6 weeks off...REALLY?!?

I have to take 6 weeks off from running.  Although this is a relatively new hobby (is it considered a hobby???) or rather, an addiction, I enjoy it, I enjoy the competition, the "me" time, I enjoy being able to eat whatever I want, etc.  So, to literally have to take a full 6 weeks off...is not my idea of fun!  I will miss my next 2 races that I have already signed up for and was SO looking forward to running them with friends ;-(

I had gone to the doctor back in October for pain in my right leg and was told to take a couple weeks off.  Which I did (from running), the pain was still there, but not as bad.  Then recently moved into my left leg, but getting worse.  So, after gimping around this weekend after my race, I made another doctor appointment for this morning.  This time he ordered X-rays. 

He came back & told me he had bad news...I asked if I was just a wuss and needed to suck it up?  LOL.  Then he showed me X-rays...very clear there was a nice break!  Yes, I have a fractured pelvic bone.  So, it does turn out that I do have a wierdly high pain tolerance.  He was amazed that I had been running on it for all this time.  Then he proceeded to tell me I was stubborn (who, me???) and crazy (what, me???).  So, I will follow his advice, unfortunately.  Guess my New Year's Resolution will be to lose the 20 lbs I will gain from taking 6 weeks off....LOL  ;-)

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Believe 10K Race

Cold doesn't even begin to describe how the morning started out!  It was a chilly 32 degrees when we arrived at the race!  Brrr.  It was so cold that 'Frosty the Snowman' made an appearance...

Have I mentioned that I am not a fan of the cold?  And especially not running in it.  Great idea of a race Kim ;-)  Just kidding, we had a blast!

We got lined up and started out a little fast, but I like running a fast (for me) first mile because it gives me a little leeway in the next 5 miles.  And at the start, a seasoned runner of this race told us how hilly it was.  And he wasn't kidding!  3 BIG long hills!  Ugh, hills....AND not to mention, the finish line is at the top of a hill.  Lovely. Check out these hills:

The green line shows the elevation change...YUCK!  Have I mentioned I hate hills?!? 

I went with the goal of finishing the race (#1), running the entire thing (#2), and hoping to do it in under an hour (#3).  I managed all those goals in addition to making this time my PR (personal record) for a 10k. 

Stats:

Average pace was 8:36 per mile.  Finished with an official time of 53:32.  Got some great stats from my Garmin, which I love love love having all these stats.  It amazes me!  Although I was constantly looking at my watch every couple minutes, it was a nice distraction from the cold, my numb feet, and my aching hip(s).  LOL.

Other stats:  I came in #74 our of 210 people (men & women).  #25 out of 111 female runners.  And #4 in my age group, I was almost a full minute behind the third place finisher, oh well!  Perhaps one day I will get some bling :)  LOL. 

After the race, we headed to a local coffee shop in downtown McKinney (which has some very neat little shops!).  So, once I got my delicious zebra mocha, I was in heaven.  Then, I couldn't pass up a donut.  Yum!  So worth running 6.2 miles ;-)

 

Despite the cold weather, hitting a bunny on the way, and the hills, we had a wonderful morning!  ;-)

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'Easy' Week!

It is officially my 'easy' week this week!  This was not planned, but apparently it was very needed.  After Saturday's race, Sunday morning, I met Lesley & Robin (my crazy marathon training friends) to run at 5am on Sunday.  We did 14.5 miles, which happens to be my longest distance to date.  I was hurting!  My legs (well, really just my right one) was rebelling.  I could breath just fine, but legs were done for.  I have spent all week icing and taking hot baths.  I feel much better now.  So, to make all my friends & family who have told me to take a break, give my body a rest, you were right.  And I did.  Hopefully next week will be back to normal.

And today I got my Road ID ankle bracelet in the mail.  I ordered it last week.  It has my personal info on it as well as 2 emergency contact people, just in case anything should ever happen while I am running.  Makes me feel a little safer.  And they come in cool colors, of course, I picked pink. No surprise there ;-)

I promise to post some cute pictures of the boys very soon.  Even I am sick of all these pictures of myself ;-)

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Tour des Fleurs 10K Race

I completed my first 10k race today!  The first mile and the last 1.2 miles were the longest ever!  It had a few small hills, but wasn't too bad.  But it was really humid!  Yuck.  I am so ready for 70 degree weather.  No more 90 degrees, I am ready for true fall weather!  I ran with a new friend Becky, which I had never ran with before.  First, let me tell you what Becky's comment was after the race: "I can't believe you can talk the entire race!"  LOL.  Yes, this is true & I do.  It is a great distraction! 

I finished the 6.2 miles in 54:47.  That is amazingly fast for me.  But I felt pretty good, so I kept at that pace, which is an average of 8:50 per mile.  Here are my stats: I came in #10 in my age group (ages 25-29) out of 135 people, #54 out of 795 females, and overall I came in #163 out of 1181 people.  Not too shabby for my first 10k race!

Okay, of course I am such a nerd and took some pictures ;-)

So, since it was such a big race, there was little parking at the Arboretum, so we parked off-site and rode a school bus to the race.  Connor was thrilled to ride the school bus.  There were a few of these signs posted around the bus.  It just made me laugh. 

Pre-race photo...we are happy, smiling, and excited to run ;-)

And after the race...sweaty & gross.  But still smiling ;-)  Just look at the view.  Love it!

And Happy Jenn...Blue Moon post race is awesome ;-)  The shade is awesome too!

And look at our wonderful boys cheering for us...

Check out this view...

And the boys enjoyed the after race treats.  There was bagels, ice cream, pizza, amazing cookies, and  donuts!  The ice cream was an instant hit...

The race  was great, it was put on so incredibly well with awesome vendors after the race.  It was extremely organized!  And the Dallas Arboretum is just amazingly beautiful!  Perfect!

Then we rushed home to get ready for the WSU vs. SMU football game here in Dallas!  There will be a post about that soon ;-)

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Oh So Graceful...

Well, it was just before 8pm and I decided to hit the road for a quick run, I thought I could get a few miles in before it got dark.  It was getting a bit dark a little quicker than I expected, so I decided to head back home.  I was probably only about a couple hundred yards away from home, when all of a sudden the sidewalk moved (I swear it had to have jumped up right in front me!), I tripped fell!  Apparently, I tried to catch myself, which didn't work!  I kept moving forward, landed on my hands, then my knees, and I guess tried to catch myself because I ended up doing a summersault, which resulted in landing on my elbow.  What a sight!  I am glad I gave the kids driving by a show & something to laugh about.  Not sure it was worth all the bruises, scraped hands, knees, and elbow.  Gotta love my awesome skills.  At least I am laughing about it...

I need my own 'boo bunny'.  Do they make one for silly uncoordinated people like me?!?

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