Josh Byers Memorial Day 5K

On Memorial Day, I worked the Josh Byers Memorial Day 5K for Not Alone (where I work).  I had been helping coordinate this event since I started working there in March, so it was exciting for race day to finally arrive.

This is the first time we've had a 5K, and we were thrilled to have 270 runners come out!

It was a warm morning, but everyone seemed happy to be there.  We honored the fallen soldiers including Captain Josh Byers and had a great time seeing everyone run or walk and enjoy the race festivities.

My parents, sister and cousin came out for the event.  Here is me and Meredith before she ran the race.

One of the coolest things we coordinated for the event was fire trucks to hang a giant flag.  It looked so cool and was a nice touch considering it was Memorial Day.

We're already planning how to make it bigger and better next year, but I couldn't be happier about how this first year went!

Insanity

I did an Insanity workout today with my sister.  (I think it was Cardio and Resistance, or something like that.)

I really wasn't sure what to expect, but after 40 minutes my muscles were shaking and I was dripping sweat.

It was hard, but it wasn't SO hard that I couldn't at least attempt it.

The biggest thing was that I had done some HARD rock climbing and bouldering last night (it was my last day of membership so I had to make it count!), so my little arms were still pretty sore.  I could NOT handle any push ups today.

I'm thinking about trying to find someone and borrowing it from them... and committing to the 60 day program and seeing what happens. 

I'm still not running enough, but I figure I'm doing better about being more active again at least.  And if I got really fit from Insanity in the couple of months leading up to when I'd truly start training for the 50K?  Well, that wouldn't suck.

It makes sense to do it right now when I still don't need to be doing high mileage.  Granted, I need to be doing highER mileage seeing as I have a 10-miler next month and a half in July... but we'll get there.

I also had dinner with a friend of mine from high school who is two days older than me.  We got to talking about starting the last year of our 30s and agreed we should do something monumental this year.  I need to start brainstorming on this.

Nonetheless, the short list is to run my first 50K (signed up!) and keep trying new things like I have been lately.  I think I want to take a class of some sort.  I have no idea what... but I want to learn something new.  I'm thinking I want it to be something not fitness related - just broaden my horizons or something.

Though trying Insanity for 60 days?  That would definitely count as trying something new, too!

Running Strangers Are Not Strangers

Since I am going to be running a 50K on trails this summer, I'm starting to think more about training on the trails.

Conveniently, Fleet Feet here in Nashville is doing a summer trail mixer series.  For eight Thursdays in a row, you can meet up at the local park that has a few trails and run either the 2.5 mile trail or the 4.5 mile trail.  Then, everyone brings a snack and enjoys a runner's potluck after.

Y'all. SO. MUCH. FUN.

I went last week, and it was so fun to be running on trails.  I don't think I have run on one much since high school.  I went again tonight - this time without a running buddy like I usually do which forces me to actually talk to strangers.  But running strangers aren't really strangers at all.

Both weeks I ran the 2.5 mile trail.  Before you scoff at the distance, you should know that these trails have some HILLS.  Yes.  All caps.

Plus, I think baby steps are good seeing as I'm just starting to run again. :)

I ended up running into two other running pals along the course and caught up with them, but I stuck around after the run for over an hour after the run!  I was really proud of myself because even though I've gotten better about it over the years, I'm still kind of introverted.

I chatted with my two friends a bit, but then I ended up talking to three others for a while.  Next thing I knew, we were exchanging numbers, finding each other on Facebook, planning runs and talking about doing races together.  And then I got in the car with two people I just met, sharing the seat with another gal while this guy drove us to where our cars were parked.  This sounds sketchy, but other runners will know that it is not.

This is one of the things I love about running.  Community.  Meeting people you have something in common with and them becoming instant good friends.

That and I totally had a deep fried hot dog with bacon and cheese with a side of french fries and a coke today at lunch when my boss took our crew to The Dog.

No. Lie.

Happy Birthday to Me

I turned 29 this weekend.

I have to be honest... I usually LOVE birthdays.  I mean, sure my own is fun, but I really love making a big deal out of the birthdays of the people I care about.  Nonetheless, I like to celebrate mine as well and all that jazz.

