Crossing 1,000 Miles and Loving Running Even in the Rain

This morning I entered the #BABTT team miles for the month of June and I'm so proud that we've logged 1,038 of our 2,015 miles for the year! We're well on our way to completing the 2,015 miles in 2015 challenge. I can't wait to hang that finisher's medal on my wall.

I continue to make strides towards my other goals of running 15 races in 2015 (11 completed!) and meeting my portion of the 672 miles of our team goal (logged more than 360 miles so far!). This past weekend the Badass babes and dudes loaded up cars and treked to Atlanta to run the Peachtree Road Race, the worlds largest 10k with a whopping 60,000 runners! Allyce and I took off Friday morning to meet up with Mitzi and Scott, Erin and Al, and Addison, and I had the joy of staying with my Atlanta friends Staci and Greg while in town who were also running the Peachtree.

The race was WET! It rained from the time we got up until the time we finished running. I was soaked, my red tank top bled into my favorite white running skirt, It looked like I completed a tough mudder at the finish, I dodged golf umbrellas and people walking the course but still managed to get a new 10 PR and beat last year's course time by just under a minute. I'll take that as a success.

Running through rain was certainly no picnic, but it taught me a valuable lesson. In fact it smacked me right in the face. It taught me that no matter how hard you train, no matter how many miles you log, no matter how many summers you run through 95% humidity and 75 degrees, if you don't love it, you won't put yourself through it. Running isn't about other people. It isn't about impressing anyone. It's about me. Motivating myself, reaching little goals, which turn into bigger goals, which turn into life goals.

When I was angry about the weather and the storm delays and standing around dripping wet because there was no shelter from the storm, I turned on my iPod and Kip Moore's song Faith When I Fall started to play. The song is about faith and reconnecting with God. Which we all need the reminder, and believe me, I spent some time reconnecting with God while on the course. But the lyrics which I needed were as follows "I know the rain is coming, and its sure going to pour. I know there ain't no running from this kind of storm. It's gonna get harder and harder to keep on pushing through. I'm gonna want to quit so i'll be counting on you." At that point I just laughed. Like a really hard and long laugh. I threw my hands up and said you win God. And at that point I took off across the starting line.

 

Though next year I'm definitely going to do the boozy fun run with Mitzi, Erin, Allyce and the others instead! The look on my face at the race end compared to their faces says it all. Thankfully I had an epic weekend to bookend the race! I didn't realize how much I needed to let loose and having fun with my friends. And have fun did we ever! The Badass babes and dudes had dinner on Friday night at The Optimist. Post race cocktails and amazing Mexican food with Staci and Greg at Superia, followed by some game time at Joystick rounded out Saturday.  And before we got back on the road to Tallahassee Sunday we had brunch at Rosebud where we got to meet the chef who was on Top Chef Boston!

As Mitzi said at brunch, you know it was a great weekend when we are already planning Peachtree Road Race 2016. Can't wait for the next epic BAB weekend, which is on the books for November in Savannah!

We Be Racin'

Yesterday I hung my latest race bib and my 2nd place medal on my wall, and it felt good. It felt even better when I counted up the race bibs and realized I've already completed 10 of my 15 races in 2015 goal - and it's not even June. And that's with a month long running hiatus.

On Saturday I ran the BFD Catfish Crawl 5k. Last year I placed 1st in my age group with a 27:54 finish and some seriously gorgeous breezy and cool weather. This year I shaved over a minute and a half off that time with a 26:14 finish and 2nd in my age group despite moving up to run with the fasty 35-39'ers and some horribly humid and hot weather. So glad the BAF's Mitzi, Robin and Tonya (aka Bret Michaels) were there to push me to finish strong and I congratulate them for placing in their age groups also.

Today I registered for the Army Ten Miler in Washington, DC which I will run for the second time. I loved this race last year and can't wait to repeat it - this time with tunes! I'm also excited to know that (baring some unforeseen circumstances) I've got the rest of my goal races scheduled for the year - Peachtree Road Race on July 4th, the Army Ten Miler on Oct. 11th, the Rock 'n Roll Savannah half marathon on November 7th and the RnR 5k on November 8th, and while not yet registered - the Red Nose Run in December where I PR'd last year. And I'm still looking for a good September race to complete too.

