at the beginning, draining my emotional side of "I'm such a loser"... & just get used to being at the back of the pack. 

~ I need to remember that no matter what happens, its not life or death... its just another day, its just another run... it doesn't define me...

Wish me luck!!!