But this year?  I wasn't really feeling it.

And I had to realize that's ok.

Maybe it's because I'm not where I thought I'd be at 29.  Maybe it's that I have had so many amazing experiences and people come in my life in the past few years and so I feel guilty for still wanting more.  Maybe it's that I feel a lot of pressure to make the last year of my 20s count.  Or maybe it's just that while the 20s are a lot of fun and full of many good things, they're also really hard in many ways and I almost just wish I could turn 30 and get it over with, haha.

I had a fun birthday outing with some friends.  I spent some time with my family.  I took myself to the movies.  I did some rock climbing.

But it just wasn't the same kind of fun I usually feel.  I suppose 25 is really the only other birthday I've had where I felt kind of emotional... And I guess the thing is that I'm feeling some of the same emotions I felt back then.  I've traveled and run races and made friends and dated and loved and lost and so many things in the past 4 years, but it's just tough to realize that despite all of that, I still have some of these same feelings deep down that I had on that birthday.

This is life.  It's not always rainbows and butterflies and unicorns and glitter.  Sometimes it's messy and hard, and even in the midst of SO much good in your life you can still feel a little emotional about it all.

And that's ok. 

I'm good.  There is much to be thankful for.  But it's good to just admit to yourself sometimes that you still want more... and sometimes I think life is about figuring out what that more is and going for it.

I've continued to find myself being a bit more impulsive than usual, but I feel like I have been following my gut... and it feels good.  So I think I'm going to keep that up for a bit!

Running for the Troops

Almost two months ago, I started a new job at Not Alone here in Nashville.

Not Alone is a 501(c)3 non-profit that raises funds to provide free counseling and other support services to returning war veterans and their families to assist them in dealing with post traumatic stress disorder and other invisible wounds of war.  I have come on board as the Community Outreach Manager to help plan events and get people excited about fundraising to help our troops.

I wanted to let my readers know that I'm putting together a team right now to run and fundraise in the Rock N Roll Half Marathon in Chicago on July 22.  You don't have to live in Chicago to join the team - anyone who wants to run the half marathon can be on our team regardless of where you're coming from.

The concept is simple... fundraise a minimum of $350 and receive your race registration, a team teach shirt, a team dinner in Chicago the night before the race, and me as your coach to help guide you through training and fundraising.  If you go above and beyond with fundraising, there are other awesome prizes that can be earned.

If you have any interest in running this race to raise a little money for our troops, you can read more info on our event website.  You can also email me or comment here if you want more information.  I have a whole packet with more details than what is listed on the website.

Finally, if you believe in the cause and feel led to give but can't run in the race, feel free to visit my personal fundraising page and make a donation.

I really believe in the need to help our soldiers and their families after they return home from war.  The suicide rate in the military is much higher than I would have dreamed, and it is by offering counseling, online support groups, spouse retreats, etc. that we can help lower it.  Please consider getting involved in some way if you can.  Definitely be in touch with me if you have questions or want more info!

Committed

Today, I registered for my first ultra.

On October 6, I will be running the Stump Jump 50K in Chattanooga.  I'm pretty excited about taking the plunge and officially committing to do it. 

I promptly went outside and ran 3 miles in between thunderstorms.  I know I have a ways to go before I can run a 50K, but it was great to just get out there and to know that I now have a new goal.

I have managed to convince another friend to plan on running it as well, and I started working on a few others at a Cinco de Mayo party last night.  See? Sometimes peer pressure can be good... getting others to do something active!

I'll eventually sit down and sort out a training plan, but I won't really need to start training until July.  In the meantime, I want to gradually get myself building mileage so that I'm ready for the half marathon in Chicago in July, and then I'll transition to 50K training.

This race is on trails, so I'm also going to start training on trails.  The local Fleet Feet is doing group trail runs the next 8 Thursdays, so I plan on using those to not only start learning the trails at the park nearby but also to meet new people.

