Movin' Onward and Upward

Race one is in the books! Woot.

I bested my normal five mile run time and finished 35/59 in my division. On race day it rained. A drizzly soaking warmish rain. A little miserable by the end honestly.

I learned a few things:

• hydrate better. I lost at least five minutes on my time standing at the port-a-potty at mile one because I chugged a bottle of water an hour before the race.
• train better to find my happy pace. I played leap frog with several other racers. Very tortoise and hare type stuff. My natural running stride is long. So, I'd run, pass people, get out of breath and slow down. Then said people with their short jog/trot would pass me.  I'd get my breath back and take off again. Repeat, repeat, repeat. I tried to pace people who were doing the tortoise pace and it was really unnatural for me.
• eat something. I didn't eat before I went. The race started at eight. It was a 30 minute drive, I knew parking would be hard to find, and I still had to pick up my bib. So I left the house at six. I don't eat breakfast at six. Yuck. I could feel it dragging on me later. Most specifically as I stumbled my way back to the car after the race was over. I think next time I need to have a protein shake before I go. 
• find someone to run with me. Hearing my name announced at the finish line was so great! However, it was also disappointing because I crossed and walked to my car to leave. There was no one there to share my achievement.
• smile. I tried to smile as I neared the cameras at the finish line, I swear I did.  However, pretty sure it was much more of a grimace. ;)

So, what's next? Weekend after next, June 2, I'll be running a 7 mile race locally. I'm hoping to beat my average pace from the last race. That will make me happy.

Progress...one step at a time.

Countdown: Two Weeks to Race One

It's May folks. How did that happen so quickly?

My first race is practically just around the corner. I seemed to have found myself with a bit of a problem. Not too big of one I hope. In addition to my other workouts I've gone for a long run every Saturday for the last few weeks. I'm not fast by any means, but I manage to churn out nearly six miles each run.

However, two weeks ago after the run my calves were killing me! I thought I just needed to loosen things up. Sunday I did some light jogging, but followed by engaging in a short sprint with my son. That was a very bad idea. Squatting down on my haunches to lace up my daughter's shoes was excruciating. "Ice & stretch" was the sage advice I received, and so I did. I also took the rest of the week off from doing anything else. No running, no weights. Downward dog became a favorite stretch and towards the end of the week things felt better.

Thinking myself ready, I headed out on my run this weekend, only to find a few short yards in that no, my calves did not feel better. I toughed it out and plodded my way to my friends house. After meeting up, we ran another couple miles.

I'm not running this weekend and the following weekend is the Race. I'll definitely be doing shorter runs and sprints during this week and next.

I'm thinking better pre-workout stretches may be the key.  Anyone have some helpful suggestions or links to what has worked for them? I'd appreciate it, as hobbling is not my style!

Run, KK, Run

I've taken on some challenges this year. 

Mostly they're all leading up to a single challenge.

I want to complete a GRC.

What is it?  Honestly, that's a really good question.  It's a team event, not a race.Eight to ten hours, fifteen to twenty miles, and offers to under promise, over deliver. You can learn more about it here.  Watch one of the videos. I'll wait.

Intense, right?

I want to be one of those smiling people at the end. Exhausted, but rewarded. There's something that drives me that is difficult to express. It demands I be one of those people.

So, how do you get ready for this event that offers sketchy details at best?

For me, I'm weight lifting three times per week, doing my darnedest to increase my stamina, and taking on some other challenges along the way.

May - Capital City Marathon: Nothing too big here...a little 5 mile race. I'll be happy to just finish.

June - Goldsborough Creek Run: 7 miles. Just hope to have a faster time than the CCM.

June - Spartan Sprint:  If you've never heard of a Spartan Race, check this out!  For this one, I just hope to come out alive.

September - Tough Mudder: Assuming the Spartan Sprint doesn't break me, bring on the mud! Tough Mudder is almost four times as long as the SS with many more obstacles. Wanna peek? Click here.

And finally...

December - GoRuck Challenge: The pinnacle event of the year!

You may have noticed some time gaps there. I'm hoping to fill July, August, October and November with a race or challenge of some kind. 

I'll keep y'all posted!