Journey thus far

I have always been self conscience about my weight and feeling uncomfortable in my own skin but never took the time or really cared enough to take the time to focus on getting healthy. Here is a lengthy, month by month, race by race, overview of my get healthy journey.

2011- The Journey Begins

May 2011

Beginning of June I started Whole 30. (For those who haven't heard of Whole 30 it is a cleanse for 30 days. Basically no processed food, can only eat things that you can kill or gather. There are some exceptions like corn and other starchy vegetable and soy that aren't allowed.) Whole 30 was hard! But I did it successfully along side the Covington family! Within a 30 day period I was able to lose 15 pounds and thus the journey to a healthy life began! End of June 2011 I had decided to sign up and train for a half marathon! I had no idea what I was getting myself into! 13.1 long miles. I had never run even a mile. I was not physically in shape and had no determination before to work out. Thanks to my running buddies, Jill, Marley, Cara and Richard, and the whole Heights TWV team I started

training. Runs were slow and long and sometimes felt impossible. But there was NEVER a run I would finish and wish I hadn't run. Every run was worth it! When I started running I would run splits, occasionally increasing until reaching 10-1(these are the splits I ran my first half at). Loved seeing how my pace would increase and my endurance grew.

TWV training runs @ Breckenridge

July and August training started. It was hard and challenging and more importantly it was SLOW. We were running 4 times a week. During the week I would get up at 5am and drive out to Frisco to run with Marley and Jill. We all ran at different paces and all spread out along out normal course but we kept each other accountable to get  up and make running a priority. Couldn't have started without them!

End of August I switched and started running with Cara in Wylie before work. As much as I hated getting up and running at 5AM. I have never been so dedicated during that training with Cara. So thankful for the running friends I had/have in Jill, Marley and Cara.

September, I ran my first "competitive" race (and I use competitive very loosely!). Ran the Tour De Flour with the Covington's and a couple other THBC TWV team members. It was a long hot 10k (6.2 miles). But I did it! After that first race I made a goal to run one race a month no matter the distance.

Mommy and myself after my first half!

October, I ran my first half marathon!!! Going in to the half I knew I was going to run slits. At this time in my running career running any distance more than 4 miles straight wasn't going to happen. I was an avid run/walker. Cara and I ran the majority of the half together. We did 10 minute running with 1 minute walking. Now, almost a full two years later I can't remember all the painful details of that race. I do remember we had set a goal to finish in 2 hours and 30 minutes. Sadly we did not. Official race time was 2 hours, 32 minutes and 45 seconds. The last couple miles where the hardest. Slightly elevated and a water station was missing (that was a BIG frustration for us as we were finishing mile 13). Walked a little more in those last couple of miles than we should have but we were beat. The end was close but not close enough. My first half was hard and challenging but I wouldn't have traded it for anything.

November, Cara and I ran the Arbor Hill 5k at Oak Point Nature Preserve. I don't have the exact time that we ran that race but I know our pace was under 11 minutes per mile. Maybe a 10:30 pace if I remember correctly, either way we were thrilled with our pace!!

Kelsey and myself
Jingle Bell ready

December Kelsey, Pam and I ran the Dallas Jingle Bell 5k. So much fun dressing in crazy Christmas running gear. If I remember correctly, I wasn't a big fan of this race. Getting there was hard, parking was challenging, and finding the starting line was just was challenging. Kelsey and I started the race close to the front. I do not remember my timing from this run, but know I wasn't pleased with it. I remember walking and passing on water when it was available. I wasn't prepared for the cold night running as well as I would have likes. Also, HATED running with that yellow beanie hat. Once I get to mile 1 my body starts to warm up because I have my blood flowing. Therefore I start feeling over heated with too many layers on. Running with my hat in my hand was a pain. Other than the jingle bell 5k, December was a very minimal running month.

 

2012

Staying warm in the car before NYD run

Andrea and I ready
to run for pancakes

January. Started January 1 off with a 5 miler at Flag Pole Hill. My first race alone. My super supportive Momma tagged along with me and cheered me on at the start and finish line. So thankful for her and all of the support she has shown me on this journey. January also started training for the Dallas Rock -n- Roll Half Marathon with Cara and Richard. Cara made us a beautiful calendar that we had taped to the pantry door and would sign off on our run (technically we were suppose to sign off on our cross training and strength training too, but lets be honest, that never happened). Ended January with the Hotcake Hustle with Andrea. Such a fun 5k, followed by pancakes from original pancake house!! So good!!

