Runnin4Nana

I did it!  I ran my first 5K.  What all started with signing up to motivate me to run and get healthy turned into something much bigger!  After signing up to run for The National Parkinson Foundation and creating team Runnin4Nana (that consisted of just me to begin with) ended up in an amazing turn out and an very FUN, successful morning!  Turns out EVERYONE loves Nana Margaret and wanted to run for her too!  :)  It couldn't have turned out better!  I am so happy to have been a part of it and can't wait to do another 5k!  My time was 30:23 (darn those 23 seconds!) 

Me and my cousin Vanessa showing off our bling.





Team Runnin4Nana October 9th 2011 LB ICB 5K



My Inspiration... or should I say

OUR ENTIRE TEAMS INSPIRATION

Nana Margaret hanging out with baby Dylan



and I raaan. I ran so far away... i just rannnn I ran all night and...

okay so I didn't run all night and day but I did run/walk 3 MILES in 29 minutes and 38 seconds.  That is GREAT for me.  Ohhhh the mind games that I have to play with myself so that I keep on going.  I think about my kids.  It is inspiring to me to think of people who have gone through REAL battles in life.  It gives me the strength to continue.  Who am I to complain about the pain of running when there are people who have dealt with REAL pain. I think about the mommies that have lost their babies.  I think about what it must be like to hold them tight while they fight to battle cancer.  I think about the ones whos babies don't make it and how unfair it is.  I think about the parents that are handed their babies after a long labor only to have that baby never take it's first breath.  I think about Parkinsons and what it must be like for my grandma to not be able to do all of the things she once enjoyed.  I think about parents who have autistic children and how heartbreaking it must be to just have your child be loved and accepted by the world.  I think about the lady at the used bookstore today that volunteered her time selling books with her fat, graying beagle at her feet and wondering if there was anything in her life that she wanted to do but didn't.  Maybe her whole life was her babies... and then they grew up?  Maybe she didn't think she could?  I spell my kids names... first, middle and last.  I count my breaths.  I think about how less jiggly my ass will be if I make it to the corner... not this corner but THAT corner WAYYYY over there.  Don't... stop... running...  I imagine what my bib will look like when I go to pick it up the night before the race.  I think about the little lizard that is ALWAYS in the SAME spot that scurries into the bushes when I pass by.  I think about this nasty women's shoe with a big silver buckle that looks like it came out of the bottom of a Goodwill bin (it's always under the same tree). I wonder if anyone will ever move the Goodwill shoe.  I wonder who you call for things like "nasty shoe removal".  I wonder if things like little mice live in that shoe or go in there to sleep.  I think about little mice that might have died because they tried to seek shelter in that shoe and died because it was so gross.  I think about what it will be like in 70 days when I run my first 5K and how on that day I want to look back and know that I trained to the best of my ability because I will never have a chance to run my FIRST 5K ever again.  And then usually before my mind thinks of even weirder things... it's time to go home.

Extemely Discouraged- Running

I have been training for a 5k and have been doing way better than I ever thought I would or could do.  I ran a mile for the first time in my entire life.  To some, that is a warm up.  To me... getting to the corner without hyperventaliating is a warm up.  Well at least it was not too long ago.  My knees having been giving me a horrible time and everyone is telling me that knee pain is normal for runners.  "Join the club" Is what they have been telling me.  I don't think I am too big of a baby.  I have had 3 children and can sit for a considerable amount of time while getting tattoed while someone runs a needle repeatedly over my skin.  I realized it was hurting but thought it was "normal" so I tried to push through.  Then it started hurting worse and I finally took 2 days off.  In this time I googled and youtubed and finally found some guy showing a way to rub out your IT band so that it will stop pulling on your knee. (Yes I am aware that a Dr visit is in order but I don't have health insurance).  It helped and so I decided to run again today after a 2 day break.  About 15 seconds into it all the pain that I had is back.  I wanted to punch the brick wall but instead I started crying while running and holding my breath. (I sometimes wish I had my own TV show cause right now I could use a laugh watching myself get frustrated)  I was hoping it would be bearable if I kept going so I can just get through my run.  It took me almost 18 minutes to LIMP home.  I am so pissed off right now.  My knees are swollen from walking so I am sitting here like a big loser with frozen corn on my legs.  I WILL be ready for this 5K.  I am running for my Grandma who has Parkinsons.  I have a whole team of people that I pumped up to do this and I need to be there... and I will be there... and I AM NOT WALKING... I WILL RUN... dammit.

Party Rockin in the House Tonight!!!!!!

This song makes me want to clean the house, run and dance!  I really want his black and leopard pants for the 5k.  They are freakin' radical.  I need itunes.

Bout to get my Forrest Gump on

Woot woot!  All signed up for my first 5K on October 9th 2011!  Can't wait.  It is going to be amazing.  I almost cleared a mile today without stopping... CRAZY.  That would have NEVER happened 4 months ago in my fast food eating, junk food consuming old life.  Thank you to my babies who need to eat healthy to grow and be healthy.  You have forced me to learn how to eat clean food.  If it wasn't for you crazy little boys I would still be shoving oreos down my face while watching reruns of 16 and pregnant.

THAT DATE IS WRONG but this is the 5k map

-photo from runlongbeach.com

Run Forrest Run...

Seriously... That is the name of the race I want to do.  It's a race option for the Long Beach Marathon. My old stoppin' grounds and I think I can do it.  I am still sore from the day before yesterday.  I walked yesterday since I could hardly move and I guess you are not supposed to run everyday??  Tonight I will run again (should I say run/walk) for 30 minutes.  The length of the Run Forrest Run 5 race is 3.1 miles (just in case you were going to google it... I will save you the trouble).  Seems like nothing in marathon terms but if I can do 3 miles without stopping and the world doesn't end I will be very, very proud of myself.  It feels pretty amazing that I got as far as I did without stopping the other day.  It was the rest of the way home that my throat was burning and when I went to spit I accidently spit on my shoulder. (I suggest that you stop and then spit especially if it's windy... wait a sec... don't spit at all it's gross and unless someone lied to me when I was little it's illegal.)  But in the case that you feel like you are going to die/pass out/sponatiously combust/or throw up if you don't spit... just don't spit on yourself.  Ohhhh and I won't forget to mention wear a shirt that doesn't creep up.  Yeah.. I am not sure how many people I showed my stomach to while they were driving.  yeah... not good.