Friday, June 28, 2013

Friday Favorites

I know I haven't posted in a while!

I did get another 5k PR on the treadmill at 33:54, so that was exciting.  My runs after that have been relaxed and pretty boring.

It's really weird for me to not have a race until ToT in October, leaving me not much to talk about while I'm still in the shorter training runs.  I'm sure I'll have lots once I get up in mileage, and have to incorporate in fueling and probably more accessories!  I'm also waiting until it starts to cool down (in 2 months probably, maybe I'll see in a month =( ) before I start running outside again.

So, as many bloggers do, I'm doing a Friday favorite - just not about running.  I just need an excuse to brag sometimes!


This guy right here is my absolutely favorite in the world!

I don't think he gets enough appreciation from me ever, even though he won't be seeing this ;)

This is my boyfriend, Ray.  We'll have been together a year on August 6th, officially on September 10th.  I know this doesn't seem like long, especially since I'm (barely) 21 and he's 22, but it's felt like so much longer.

He really is my best friend, and has done more for me emotionally than he'll ever be able to understand or I'll be able to explain.

It's funny; we actually met on a double date when we were both dating other people, in early 2010.  Then in probably around March of 2012, we started texting and talking all the time, but I was still living in Iowa at the time.  I was in a bad relationship, and had gone out there for a 'man' I shouldn't have.  It was a bad experience all around.  But I didn't want to come home, even after nearly two years of misery, because that meant admitting to everyone I was wrong.  Ray finally gave me the strength to get over that and come back home.

We're by no means perfect, and I tend to unfairly take out frustration on him.  But he has the patience of a saint with that, and my nagging, and for that I love him even more.

I could brag about my man for hours, but I'll leave it at that for now.  Sorry for the sap!

What important people do you have in your life?

Lauren

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Feeling Good About Running

Last night my boyfriend and I went to the gym, once he got home from work.  It was the first time we've gone since we signed up, but I didn't feel too bad since we have free membership with the rent on our apartment.  It feels weird to go to the gym inside of a mall, but it's close and 24/7!

I wore my Belle shirt from Raw Threads (I'm being Belle for the Princess Half), since I just got it.  I love the shirt!  It's light and does enough sweat-wicking to get the job done, but doesn't leave me with chills.

The before, of course =)
I was going to warm up for 5 minutes walking at 3.5 mph, then alternate 2 minutes of 5 mph running and 3.5 mph walking.  Well I got to my 2 minutes of running, and I felt great! A 12 minute mile pace didn't seem nearly as fast as it normally does.  So of course, I had to test it.  I made a mental note of how far I'd gone and how long I'd been running.  I told myself "You just have to run 12 miles at this pace, make sure it goes a mile, then you can walk."  I ended up running 20 minutes straight!  I've never done that before in my life.  It was a great feeling.  Last time I ran I was having really bad foot and excruciating hip pains.  This time my foot was pain free, and hip just slightly sore (worse when I started walking).

I'm excited about running again!

I think part of this was also from Spirit of the Marathon.  My boyfriend and I saw the new one in theaters, and I absolutely loved it.  It makes me wish I had the money and physical ability to go to Rome and run a marathon!  Italy is at the top of my list of places I want to go (that I've never been before).  It would be so amazing...but alas, just another dream.  The next night I watched the first one on Netflix, and it was equally as amazing.  I like that they don't just focus on the elite runners, but also new marathon runners.  It's nice to see "normal" people doing the impossible!

Overall, I just feel really good about running right now.

Has anyone ever had a re-awakening like that?

Lauren

Monday, June 17, 2013

I did a Mud Run!

So on Saturday, the 15th, my roommate Courtney and I ventured to the JCB plant in Pooler, and did a Mud Run.  Our thought was "I used to do cross country/I run 5ks, this is just 4.3 miles with a few obstacles".  WRONG.  It was grueling.  We didn't run any of it, except from the start to the first obstacle.  By the end, we literally didn't know how our bodies were working.  Granted, if we had trained for it, it probably would've been okay, buuuuut .... we didn't.