I have decided not to pay to join the ultra training group with the running store.  I don't think it'd be worth the money for me when I know I'm capable of setting a training plan and I have a fair number of friends that I can do long runs with in addition to the Nashville Striders marathon training runs that will start in July.

I'm pretty excited.  I think this is just the challenge I need right now!

New Challenges

I don't know why I didn't figure this out sooner.

I think I know what the problem is... why I can't seem to get motivated to run much and haven't since last year.

I'm bored.

I know I probably sound bratty or maybe even less than humble to say this, but after 12 full marathons, 20 half marathons, 3 relays, 1 Goofy Challenge and a slew of other random races... I'm bored.  That's not to say that I negate how much of an accomplishment all of these things have been for me or that they would be for someone else.  But right now?  I just don't have the motivation to just train for another half.

Sure, I could try for a PR.  And I have considered trying for one this fall. 

But I'm strongly considering my first ultra.  It started a couple of weeks ago when a Ragnar teammate asked if I'd be interested in doing an Ultra Ragnar this fall in November... 6 runners in 1 van, each person running 6 legs and no break to be the non-active van. 

And then I started wondering about training for that and how I know it'd be different than marathon training.  And then I found out that Fleet Feet has a 50K training program for the Stump Junp 50K in October.  It'd be perfect.  It's a bit pricey to train with them, but I think it could be good for me to have the accountability of a coach and a weekly training run with the group.  I could get myself back in shape, run the half marathon I'm doing in July, and then start 50K training.  Then run that race in October a month before the ultra relay.

Granted, the ultra relay isn't a done deal.  But even so, I think it may be time to try my first 50K.

So I'm sleeping on it... I need to decide something this week, but I'm kind of thinking I'm going to jump in and do it.  It would mean that my fall half marathon will probably have to be run for fun and not a PR since it's the week after the 50K, but I almost think that even training for a PR isn't going to be enough for me right now.

Mulling this one over...

Distractions

There are seasons in life where I think I go into a kind of survival mode... it can be a result of many different kinds of things.  "Survival" is kind of a strong word, but it's the best word I can think to describe what that season can feel like.

It's a time where I can't turn my overanalytical brain off.  It's a time where I have a bit of anxiety.  It's a time where I can't really eat or sleep as well as normal.

So I have to find distractions.  Sometimes I need multiple distractions.

Lately?  It's definitely been some of the stuff I've written about... Trying new things.  Planning trips. 

And watching Friday Night Lights.  I'm almost done with the fourth of five seasons.  I have to say it's one of the best tv shows I've watched in a while.

I have laughed.  I have cried.  I have remembered stuff I hadn't thought about from when I was in high school 11 years ago.  In some ways it's a lot like what I remember high school being like, and in some ways it's a little exaggerated in the way many tv shows can be.

I feel like it's lost a little of its luster in season 4, but I still can't stop watching.

One of my most favorite recent episodes shows the rivalry between two football teams, and it reminds me of the rivalry we had when I was in school.  In the show, one team plants like a bazillion toothpicks in the other team's field.  But in return, that team comes and completely destroys their field.

When I was in school, someone took a chicken to the other team's field.  I thought it was pretty clever... mostly harmless, called them chickens, etc.  But then they came and burned their letters into our field.

I guess it just reminds me that there are always kids who know how to conduct a harmless and funny prank, but then there are other kids who only know how to vandalize.

Anyways.  The point is... I feel like for right now, I'm in a season where I'm trying to distract myself a bit.  And something I've learned as I've gotten older is that it's totally ok to do that.

Being a bit more girly

I like getting a good pedicure from time to time to help my runner feet look a little nicer, but I very rarely get a manicure.

Part of this is that I'm not really so girly so as to feel like I need my nails looking perfect all the time.  The main reason is because I can't stand it the second they chip, and they usually chip within a day or two.  So why get them done and painted when I'm going to chip them and take off the polish right within a few days?

On Friday, my sister and I decided to go get manicures.  I've been a little blue lately, and it seemed like a nice treat for myself and was a good way to spend some time with the sister.  She had tried the shellac option the last time she went, so I decided to give it a shot.

