Run Run Run

I was researching races in the the North Florida area this morning and came across the 2012 Tom Walker Memorial Half Marathon! This one is in Gainesville, December 1st!! This is pretty perfect timing-wise because it is officially 16 weeks until race day, and I really need 12 weeks to train. Now I have more time to build my strength, speed, and endurance for this one without worrying too much about time.

Another positive on this race - it is an out and back on Hawthorne Trail. No car fumes around to mess with my running!!! :) I also found that the cost of the race is wonderful compared to past halfs which have cost close to $100! Race is anywhere from $25-$35!! AWESOME!

This will be my third half marathon! So excited to get back into the groove!

Do you have anything you would like to do this fall ... any goals or cool milestones you are wishing to meet?

Xo

BUSY, BUSY

This has been one crazy week... So, I need to cover it!! (And recover!!)
Sunday... Groove Yoga
Monday... Qi Yoga
Tuesday... Rest
Wednesday... Boot Camp
Thursday... Krav Maga
Friday... Yoga Workshop "Elements of Evolution" EARTH Series
Saturday... Morning Running Camp with Melissa Mantak
Sunday... Cross-Country Skiing


Right Now = NAP TIME!! Peace.

TIME FOR TAPER

via

So, today was my first "taper" long run before the big race!! 12 miles was enjoyable with my running crew! I am more and more aware of the fall with the crisp mornings, the changing leaves, and the feeling in the air... Running in the fall is pure joy!

The taper... Everyone talks about it while marathon training. I for one did not understand what they spoke of. You reduce your training before your big event. You reduce your weekly mileage; you allow your body to rejuvenate, breathe, heal, rest... The taper is just as important as the preceding vigorous pace runs I am learning.

Tomorrow I will work in my yoga practice in the evening to seal up the weekend and STRETCH!

Continue to enjoy your weekend, loves!

MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP

When you are in the valley, keep your goal firmly in view and you will get the renewed energy to continue the climb. -Denis Waitley

In my world, this running season, Saturday signifies "long run day".  I wake up to meet with my running group in the Denver / Boulder area for a 6:00AM or 6:30AM start. Many of the runs tend to be in South Denver, so I find myself waking up at 4:45 for the longer runs to be there on time!

Today, my run schedule said I had to run 16 miles. You will find out later in this post if I stuck to this mileage. We met in Lone Tree and began at 6AM since everyone was adding mileage and running for a longer amount of time. The terrain was pretty hilly compared to past group runs with an elevation change of approximately 85 feet per mile! What a workout!!

I ran almost the whole time with my pace group up and over hills and switchbacks.... The couple of times we went downhill, we were definitely super stoked!!

Now I haven't been sore yet running with this group - but today's run changed everything. I talked to other runners about this when we were stretching and FINISHED and they said they had strange pains and soreness....I guess it wasn't just me. I will blame the terrain. I will say though that I am thankful my longest run to date was on difficult terrain because this will make my other long runs easier. Fellow group runners said this was the most difficult long run they had done while running with our group! I guess that says something to.

Instead of 16 miles, I ended up putting in 18. Yes, it was super tough and I did have to walk for some of Mile 17..... BUT I was happy I decided to pick it up a notch. The distance matched up with the original Level 2 training plan I had been working off of. I was just thankful to be running with great people - they helped get me through and conquer those hills!!

Happy Running to all!! It is time for me to hit the hay!!

BOOK BLISS

So, I haven't blogged in while and I have good reason (errrr.... excuses) for this behavior. I got married this past weekend!! So, life has been a bit of a whirlwind... A WONDERFUL whirlwind!! It is pretty amazing to see how everything that you have been planning and waiting for comes together. Quite lovely. More wedding talk later when I have my photos to share!!

I have been reading a lot lately (another reason why the blogging has slowed) ? Christopher McDougall's Born to Run is definitely now in my top ten. It digs a bit into history which is something that can make a book a bit of a bore if it is done incorrectly. I have to tell you, the history in this book was quite the opposite for me!! The historical side made me want to KEEP reading and reading until I was done with the book. It was just plain fascinating!! It would be pretty sweet if this was added to a summer reading list for students!!

I also completed Elizabeth Gilbert's Committed, the sequel to Eat Pray Love. Most of the book discussed the notion of marriage and of course the romance between Liz and her man!!! I highly recommend it! I read it the month before I was married and it made things pretty interesting to say the least. Elizabeth was never keen on the idea of marriage... so it was nice to read about her view on the subject! I will not give you any more details - I do not want to spoil this read :)

Chelsea Handler's Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea was my last read and it was nice to read something that was just relaxed and comical!! I found myself laughing out loud a bunch!! The question that I do have about the book (I will sleep tonight if this isn't answered) - is:

Do you believe everything she wrote in her book to be fact ? Being that she is a comedian and she is a storyteller because she is a comedian, I feel as though some of it may be exagerrated. Even though I may feel this way, I loved her book!! She has always made me laugh and that's why you pick up a comedian's book - right ?!

IN 2010 - LET YOUR HEART WIN

Happy New Year!! A Happy, Happy 2010 to you all! 2009 was a good year, but it is time to look forward to all that is 2010. I wish you and yours an amazing year!

My Goals and Intentions for this year...

1) Marry my fiancé, the love of my life and my best friend ... "boyfriend" of 6 years on January 14, 2010.

2) Watch and enjoy a SUNSET at least once a week - thanking God for each day he has given me.

3) Run two or three half marathons and possibly a full marathon!

4) Keep in better touch with my friends and family across the nation.

5) Smile more.

6) Adopt a family during the 2010 Holiday Season and GIVE BACK.

7) Do more yoga on and off the mat; introduce others to the yoga I love so dearly.

8) Make every day mean the most and follow my bliss!!

Do not forget ... It is never too late to begin again. No choice is more able to change your life than the one you make today.

THE JOURNEY IS THE REWARD: MY FIRST 1/2 MARATHON

I ran my first half marathon October 18, 2009 - The Denver Half Marathon in beautiful downtown Denver! I pretty much trained on my own for this race - just kept a running calendar - worked on my mileage and my pace and just kept on running without looking back! This race was a goal I wanted to see if I could achieve on my own... With the help of G-d beside me.

(via Zazzle)

True Fact: I had never loved running or called myself a "runner" in the past. It was never quite my thing. Sure, I would run 5Ks often for charity and completed my first 10K in May, but I never considered a long distance such as 13.1 miles!!

After fulfilling a couple of major life goals during this past year, I knew I didn't want it to stop. I had spoke with friends who had run half and full marathon distances... They made it sound possible to me, while I had always thought it impossible.

Race day came and I couldn't believe it was my day to run... But that day I ran for so much more than myself.... I ran for my parents, my fiancé, my sisters, my friends who are like family to me.... I ran with G-d, and without him I am not sure if I could have finished. The sunrise was beautiful during the first mile - it calmed me down and allowed me to reflect and to pray and to just take some time out... I learned that I wasn't running for myself; I was running for the world.... If I could do this, then maybe someone else would be intrigued to try and reach their goals... Running isn't always about getting the best pace, finishing first... Running is about the JOURNEY... The Journey you have with yourself, with G-d, with your thoughts...

THE JOURNEY IS THE REWARD.