On a related note, July 30th is my 2 year BAF anniversary. I've set some personal fitness goals in addition to running that I hope to achieve and ask for all my friends to keep me accountable on these goals also.  

"If You Want to Make God Laugh, Tell Him About Your Plans"

"The best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray" could not be closer to the truth. Everyone who hasn't been under a rock knows I've been on a health kick for close to two years now. I eat relatively healthy, I work out about 6 days a week including both cross training and running, I plan to run 15 races in 2015 (and I'll try to PR every race time I had last year), plus complete my share of the 2,015 mi in 2015 Challenge - 672 miles.

So it should come as no shock when I had three races planned for March; a 10k, a 15k and a half marathon. I trained strong going into March, I was crushing my average mile time, heck my last 12k race was an average pace of 8:35/mi. I was doing well. But as it so happens, I planned and God laughed.

The week between committee weeks ending and session beginning I went into the hospital for a test and a procedure that should have put me in recovery for 4 days. When I woke up from the procedure I was informed by my Dr. I had a large tumor and part of my insides removed that would put me in recovery for 4 weeks instead of 4 days. I was crushed. Here I was doing everything right, getting healthy and working hard to meet my goals and in one afternoon I was put in the hospital overnight and on a long, slow recovery back to physical strength.

That afternoon as I laid in my hospital bed in the worst pain, and all into the next day, I focused on the stupid part instead of the bigger picture. I began to feel sorry for myself that I wouldn't be able to run some races I paid for and worried I'd lose most of the physical gains I made, rather than what my Dr. told me - had they not caught it in time, it could have been life threatening.

I don't share this because I want you to feel sorry for me. Rather, I share this because this a blog about my journey to get healthy and fit and sometimes we get some bumps in the road that we don't plan for. Whether it be injury, illness, busy lives, or whatever the case might be, what's important is to face the facts, realize we are human and that the best laid plans can quickly be erased.

I'm a little over two weeks post surgery, with a little less than 2 weeks until I hopefully (praying, fingers and toes crossed, for the love of my sanity) get my all clear from the doctor to return to exercise and running again. And it probably also doesn't shock you that I'm bound and determined to make up for lost time by running Springtime Tallahassee 10k on Saturday when I get my all clear and looking at fun races to run this summer/fall to make up for the three I missed this month. You know, in the event God doesn't laugh at me again.

This whole experience has taught me to be thankful (not going to lie, watching everyone post their Gate River Run photos yesterday put me in the WORST mood, but nothing a little... or a LOT... of retail therapy couldn't cure). And I am especially thankful that I was extremely healthy before the surgery so recovery hasn't been that hard on me outside of the first few really awful days.

But most importantly, I'm so incredibly thankful for the amazing support network I have of family and friends. You can tell the true friends by the ones who will sneak you in Starbucks and visit you in the hospital, who will bring you by food or more Starbucks when you can't drive and are hopped up on pain meds. I'm thankful for friends who will take you to Target to buy all the embarrassing things the nurse should have told you to buy while you had family in town, who visit you and who make you laugh even though your stomach is stitched up, and who text you from near and afar to say they love you and to check in on you throughout your recovery. And I'm especially thankful to my grandparents who drove up to take care of me, and my family in South Florida who expertly and lovingly care for my puppy while I'm recovering and working long hours in the capitol.

This morning Melissa and I got together to walk a few miles around Cascades Park as the sun was rising and then spent the morning church hopping to do bible study with Allison, and to worship at Calvary Church. This morning I thanked Him most of all that this was caught in time, that it wasn't life threatening and that, with His blessing, I will run again soon.

(A little late but) Recapping the Donna Marathon Weekend

Last year the 26.2 with Donna was my very first half marathon. I completed it in 2:38 and change.  I was proud to finish but I was hurting all the way from the on-ramp to the finish line. What a difference a year makes.

Last year the Badass Babes were a small but mighty group: the trio who ran the half - myself, Crystal and Mitzi, and the cheer support of Shannon and Allison.  This year we were joined by a whole host of new runners! Instead of repeating the half marathon we decided to double the race bling by running the 5k on Saturday and the Marathon relay on Sunday.