Cara and I enjoying chocolate

February is HOT CHOCOLATE month!! In an attempt to help train for our upcoming half we decided to register for the 15k. That was hard. So many hills. Also it was COLD!! So cold it called for a weather advisory. Thankfully training in the cold prepares you to run in the cold and it not be an issue. Training for the Rock-n-Roll half was polar opposite than training for the Dallas 13.1 half. Training for a half in October means warm runs, even at 5am. Training for a March race means running in 20 degree weather. We mastered layering and delayering as our bodes would warm up!

 

Myself, Cara and Shannon
Ready for RNR half.

Kelsey and I ready to glow.

March was a big month. Ran my second half marathon! Cara and I started and ended together. I got a little too eager around mile 6 and took off. Cara caught back up to me between mile 10 and 11. Our goal for this race to beat 2:30. We were successful the second time around. I remember this race being extremely HOT. One week after the half I ran the Fire Fly 5k with Kelsey. So much fun. We found bright running gear and glow sticks. Such a fun race.

Kelsey's first medal

Myself and Andrea

April, Kelsey and I travel to Austin to run our first out of town race, Austin 10 20! 20 stages with local bands across 10 miles around Austin. We had a blast on this trip! Toured the capital, got turned around driving the streets of Austin, carb loaded up and relaxed. The course was good, not too hilly. The night before the race, I was unable to sleep well. I was up all night tossing and turning, counting down the hours till we had to wake up to leave for the race. With that, I was dreading the run. I was tired, didn't feel good and super nervous that I wouldn't be able to finish. But I attempted anyways and I was so glad I did. I was a LONG 10 miles. First race that I had to stop along the course to go potty. Despite my pit stop I still finished right under 2 hours. Averaging 5 miles an hour. For having not felt well the night before and at the start of the race I was absolutely okay with those results. That was Kelsey's first big race and medal! So proud that she got out there and killed it! End of April I ran the Sudan Foot Race with Andrea and her family. I wanted to beat a 30 mins 5k, but was a couple seconds too slow. Loved this run around Katy trail (I might be a little biased :)).

Cara and I,
Cox Coyote Chase

May was the month of back to back races. First was Cox Coyote Chase 5k at Collen's school. Such a fun and awesome race getting kids active. Ran this race with the whole Covington family, littlest two in strollers, and Cara's Aunt Nancy. This was especially fun race because it was on my 23rd birthday :). The next day I ran Free to Breath. For some silly reason, I chose to run the 10k. I had good timing for a 10k. Every time I run a 10k, I never seem too pleased with my end results. I don't think I like the 10k distance. This was an especially fun race. I got to see my sweet Becca and run this race in honor of her beautiful sweet mother. I hope to run this race every year in honor of Joli.

TWV group run

June was a race less month. It started in a lull and quickly bumped up to full force training runs. Closer to the end of the month The Heights TWV team assembled for another year of group runs, training for the October 2012 Dallas 13.1. This was going to be my 3rd half. AND I had convinced my Kelsey to run with me!! This training pushed me. I started with the expectation of running with splits like I had been doing consistently until this training. I found that I could run 5 miles without walk. So then I thought to myself, if I can run 5 miles can I run 6 without walk. Turns out I could. Some weeks through this training were a little harder and I would walk occasionally but overall I was running, solid running decent distances.

July, oh July. I don't even want to talk about your race, but I will. AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL. Pam and I had this brilliant idea to run a fairly cheap 10k out in Colony, TX. It was a July 4th race and there were many many people. This was my first race to not be registered for. I did walk up registration. Little stressful but worked just fine. It was a hot July morning. Course was mainly on trails (hate running gravel trails), hilly and ran along the side of a lake. There was lots of walk and water. Not a whole lot of happy thoughts along this run walk. Marley and Piper were fantastic cheerleaders for our day! Despite the poor run, enjoyed the company and finally got my taste of an AWFUL race.

August and September were busy with training. Loved the Saturday morning group runs with TWV. I could really see a drastic difference through this training. I was a stronger running and much faster. I had come so far in that last year.

