Nervous and having doubts.

 Has anyone had doubts that they couldn't finish their first marathon while training and yet on race day did fine?  I am having some serious doubts about my ability to finish this race.  I have not once doubted myself on any of my other goals that I set for myself but this one.
I tried to log 10miles Friday night and couldn't finish. I had to have my hubby come pick me up. I literally shut down at 7 miles.
It really drags me down mentally.  I was thirsty and hot. I had drank damn near all my water and had 3 more miles to go. It's really rather depressing to me.
I don't know how to get out of this mental block.
I did find a new training plan. It's a 16 week plan and since my marathon is 14 weeks out I am ok with starting at week 3.  This weeks long run is 7 miles.  I pray this one goes more smoothly. It is a novice training plan. While I don't believe I am a novice runner, I am a novice marathoner in training.
Praying for a miracle and hoping that I can find a circle of friends to keep me motivated and mentally boosted.
On a side note, I won a 100 dollar gift certificate to my favorite running store, Running Wild, toward a new pair of shoes. I had just told my husband I needed a new pair as I had been running in my Newtons for two years now. Obviously time to break in a new pair before the big race.
I have Amanda Brown to thank. She registered me for the race as she is running it with me and voila, I won the gift certificate.  I bought her lunch in return.

Took small hiatus

So I took a small hiatus from my blog but I am back.  I have been training for my first Marathon and it's so freaking difficult.  The heat and humidity here in Florida saps my energy and slows me down to a snail's pace.  It's so hard to not feel defeated. I never thought that I would have second thoughts about whether I could complete this race, but yet here I am doubting myself.
Today I tried to log 10 miles and it was not a successful run. I had to walk a lot more than I thought I would and I ended up only doing 9 miles. My pace was so slow I am embarrassed by it.
Not to mention that I have had the post runner's trots since I finished the run. I forgot to take my immodium before I ran like I started doing.
Well here is to hoping that I can continue on this course injury free and start doing better.
I have taken some great snap shots of the beautiful scenery while running. I will upload them.
I seen a deer the other day on my trail but I couldn't snap a shot quick enough.  Secondly there is a trail where my hubby and I went camping and we hiked it. I may try running it in the future.

Turtle that I helped move off the trail

My beautiful trail

Post run flowers and me resting

More flowers found on my trail

Flowers on the trail

I visited Ohio in June and ran around the reservoir with my running partner, Ollie. This was him and my two girls Hannah and Hayleigh post 6 miles, getting our feet wet.

Gulf Coast Half Marathon

      Today I ran the Gulf Coast half marathon. I surprised myself.  I was doing good and didn't hit the wall until about 7 miles in. I think I mentally prepared myself better today than I did last year. I also bought a water belt, brought my sunscreen chapstick, premedicated with immodium and motrin to help hit off any problems.
       I didn't do as great as I had hoped but I did beat my  time from last year. Last year I ran it in 3:03:07 AND this year it was 2:57 seconds.  I had family there to help spur me on and my friend Amanda came to cheer me on.  I was so happy to see them.
       I was hot and sweaty but doing great.  I have to say that after last year's half, I was so sore and stiff but this year I actually am not sore at all.
        I also noted that I didn't have that overwhelming thirst that I got last year while running. I did however let a lot of the kids cheering us on squirt me with squirt guns and I made sure to run under every sprinkler I could.  I did contemplate running into the water..lol.
This couple did the half today, one day after they got married. They did a triathalon last year.  They had to be in their 60's and still going strong.

 Amanda coming to show some support.

Thankful

Today I got out and ran a 5 mile run. A decent distance finally after my surgery and poor comeback last week.  I felt very light on my feet today, and yet my chest felt heavy and tight but I didn't care. It was absolutely beautiful out, and the perfect temperature, 55 degrees.
I am hoping all is not lost for the half marathon I am to run April 13th. I have 3 weeks to get some of that endurance and distance back. I understand now that time is not going to matter. Of course I would so love to run a PR that day but I have been hindered a bit.
Today I am thankful to be able to run no matter the distance or the speed. I was reminded of that after I watched a wounded warrior on my beloved trails, in his racing bike pedaling like a demon with his arms. It couldn't have come at a better time as I was slowing down in my fourth mile. The left side of my lower back ached so bad, whether from the left over pesky kidney stone or just muscle fatigue in my back I don't know, but I realized that I am grateful.
I finished with a distance and time I can be happy and thankful for.  After run thankful for my sweat photo.

First Run After Surgery

Yesterday I had the pleasure of returning to running after almost a month off due to kidney stone extraction surgery.  Omg was it slow going and further more, I feel like I lost a lot of progress.  This week is solely devoted to getting the legs pumping again. Starting Sunday, I have exactly 3 weeks left until my half marathon. I was up to running 10miles and now I can barely run 2. I am so disheartened but I am also determined to get myself up there without injury.
I ran yesterday 2 miles, today was a little more with hill sprints. My shins ache a bit, but I am feeling good about being able to get out there. I think I will take tomorrow off and try to get out there and run at least a 4 miler on Friday.  I know it's all mental. I need some positive mental boosting.
Here are some past photos of me and my girls running on the trail. I put them up for a mental boost for me.

