B.O.W. -- Ocala, FL

Sponsored by FL Fish & Wildlife Conservation Comission --- Becoming an Outdoor Woman is 3 days of outdoor related workshops - from wilderness survival to knot tying, boating basics to canoeing / kayaking even firearms & archery basics. This was great fun -- I am so glad I went. Several friends were there as well. Actually created a photo album of some of the fun we had http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/570756057HeyCMK?vhost=outdoors -- definitely recommend this to any woman who wants the outdoor experience but has been afraid to give it a try.

Race photos & other thoughts

Race Photos…

Received via email a link to a photo of my friend Stan running in the Gate River run last Saturday. This is one huge race, nearly 20,000 people! Unbelievable! The photo is a good picture of Stan – he looks fit and working hard.

I remember how excited I was to be able to send everyone a link for the photos from the Seaside race. The race photos are typically sorted – using the runners’ bib numbers with a “lost & found” area for photos where the bib numbers are not visible. I think it is fabulous to have professional photographers on the scene at these events. These men & women take some really nice shots. I have only one complaint – The pictures are expensive ($). The cheapest product I could find was $14.99 for a single 5X7 photo. If just 10% of the racers have photos ordered @ 15.00 each for the Seaside race there would be $4000 charged. The Jacksonville race is 10X larger than so the math says there is somebody making some money? Hmm… could be neat way to earn a living.

Having personal photos taken by friends and/or family is special. These photos mean someone cares about you enough to be there for you in the wee hours of the morning. [it is much easier to run in the early morning temps than in the sweltering heat of the day here in Florida] There is something invigorating about seeing and/or hearing someone you know (or not know) rooting for you. Such power in simple phrases…”You can do it!” “Way to go!” “Almost there – Keeping going!” To hear the clapping, whistling and cheering is FABULOUS! For me, running is so hard! Trying to dig a little deeper is tough especially towards the end of the race. I can see the finish line, I know I am almost there – but trying to find the “big push” forward is so hard; hearing the cheering just gives me a little boost – just enough momentum to surge forward across the finish line strong and triumphant!!!

Gate River Run

Just received an email from a friend who just completed the Gate River Run 15k! He had 2 goals for the race: 1.) finish the race 2.) Not end up in the ambulance -- Both goals were acheived. Kudos to Stan! He did well with a 1:22:41 time - He managed an 8:37 pace for 9.6 miles. I am impressed. I am fortunate to manage a 12 minute mile pace. Now Stan was a runner earlier in life unlike a newbie like me. He has recently returned to the sport and his health has improved dramatically.

Of Course I want to run faster... However, I am still working on the basics. So far my best 'run' has been 20 minutes interrupted -- my average is 5 minutes running with 1 minute walk for 35 minutes. I really want to be able to run 30 minutes without breaking to walk -- once I reach this goal I know I can build up some speed and distance. Just keep going one foot in front of the other...

Not running alone

This was a new experience, running with someone. A co-worker decided to run with me after work... we are the same age and both very slowwww runners. I usually do my runs early in the morning but the county fitness test is always done in the afternoon - thus I need to run some later in the day. Pat & I paced each other pretty well. We talked along the way, I am not used to conversation while running... time went by rather well. We both developed a decent sweat - we only covered 2 miles but a nice start for the two of us. I did like the run but I not the kind of run I would do every time - I think I prefer the solitutde aspect of running. Getting to know my body and pushing myself forward one step at a time is part of the process that keeps me going -- as I improve my motivation stays stronger. I am a runner even if it is at a turtle's pace.

Running is Hard...

That's what my legs say every day. Feeling so heavy, almost like stone my legs struggle through the beginning of every run. Usually takes at least 10 minutes for my legs to accept the notion of running. It is such a huge mental effort for me -- everytime pushing myself to convince my body to keep going forward. I have heard of people 'zoning' when they run - I wonder when this will happen for me?

When I finish my runs - there is an enormous sense of accomplishment. "I Did It!" I will keep plugging away - One of these days I believe I will find this elusive place, the "zone". I know I am stronger and faster than when I first started this journey towards becoming a 'runner'. I guess what I seek is the feeling of being a runner while running!

Currently it is still a battle to keep moving one foot in front of the other over and over until I reach the finish line or return to my front door. And so it goes...

Livestrong.

Wednesday workout

Today's workout went really well, I think my body is finally forgiving me after Sunday's challenge at Seaside. My next goal is to pass county fitness test and run 1 1/2 miles in 19:30!
The test is in early April so the month of March is all I have left to get it together. Last fall I came just short of the goal and I know I am stronger now but I plan to focus my energies on this one goal!

As soon as I complete the fitness test my next goal will be the Sundancer Adventure Race on May 16th. This race has been cancelled twice in the past - once due to a hurricane and the second cancellation I am not sure the reason... hopefully, this time (being the third) will happen. I have signed up for the sprint biathlon of 3miles on bike (off-road) and 5k running (with last 1/2 mile on the beach) -- I know I can do this I want to do really well (feeling competitive perhaps?) in my age group at least.

Livestrong.

Seaside Half Marathon & 5k

March 1st 2009 -- coldest AND windest ever! We started @ 39 degrees cold! with 24mph wind!
Of course, I only ran the 5k but I do believe the half will be do-able possibly next year? This was a brutal race to me... so cold that I ran 2 miles before warming up, my feet stayed cold the whole time. Guess I need different socks :-)

My official time was 43:43 -- not fabulous but better than I expected given the conditions. I have been training pretty hard, glad to see that the extra workouts did indeed help. This is definitely a T-shirt that I truly EARNED. Interesting note: one of the rewards for completing the 5k or half-marathon was a Vera Bradley tote bag... I was not aware of this until a friend tried to sign up to run with me and the race was full. These bags are very popular. 750 people were signed up for the 5k with over 2,000 registered for the half-marathon. Being a 'newbie' I was not aware of how this race is such a big deal. I am glad I did it, proves to me I CAN DO it if I just stick with it one foot in front of the other over and over again....

(Additional note: I had planned to use my mp3 player to help me through the race, however I failed to check the status of the battery and thus I did the whole race without the tunes in my ears -- so again I have found I CAN do this without the distraction of the earbuds plugged in...)


Livestrong!