On Friday Mel, Becky, Kaitlin and I headed to Jax for the start of a great weekend, with a few important stops along the way. Starbucks for the traditional Badass Babes selfie (duh) then to the Busy Bee for Mel and Becky's first official visit!

We expo'd, picked up our race packets and headed out to grab a bite to eat before getting settled into the hotel.

Saturday's race start was cold! We bundled up and got busy thinking we could smoke the course. Shannon, Mitzi, Erin and I lined up at the front of the race and took off, (speedy Shannon faster than the rest of us). We were determined to try to PR this course to honor those who couldn't race due to cancer, but as we turned the corner and saw the looming freeway entrance, Mitzi and I looked at each other, laughed and said oh well, lets just kill it instead! So we did. Over the freeway hill, around the streets of downtown Jax, over to the landing, up another hill to a bridge and round and round some silly downturns of a parking garage to the finish. We didn't PR but we sure gave it our all - Mitzi finished a hot second before I did to take 9th place and myself 10th place in our age division and completing just shy of 26:50. And Shannon placed 3rd in her age group.

Post race our massive group split up to take part in fun events for the rest of the day. Melissa, Becky, her daughter Kaitlin and I headed to the Jax Zoo to celebrate Kaitlin's birthday. Crystal's crew also headed to the zoo while the rest of the ladies got in some retail therapy. Our day ended with a massive valentine's day dinner and birthday celebration at Latitude 360 - a massive restaurant and arcade/bowling alley/night club/sports bar in Jax. And one of the few restaurants that could hold our crew of about 35 people. After a fun evening we headed back to the hotel to rest up ahead of a long day of racing. But not before we had a little fun with selfies!

Sunday morning we woke up and got ready for the big race! In total we had 4 race teams of 5 runners who completed 26.2 total miles in various lengths. On my team was cheer captain Ashely, Shannon who ran legs 1 and 2, Allison who ran leg 3, Erin who ran leg 4 and determined to finish strong this year, I finished the race in leg 5. Our team smoked the race, completing the course in 3:39:27 and 6th place overall - an average pace of 8:23/mi.

Waiting for your leg to start was probably the hardest part of this race. But at least I was able to spend the time with friends Tonya (Bret Michaels), Crystal and Robin who were also completing leg 5 for their teams. And no better place to hang out and wait for your race to start than McDonald's right? (Oh who are we kidding, leg 3 had the better wait start: Starbucks!) But we had fun and as I got word that Allison had completed her leg and Erin was off, I got prepared to meet Erin and get handed the baton to take off to the finish.

This year the final 6 plus miles were a breeze, as I pushed myself harder and faster than I have in a long while. I thought of each of my teammates and friends who had completed or were completing their legs, and of the many women in my life who battled breast cancer. I was thankful to be able to run and to run pain free this year and even stopped to take a picture of the bridge that nearly killed my knee last year. I encouraged the marathon runners and half marathon runners who were running along beside me, and was so excited to see my teammates at the end of the course as I completed the race.

This weekend was again another epic race-cation of the Badass Babes. And if I had known what was coming for me two weeks later I would have enjoyed it even more!

First races of the season - GWTC 15k and Hot Chocolate 15k

My 15 races in 2015 are well under way with my first two races of the year complete. On Saturday, Jan. 17th I ran the Gulf Winds Track Club 15k up near Bradley's. It is a course mostly on hard packed clay roads with a little pavement and a few rolling hills. If it rains like it did last year, you can be sure you'll be running in a disgusting, muddy mess. So I waited until the day before the race to register.

I was shooting for a new PR but really just trying to get my bearings back to racing distances since the last distance race for me was back in October in DC. My 15k PR was the Gate River Run at just under 1:35. My goal for the GWTC 15k was a sub 1:30. It was a COLD morning, and the ground was still a little squishy from the rains that came through on Thursday. But I finished strong with a 1:28:47 finish and a new 15K PR.  More importantly I felt confident that I could finish the Hot Chocolate 15k and the monster Atlanta hills the following weekend with a sub 1:30 time.