2014 Double Bridge Run Reflections

So the race has came and went and I am still reflecting on some things that could've been done differently, but I am truly happy with the overall fact that I completed this 15k race. Last year at this time, I couldn't even barely run 3-6 miles without dying. This  year here I am a finisher of this magnificent race.
The night before the race a group of wonderful ladies joined me in a pre race dinner to carb load.  I enjoyed the company. I don't get out a lot,  I am sort of a homebody (much like my mother, eeek....just kidding mom, love you).  We ate, we enjoyed company outside the confines of work.  We later went to Liz's house and played cards and my girls played with Jana's daughters and Liz's daughter. It' s all they talk about even now. Oh and what a horse Liz's dog is. He's ginormous.  I am really proud of Liz. She did the 5k race. It was steep with its bridges but she finished.
Off to bed I went around 11-12 am and up at 4 ish.  Man was that rough. I hate mornings.
First thing I should've done differently, that I normally do on all other runs,  prepare the night before. I couldn't find my compression sleeves that I wear on all race days. One was missing so I had to go without. I grabbed a banana out of the fridge and started eating it on the way to the race. I was trying to get there to catch the shuttle to the start line.  I took one bite and about gagged. It was damn green banana. Puke. I launched that sucker out the window on Garcon Point Bridge. I got to the shuttle and waited for Holly. I ran into Beth while waiting. I also ran into Candy who I hadn't seen since last year at the Gulf Coast Half Marathon, (Semper Fi Marine).  Holly finally arrived with her future sister n law, Katie, (who started running last year too) and gave me some lovely sporty jelly beans.  I tried them out, just a couple. They tasted like pure vitamins, but settled well.
 We got separated on the buses but then met back up at the starting area. She was headed to the bathroom for prerace unload. :) 
We went to our time corrals. Katie and I headed to the 11 min mile while Holly went to the 10minute corral.  We waited for each gun shot to go off before heading out.
I started off doing great. My first three miles were averaging 10:30 range. I was super excited. I slowed a bit in mile 4 when we were onto the three mile bridge. Somewhere between mile 4-5 I got fatigued so decided to eat the rest of my sporty jelly beans. I popped a bunch in my mouth and went on.  About  15-30 mins later the bubble guts started. I got off the bridge and hit the next watering station at about mile 6 and took a good 20sec break to drink a glass of water to see if it would ease my tummy. Oh no. I started running again and side stitches started. I kept saying "you only have 3 more miles"  As I was headed up the small ramp to toward Bob Sikes Bridge I seen a Krispy Kreme truck. The darn thing had me thinking about damn donuts. Who does that? Me, however, I was not the only one. A bunch of runners were calling out after the truck. It was kind of comical.  I stopped again at the next water station to ease my side stitch just before heading up Bob Sike's bridge.  Then I attempted to get up that bridge without walking but dang was it hard. I was going so slow.  I was never so glad to get to the downward slope. I finished the race with an aching side and bubbling gut but dang it I finished it.  My finishing time 1:54: 30sec. I had hoped to run it in 1: 40 some odd minutes but i'll take that 1:54 with the thought in mind that there is always the next race.
After the race I beelined to the Cactus Flower to unload. It was terrible. I felt like I was vagaling out. I was seeing stars.  Before I left the beach,  I had gone to the bathroom 4x before I left the beach, then several more times at home. The splitting headache happened with nausea. I was so dehydrated. I hydrated and rested all day. I finally googled my symptoms. I don't know why I hadn't thought about this before but it's runner's diarrhea. It's caused by internal organs josling around and increasing motility. One suggestion that I never thought about doing, was taking immodium before running. It's worth a try to see if it helps.
I am not unhappy with my race, but I am a little disappointed that I didn't do a little better with my times. I know I need to really try incorporating tempo runs in my weekly regime. I took yesterday off. Thank goodness I worked as it forced me to walk and relieve the stiff soreness from my muscles. My abs hurt, my butt hurts, those bridges worked me out. I even used my frenemy,,, the foam roller.
Today I did a tempo run with walk breaks. My first mile was 10:06. I walked some then ran fast paces, with some ranging in the 8 min range. My overall time for 3 miles was 33:48 which was not bad for walk breaks in between for a tempo run.

 Pre race dinner photos. left to right, Laura (front) Jana (in the back) Holly, Liz, and myself.

Me, Holly and Katie, pre race

 Me and Candy, pre race

Holly and I, pre race

One beautiful view, pre race

Bib and shirt

Post race with finisher's medal

Finisher's medal

Finish line

Top of Bob Sikes Bridge

My favorite supporters, my girls.

Every run is something to learn from. You adapt and overcome and grow.

Happy Running

Florida Freeze

I biked last Monday thinking it was going to be not so bad, but boy did my arse hurt. I did 14 miles thinking it would give my shins a break but man, I need a padded seat. Kudos to bikers.
So I ran last Wednesday and I was super slow. I ran almost 9 miles with an average pace of 11:44. True to my Snailrunning name. I took a break as I worked for 12 hour shifts and was tired, left work Monday morning to go to my second job. I was too exhausted to run on Monday. Tues the freezing rain started. Yes, we had freezing rain here in Florida. So for two days, it was a no go and the it didn't melt until today. I refused to run on a treadmill especially days before a race.
A group of us from work are running the Pensacola Double Bridge Run this Saturday, a 15k, and I am sure I will be the last one to cross that finish line. I miss running, I feel like I'm getting cabin fever and it's only been a couple days in the freezing weather.  I can't imagine living up north again Missing running is making me depressed....
Praying we all make a safe journey across that finish line.
Pics are from our little freeze here in Florida. My girls and I excited to see something that resembled snow.