My 3rd half
Kelsey's 1st half

October was half marathon #3 and Kelsey ran with me!! This marathon is my best yet! I goal was to beat 2hours, 20minutes. I totally did. Finished in 2 hours and 12 minutes. I was totally shocked by that! Through training I had forced myself to stop relying on looking at my distance/pace/time during the actual run. I strongly believe that this helped clear my mind and allowed me to focus on running. I learned to start slower, leaving me the ability to finish strong/faster. Going in the half, I wasn't sure if I was going to need to walk for not. Training runs I had been doing straight, occasionally with a brief walk. I ended up running the whole thing. I stopped twice for water, I brief walked to actually be able to drink the water. Don't even want to attempt drinking water from a cup while running. Those walks were even a .10 of a mile. So I don't count those. I FREAKING RAN A HALF MARATHON WITH OUT WALKING. I never ever thought that I would be able to do that. A year before I swore up and down that splits were the way to go and I totally went against that. I was on cloud nine that day and for quiet some while after that. Kelsey finished her first half marathon! So proud that she got out there and pushed herself despite a weird foot pain.

November and December were training for half marathon number 4 with Evan (going to be Evan's first half). Training didn't really happen. Well, week day short runs happened. Long Saturday runs happened for the first couple of weeks, then laziness started taking over.

Katie, Phoebe, Cara,
myself, and Nancy

Evan's 1st half
My 4th half

December I ran the Dallas Marathon Relay with Cara, Phoebe, Nancy and Katie. Such a fun time with them. Loved cheering on each lady as they took off and finished their legs. I got to run the last leg. Such an exhilarating feeling running past just about everyone. I'm sure the marathon runners that I was passing were probably hating me (I know if I was them I would be HATING anyone who passes me). The last leg has several steep hills and was HOT. I started running around noon. I am not a mid-day runner. I run in the morning before the sun or I run at night after the sun. The sun makes running hot and miserable. Passing the finish line for my team was fantastic! Loved the experience and the tour all over Dallas that morning!   Ended 2012 with a half Marathon on New Years Eve with Evan. Evan did a fanfreakingtastic job on his first half. I on the other hand did terrible. Learned how much training really affects the actual race. It rained for almost the entire half. It was miserable. I somehow managed to run the first half of the race without walking. After that I think I managed to walk the second half. I still think I managed to beat my second half marathon time, but came no where close to my PR half. I was very discouraged after the race. but knew it was all my fault.

2013

2013 Started with big goals. I wanted to run two back to back halves in April, another half in October and a FULL in December. Winter and Spring running/training did not go as I had planned.

 

Myself, Katie, Jill, Pam,
 Marley and Britany

February is yet again Hot Chocolate month!! Ran this race with a group of fantastic ladies (Katie, Jill, Brittany, Pam and Marley). Due to traffic we were unable to gather before the race but did get to enjoy our yummy chocolate after together. This was my fastest race ever. My goal was to beat a 10 minute mile. I finished right under 29minutes, pacing me out at 9:18 per mile. So freaking stoked about that! February was also full of training, for a half that I would not end up running.

March started Boot Camp. Once a week, Justin, would sacrifice a Saturday morning to give us a good work out, in preparation for our upcoming mud run. Boot camp was challenging and reminded me that I was suppose to me working on core straight and cross training in addition to running. I don't know why but I just can't get myself to workout other than running. I need motivation and a gym buddy.

Amber, Justin, Kristin, Gama,
myself and Bekah

April was a first, ran my first MUD run with some Wellspring friends (Justin, Bekah, Kristin, Amber, Gama. Ben and Katie were fantastic cheerleaders. Missed getting to run with Seth, Taylor and Stephanie and their cheering section Chad and Ashley). Little nervous going into the run. Not only was there going to be mud, there was also going to be obstacles. Not knowing how tricky the obstacles were going to be was a little nerve racking going into it. Turned out to be just fine. Some obstacles where a little more challenging than other, some challenged my fear of heights and my unwillingness to get my face wet (I have a thing with water in my face, I don't like it). I am not sure the time that we finished the race and can't compare this run to previous runs due to the fact we stop every once in a while to wait to start obstacles and the actually do the obstacles takes time as well, duh. It was a great run, for sure want to do another mud run.

May I ran the Free to Breath race again in honor of Joli, Becca's mom. This year chose to do only the 5k. This was my second year to run on my birthday. Due to lack of running leading up to the race, I wasn't was fast I would have like to been. But I ran it straight and finished with decent timing for myself.

And now June. The month we are wrapping up. Not much running or working out of any has been happening. Last week I ran 4 days, this week I have only run once. I am justifying it in my mind that the hard core training doesn't need to start till July. Well, in just a couple days July starts. Therefore, I have got to stop making excuses.

Many ups and downs, happy run and sad runs, victories and failures but all have gotten me off my but and out doing something to better myself and my body. I might learn that I am not cut out to be a super long distance runner, but I hope that running will always be a part of my life. This is a very long post and I appreciate those who take the time to read about my journey thus far. Can't wait to add more to my journey!