We were boring and didn't even wear coordinating outfits, let alone cute things.  It really didn't matter by the end! 

I have cuts in places the sun doesn't even see.  I have bruises (that's not a shock, I bruise if you poke me with a stuffed animal, but shhh).  My body aches on every inch.  But with some training and preparation, I'd take it on again next year. 


Have you ever done a mud run?  Would you ever?


Now I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.


Before, in front of a JCB machine of some sort

Before bibs

One of three horrible hills we conquered, then had to slide down over sticks and rocks
This was also one of the few places they let spectators through
Almost-at-the-end action shot
Right after the finish line!
Courtney made a smiley face on her tummy
I broke a shoe about halfway through getting stuck in the mud
Our after bibs
Shoes about to get thrown out!






Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Glass Slipper Challenge

Welp, I'm registered for the Glass Slipper Challenge.  Considering I've never even done anything higher than a 5k, I should probably get started on training....

I'm already a week late on Galloway's ToT training plan, but I kindddd of just got a new tattoo and it's been too sore to run.

But it's cute and totally worth it! But it hurts enough walking around, let alone running with tight shorts!
 I also had my 21st birthday, for which my boyfriend took me out to the Melting Pot.  I had entirely too much fondue/food and I had a watermelon martini.  (I forgot my ID.  I don't look 21.  Don't tell on our waiter!)


And then on Saturday my parents took us to Ruth Chris.  We also had a drink at Rocks on the Roof first, which I forgot to take a picture of...It's on top of the Bohemian hotel and super expensive and overlooks the river.  (And that bridge in the background is the one we run over for the Bridge Run in December!)
So I stole this one from Google
I've also been doing the whole school thing, which is super time consuming. 

And failing at streaking (oops!).

It's been a good week or two, just not running wise =)

Is anyone else slacking off?

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

National Running Day

Well, as I'm sure most of you know, today is National Running Day.  It's also my 21st birthday!  I knew I wouldn't be able to run far today because it was busy, but I wanted to do 2.1 miles to celebrate.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy.  I started out just fine, but it's Georgia.  And it stormed just beforehand.  So it basically felt like I was breathing water.  But whatever, I decided I'd just take liberal walk breaks.  And then I got to around .7 miles and heard thunder! With a completely gray sky, I knew it was likely to storm again, so I turned around so I'd be closer to home.  (Add in - I just found out we're under tropical storm watch :/ )

By this point I was sticky all over and burning up, but I still wanted to make it to 2.1.  I ran until I hit a mile (under my usual 5k pace and I didn't feel like I was pushing too hard! that made me happy) then walked the majority of the way until that.  There's a circle off the circle of the road my parent's house is on, so I went around both, then around my parent's street another 1/2 time to hit my mileage. Definitely not the best run, but at least I got outside!

On the way home

On the bridge where I heard thunder

The other side
Hopefully your runs when better than mine; I'm just happy I got outside!  Any stories?

Lauren

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Community

Despite not having run a Disney race before, the feeling of community in the runDisney community is overwhelming.  Everyone supports one another no matter what.  And they support others!  There's so much fundraising going on with these runners.

Another thing I love is how accepting they are.  Disney runners come in all shapes and sizes, but Disney races cater to all.  April has a wonderful post about being a "non-skinny runner" here, it's a great read if you have a moment.  It was really inspiring to me, as that's just what I am.  Well, I don't know if I can really call myself a runner quite yet.  But I'm far from skinny, muscular, or in shape.  I can run a mile straight - on a good day and definitely not in anywhere close to 10 minutes.  I'm going to run the ToT alone, and probably PHM as well.  But I don't feel like I'll ever be judged or alone.

Today will be a short post, I just wanted to give a shout-out to the runDisney community for being welcoming and nonjudgmental.

Does anyone else feel this love?

Lauren