For starters, it was really cool that I left with dry nails and wasn't worried about messing them up as I got in the car to head home.

Second, it looked really good.

But the thing that has made it the most worth the bit extra you pay?  I went rock climbing 3 days after getting it done, and they still look just as good today as they did the day I got them.

I have never felt like my nails grow particularly fast, so I'm hoping they'll keep looking good for a solid two weeks as promised.  Part of getting them done was also because I'm taking this impromptu trip to Chicago this weekend, and I thought it'd be fun to be able to go up there and go out with Steph and just feel a little more girly as we dress cute and go have some fun around town.

Do I think I'll do this often?  Probably not... I still prefer to have natural nails with no polish.  But I think if I'm going to get a manicure as a treat from time to time, this is going to be the way to go.  With normal polish, I would have already messed them up and taken it all off by now.

I'm going to a wedding in Canada in June and then straight to the beach, so I may splurge and do it again for that!

Trying Something New

When I was at MTSU, we had a really awesome rec center.  I went over there a good bit, but one thing I never did there was try to climb the rock wall.

I think part of it was I felt intimidated to try something new like that... when it was right inside the front door where everyone coming in and out could potentially watch.  (I was nervous like that back then.)

I always thought I'd enjoy rock climbing, but I never really knew quite how to get into it.

My college boyfriend had me try once.  We went out with two of his roommates somewhere within driving distance of Nashville... and we climbed on REAL rock.  As in, one of them did the lead climbing and placed all the little thingies (whatever they're called) to feed the rope through for the rest of us.  (Clearly, these boys knew what they were doing.)

Eventually it was my turn to give it a shot.  I remember I asked him to send the other two boys away... the last thing I needed was three different experienced climbers (and boys at that) telling me what to do.  They went for a hike, and he taught me the basics.

I remember realizing quickly that it's just as much about the work you do with your legs as it is about using your arms.  This was good for me since I have a ton of leg strength and virtually no upper body strength.  I was able to get a little ways up, and I remember thinking it was fun... but that was the only time I ever did that.

(I realize now I have more of a "why not go all in" attitude than I sometimes admit.  You know, what with running a full marathon before every running anything else longer than a 5K... and climbing on real rocks outdoors instead of trying an indoor rock climbing gym.)

So when a friend of mine suggested I give indoor rock climbing a try, I was on board.  Plus, I've just got some stuff going on and have been trying to keep myself busy and plan stuff every evening.

On top of that, I'm also going through my little impulsive streak that a mentioned a few days ago.... so I was pretty easily convinced to go on and buy the 30-day pass so that we can come back a few times over the next month.  (We agreed that after a few times we might feel like we've tried it and want to move on to something else.  We shall see.)

Y'all.  I had a BLAST.  It was exhilarating in a way that I didn't expect.  Not only did I feel like it was a workout and that I was making my body try something new, it was also a rush to have to think strategically and figure out where to place my hands and feet as I scaled on up the wall.

My only disappointment was that there wasn't a bell to ring when I reach the top.

I feel like it was easy to learn.  Within the first 20-30 minutes, I knew how to belay and was also able to get myself to the top of some of the easier climbs.  We tried some harder ones next, and I felt a huge sense of accomplishment to reach the top.  I tried a little bouldering, but WOW is it all about the upper body.  And mine is sad.  Finally, we were trying some harder climbs, but by then I was worn out and was only getting halfway up before having to drop down.

All in all, it was a really fun 2.5 hours, and I can't wait to go back a few more times.  Do I think I'll get into it and need to do it all the time? No.  But is it fun and something I'd maybe go do from time to time now after my pass expires?  Definitely.

I also realized it'd be a fun date night, should you need a date idea.

I'm not easily bored, but I do think sometimes I need to try something new.  I think that's why sometimes with running I care less about PRs and more about trying things like the Goofy or a Ragnar Relay. 

Something I'm currently considering?  Running an ultra relay.  One van. Six runners.  No non-active van break.

Yep.  Ultra.  I said it.

Still brewing, but something about trying this new thing last night has me itching to try new things in running as well.

This post got long.  The point is - TRY NEW THINGS!