After 13.1

Mon. 10/31
I accomplished something huge in L.A. this weekend.  The completion of my first half marathon.  I also found closure to some questions I had when I moved from CA 4 years ago.  It wasn't my initial plan, but worked out htat way and to my benefit.  I exceeded my completion time by more than 1/2 an hour.  I finished in 2:51.  This was just unbelievable to me.  They started us with a wave start.  Lisa had entered to do the mini which was 3.5 miles.  She was able to run almost the first 2 miles with me and then our course changed.  We were so excited and I just remember dodging people and trying to get around everyone as much as we could.  I had my ipod on but I could still hear the bands singing.  I remember an older cover band playing "Don't stop believing" and the runners singing and screaming along to it as they ran past.  The course had great sites and entertainment.  As I was running after Lisa left I was texting with my best friend Cristy and Brett and I even managed to reply to some cheerleaders on my facebook.  Sooner than I expected I saw the 5k banner and couldn't believe when I looked at my watch.  My disbelieve was then confirmed when Brett text me "OMG 11 minute mile!"  My fastest 5k down at 34 minutes.  I always kept it under 40 min.  I knew this posititioned me well and on target.  I was about to text Lisa which I knew was waiting on the side lines and then I saw the 6 mile mark...already! I spotted her on her phone and she saw me.  She started running on her side of the rope and said "I'll run with you as much as I can until they kick me out!"  The crowd started cheering at her ambition and support and eventually she swooped in when the rope ended and we were off.  The course was so cool.  We ended up going under a tunnel and everyone was screaming to make echo noises, including me.  It was cooler under there and we moved quickly.  My GPS lost signal.  We were feeling good about our time and I told her we could walk a little and rest after the tunnel.  Then the bridge came.  Oh my, so not expected.  It looked like a monster from far away but getting over it seemed to take an hour.  I think it was between mile 8-10 somewhere.  Going uphill I tried to focus on the pretty views of the mountains and the tall buildings.  We snapped some pictures and tried to keep hydrated.  We then made friends with an older lady and she was asking us how long the bridge was, and no one knew but we kept going.  I saw some guy on the course running past us with no shoes on and no socks.  He had a pretty swift step too.  Amazing.  A lot of the runners were in costume and you can see gloves and butterfly wings on the course left behind.  My right outer foot started hurting and kept getting worse as we continued.  All I remember is seeing mile 10 and rejoicing as we went downhill.  My plan was to run the last 3 miles but my foot was not having it and I don't feel they had enough water stops after 10 miles.  I was so thirsty.  Thank goodness I had gu left still.  Lisa was just pushing along and listening to her music but I could tell she had enough of that bridge that went over the L.A. River too.  I glanced down at my watch and it said 14 miles.  I was like, What!!! How annoying.  I guess going through the tunnell twice my watch got confused.  Finally it said 13 miles and that .1 mile was a bitch but we ran the rest of the way in hope of a good picture.  The clock was off by 30-40 min becuase that's how long it took us to get to the start line.  But I wasn't sure what my completion time actually was.  I looked around and felt disoriented and remember lisa saying "Man, never again!" She was my hero for running the rest of that way with me.  That was 10.5 miles she did that day, and just for me! We took our pics, stretched and my toes were cramping up so we drank a lot of water.  I looked over and saw the stage was empty so I assumed Bret Michaels had already performed.  He was to go on form 11-11:30.  I didn't anticipate finishing before then anyway. All of a sudden I see him take the stage and my heart stops! Then I get a text from my friend Kristian and he tells me I finished in 2:51:43.  I tell Lisa and rush closer to the stage and pain in foot in all I jump up and down to the 4 songs he decides to perform.  The absolute best feeling in the world.  This was a huge accomplishment for me.  I had my doubts a week before this run and thought I couldn't do it.  But I did it and had so much love and encouragement from my family and friends and all the updates on facebook and text messages I received really kept me going.  I changed my life that day and the memory I shared with my sister Lisa will never be taken from me.  My mom and dad were so proud.  Yvette and Brett were so shocked and happy for us too.  Tears were all I had.   I can't wait for the next one. 