Since I clearly didn't run enough on Saturday I decided to meet up with Allison, Melissa and Becky for 4 miles around the lake in Southward Sunday afternoon. The weather was gorgeous (so was the company!) and Allison and I ran together, talking and laughing as Allison belt out some fun, funky 90's jams. It was the perfect Sunday afternoon.

On Friday I drove to Atlanta for the Hot Chocolate 15k. This race last year was my first 15k and I was anxious to see an apples-to-apples comparison of just how far I've grown in my running since the beginning of 2014.

I was sad the Badass Babes couldn't join me for this repeat trip to Atlanta, we had SUCH a great trip last year. But I was equally happy to spend some quality time with my Atlanta friends Staci and Greg and catch up. These two know all the great places in Atlanta to eat and drink and their restaurant and bar choices did not disappoint! We spent Friday night at the Polaris bar drinking craft cocktails and then headed over to an awesome Mexican tapas place for dinner.

Staci and I spent all day Saturday shopping, and we even ventured OTP (that's Outside The Perimeter for you non-ATL'ers) to do some American Girl shopping for Becky. I swear this store is insane. They have clothes for little girls to match their dolls and a cafe for your "dining experience" and a doll hair salon. There's even hooks in the bathroom stalls to hang your doll on while you pee. The packs of little girls and their dolls is overwhelming. We got out of there STAT and headed back to the safety of the city. Saturday night we ate a great meal with a bunch of hipsters, and I got ready to run Sunday am. (whoops, thankfully I bought new sports bras while we shopping Saturday 'cuz guess what I left at home?!?)

Sunday I got up at 5:30 am and got ready for the Hot Chocolate 15k. As I sat in my car in the Turner Field parking lot waiting for the race to start I remembered all the craziness that happened in Tammie's suburban last year and laughed a little. I got up to the race start, set my iPod app, said a little prayer and then we were off!

Right out of the gate we were up a hill and I bobbed and weaved around slower runners. For the first 1.5 miles while the 5k'ers were on the same course I sped through and tried to get out ahead of the pack. At the split where the 15k'ers veered off one direction and the 5k'ers veered off in another direction I got settled into a comfortable pace and for each mile on the course I thought about my badass babes back home and them running right along with me.

In Mitzi's mile I could hear her encouraging words the same way she paced me in the beginning of the Women's Running Series half marathon. In Tammie's mile I remembered her craziness and laughed, and during Crystal's mile I thought of all she has gone through this past year. All through Erin's mile I thought of funny #TWSS jokes and in Ashley's mile I could hear her infectious giggle. At mile 5 I thought of Kim and my promise to run her first 10K with her. Towards mile 7 I thought of Allison, her encouraging words of not giving up and was thankful for some fun 90's rap on my playlist. At mile 8 I thought of Shannon, picked up my pace and dumped my race bunny for the finish (a tattooed, bearded hipster who I placed catch with all race, and then picked up a new race bunny who might or might not have been Zac Brown, no joke).

At mile 9 I put my tired, sore legs and the hunger cramp I had since mile 7 out of my mind and focused on the fact that the last .3 miles were just for me. I knew I was coming close to my goal of a sub 1:30 finish and was proud of all that I had accomplished this past year in my strength and running goals. I powered through and was amazed when I learned that not only had I PR'd the course by 12 mins but I also PR'd my 15k time by more than 2 minutes! My official race time was 1:26:36.

I've learned a lot about myself and about the sport of running this past year. About how important proper hydrating, nutrition and cross-training prior to a race impacts your running. About how you can be so tired, yet so determined that you can will your body to finish when your mind is telling you to stop and walk. But I've also learned first hand what good friends and a great support network means to the sport of running. And I'm so thankful for this gift most of all.

2015: New Year, New Goals

Wow, it doesn't seem possible but here it is again, January 1st. Where did 2014 go? Last night I rang in the New Year with friends Kristin, Becky and Melissa. As I was driving home I couldn't help but think that 2014 was a pretty good year, and the first in my life that I met my New Year's goals. And they were pretty lofty goals too. To recap what I posted on December 31st, 2013:

I'm not making resolutions, I'm setting determinations for 2014.
1. Run "14 in 2014". 3 races booked towards 14, so far.
2. Be happy with those around me and most importantly, with myself.
3. Continue on my path towards being healthy and fit.