Before my 13.1

Before the 1/2: Friday, 10-28-11
Two days before my first half.  I'm not a competitive person but I don't like to finish last.  I want to have fun with this race but I'm willing to surprise others as well as myself.  I'm anticipating a finish of 3:30 but will accept whatever comes.  There will be no quitting or failing for me in two days.  I will run for my life.  I found myself when I started running.  it got me back in shape and helped me find a new level of mental capacity that I didn't know was possible.  I don't know if it's the challenge that has opened my mind or the intimacy that was born with myself.  Being in constant communication with myself during my long runs has led me to this race in this particular place.  Why the Rock n Roll Los Angeles 1/2 marathon? L.A. is where I once ran from.  I ran when a huge opportunity was before me.  I ran because I was scared to take a chance and perhaps fail.  As I see it now, I ran, because I did not know then how I know myself now.  I'm stronger, accomplished, not scared.  I left CA four years ago and never came back.  As time passed I started to feel and remember how beautiful my time was in CA and how much I loved and missed it.  In four years I learned that yes, it's true, when you have something amazing in front of you, there is a possibility to be blind to it.  You then find yourself holding on to memories as they become more distant and you desperately try to hold on to them.  I had a lot of questions when I moved back to FL and still do.  Why did I do this?  What was I thinking? Were we better off in CA? Running has helped me find some of those answers.  Within me I found answers I never thought I had.  Not a shrink, friend, or family member could tell me the answers I wanted.  I had to sweat it out day after day on the pavement.  Sometimes I would talk to God, especially when my miles climbed over six.  This is the first major thing I've done on my own.  I bought my 1/2 marathon training book and went out there on my own.  I had tremendous support from friends, family and co-workers.  My eyes fill with tears as the plane lands.  Emotion swells deep within me.  My sister.  Rock n Roll.  Los Angeles.  13 miles.  Ready or not, here I come. 

May summer Heat!

Having a great month! Spent 3 days in Cape Coral with my parents for Mother's day.  We hit up Fort Myers beach and took Harley and really enjoyed our time there. 

Yesterday I ran 7 miles at Cady Way.  I'm feeling good about my training.  I want to start implementing more resistance and weight training.  I know it will help me get faster and lose more weight.  I have cut back on a lot of bad foods but need to minimize the eating out.  If I controlled my intake I would have lost a lot more by now, but I'm still proud of my loss.  30 lbs has done wonders for me! I want to lose 30 more lbs.  I have about 5 months until my 1/2 marathon.  If I lose 30 lbs by then, I will change my 1/2 to be a full.  I believe I can do this. 

I'm taking this summer off of school and really wnat to make the best of it by working out as much as I can. 

Looking forward to seeing and feeling more progress. 

April Wow!

I can't believe we are in the 4th month of the year. 
I'm in my 3rd week of training for my half marathon.  I'm still running 3 min/ walking 2 min for any given amount of reps the training requires.  I did a little too much last week and ended up hurting my left knee so I took a few days off.  Today I got back on the road and had a great run!
I'm really looking forward to October and my half marathon in L.A.  I wouldn't want to do it anywhere else.  My sister will be there and hopefully Brett will come out and Carol also says she wants to go. 
Work is work.  It's been excruciatingly annoying lately for too many reasons to waste time on listing here.  It's a job.  Someday soon I will have a career and it won't be in Florida the way things are looking.  I still keep in touch with my West Coasters and feel confident I will find a great paying job out there when I graduate and the time comes that we're ready to move!
I'm so proud of Brett.  He dove right into school and is maintaining a 4.0 average.  Way better than me! But he's diligent and focused.  He's had a lot of gigs lately and our time together has been very limitted but I think it's done well for us. 
I'm almost done with Spring semester.  I'm actually writing my 15 page paper on a long term health facility I designed.  It's going miserably but I'm doing it. 
This Friday my best friend and I are going to see Lady Gaga and I can't wait!!!!! I'm super excited. 
Yvette decided they are coming down to Florida for Sophia's birthday! I took off an entire week July 4th! My first vacation this year and I need it badly.  I'm not going to school this summer.  Screw that! In the fall, I will start full time- 4 classes so I can finish in 1 year!
Last weekend Better Than Ezra played in my hometown on Wall Street for FMF.  What a great experience and much needed release for me.  Carol went with me and we had so much fun. 
My parents joined the internet world! They are on Skype and Facebook now! Amazing! I thought this day would never conme.
Tomorrow is Thursday and then Friday and then I'll be rid of work for 2 days.  Sad how I think of it that way but it is what it is. 
I guess I'll write again in May!