Well, I actually ran 15 races in 2014, but the other two were goals that I've struggled with for many years, and I can honestly say that when the book closed on 2014 I feel that I checked the boxes on those goals, too. Of course, both of those goals will continue for 2015 since shouldn't we all strive to be happy and healthy? For 2015 I'm taking it up a notch, pushing my fitness boundaries a bit further than I did last year. So here we go:

My New Year's Determinations for 2015:
1. Run "15 in 2015." 5 races towards 15 are booked so far, with many more planned
2. Complete the "Run the Edge 2,015 in 2015" Challenge
3. Continue on my path towards being happy and healthy

Yes you read that correctly - I'm running 15 races AND joining a team of two other amazing and strong women, Melissa and Shannon, to run 2,015 miles in 2015. That breaks down to 672 miles per person, or 56 miles a month (if you really like math then you'll note its 2 miles a day). Several other Badass Babes are also taking this challenge in teams of their own so it will be fun to hold each other accountable as we cross that virtual finish line together. If you think you'd like to participate check it out at www.RunTheEdge.com   

This morning (after I nursed the remnants of a bit too much partying last night) I strapped on my running shoes and took advantage of the absolutely gorgeous weather to put in my first 5 miles towards meeting my goal. I really want to increase my running game for this year, to get stronger and ultimately faster. And I found that having the goal of running a set number of races in 2014 helped keep me on track towards getting, and ultimately staying, healthy and strong. So while this goal is a huge increase in the total number of miles, I think with enough coaching from myself and being held accountable to my teammates, I can meet this goal too. Only time will tell!

Finishing the race year strong: Red Nose Run 5k

In October I completed my New Year's Determination of running 14 races in 2014. So when Shannon asked me to run the Red Nose Run Half Marathon in December, I said heck no, but I'll run a 5k instead and cheer you on to the finish of your half. Yup. Make that 15 races in 2014. (Which means next year's goal of 15 races in 2015 is totally doable).

Friday night as I laid out my last flat Stef of the race year, I got a little emotional at all that I had accomplished. And then I laughed when Mitzi sent me a message that said "Get that year end PR!" I thought no way, this course will be hilly! I had no expectations going into this race except to run the race set before me and cheer on my friends to their finish.

On Saturday morning Shannon, Diane and I got up bright and early and trekked up to Thomasville, GA where they both ran the half marathon and I ran a 5k. Diane and I had epic bib numbers: 1234 for her and 222 for me.

I planned to just coast through this race, after all it would be my bonus race for the year. But as we lined up on the course and got prepared to take off down the street, Mitzi's words came back to me and I thought you know, why not try for an end of year PR? My best 5k race to date had been 27:54 at the BFD Catfish Crawl - a perfect weather day on a flat, paved course that was made for PR'ing.

So I thought hey, I've been running a lot of distance races lately, why not try for around 27 min? Plus there were a ton of kids running this race and you know darn well I wasn't going to let THEM beat me. So we took off and I hit the first of several hills on the course. But all those training runs full of hills and my recent new love of running ramps and stadiums and cycle classes helped me power through those hills like they were speed bumps.

Another round of hills on the way back, and some self doubt crept in - could I really finish this race around 27 min? So I hunkered down, encouraged the kids around me who were starting to fade and saw the finish line. Seeing that race clock in the distance I was shocked! I knew I could do close to 25 min finish time so I willed my frozen legs to go a bit faster and crossed the finish line at 25:20. A new PR, my fastest mile ever recorded (8:10) and a 1st place finish in my age group (30-39).

Now let me tell you, shaving minutes off your half marathon time is a feat and something I was so proud of after my last half this year. But shaving minutes off your 5k time? Well that made me so proud, you have no idea. To think back on how strong I've grown in one year - I just know that 2015 has a whole new meaning in store for challenging me to be a stronger, better, faster me.

And when Shannon crossed the finish line of her half marathon at 1:38, finishing 4th place over all and the 2nd woman, and when Diane also got a PR that day and placing 3rd in her age group, well I just burst with pride for the amazing women I am so blessed to call my friends.

What a wonderful way to end the race year indeed.