March already!

Time goes by way too fast, especially when you stay extremely busy.
I didn't meet my 5k goal by the way, but it was a rough day for me.  I didn't sleep well the night before and I didn't feel warmed up enough and for some reason I felt really lonley out there. I was waiting at the starting line for 15 minutes, it was packed! Everyone was in groups or worked together.  They were all carrying on and talking and snapping pictures.  I also was recovering from yet another cold and still had some mucus, but for some reason as I ran I just felt like I was dragging and I didn't like where they had us running through neighborhoods.  I especially hated the brick roads and tripped twice.  The day was overcast but the spirit around me was good.  It just wasn't my day what can I say? Sometimes we have good days and bad.  Even if I felt great with what I put on that morning I was regretting it once running and felt uncomfortable.  These are life lessons.  I did 40:14 which was 2 seconds less than my run in November. Yikes! I know.  But I was proud I finsihed and didn't give up.  I really felt like walking after mile 2.  The best thing about this run was that Brett was there waiting for me and he was very proud of me and even took a picture w/ me.  I felt like I might dissapoint him but he told me to keep working out and training and I'll meet my goal soon.

In other news, my new job as Registration lead is getting better.  At first, I thought it wasn't for me, but I don't give up easily.  I just have to get used to new personalities, different management style, and almost a different culture.  I don't enjoy working with the specimens hands on, but I'm looking at this as a learning experience and it has motivated me to start taking 3 classes per sememster so that I can get my degree and move on to the next adventure.  

I haven't done any 5K's but am thinking about doing the Corporate 5k in April and definitely the IOA run in May. It was my first 5K last year and I hope to be at my goal by then.  I'm still running but doing a lot more cross training and I feel so much better about myself.  I saw my parents this weekend and they told me how proud they were of my weight loss.  It makes me want to keep on going. 

Yvette, Luis and Sophia are almost ready to move now.  They have been packing up the house.  I took off work this coming Wed to watch Sophia while the movers come to get their furniture and boxes.  I'm really sad to see them leave but I'm trying to stay happy for this move for their family.  I'm going to miss my sister so much and Sophia more than anything.  I love everything about that little girl.  It's because of her that I know I'll want my own someday. Now I will be visiting Cape Coral a lot more to see my parents since they probably won't come here as much.

I decided to not do the Wine Country- VA half marathon.  It was a lot of money to raise and with my new job and obligations I didn't feel it was a good idea.  Instead, I am doing the RocknRoll 1/2 marathon in Los Angeles in October.  It will give me more time to train and Brett is getting me the Forerunner Garmind 305 watch to help with my training for my birthday.  I can't wait!!!! I've heard and read so many possible things about it. 

As far as traveling, I have planned St. Louis in July and L.A. in October and maybe a weekend trip with Brett to the Keys in the summer.  We so need to get away one of these days, maybe go to Siesta Key and invite my parents.  That would be fun. 

This year is going good.  I need to crank up my dieting goals and I'm already on the right track.  Just need to stay focused!

Down with the sickness...again

I have been sick since last Wednesday.  So, my running is now 3 days behind.  I hate that.  I should've been done with my training already.  My 5k is just 3 weekends away now.  I want to do better than my last run in November. My last time was 40:16 and I want to do 38 minutes.  I'm wondering if I'm going to make it at this point. It's only 2 minutes less!! 2 minutes that I have to cut down.  I would love to do 36 minutes.  Cut down 4 minutes.  That would mean I can run my first mile in 13 minutes.  My 2nd mile in 11 and my last mile and .10 of a mile in 12 minutes.  If I could lose 15lbs I would easily get my speed up.  I think I've been eating pretty well.  My weekend splurges probably do more harm than anything I eat during the week.  I normally bring my lunch and prepare my breakfast at home.  I'm going to try to drink 1 gallon of water a day for the next few weeks and drink my skinny tea, which actually works.  I won't be dissapointed in myself, but I would love to do 36 minutes! I would be so proud of me. 

In 2 weeks I'm going to my first half marathon meeting.  It's through the Central Florida Chrons Disease group and the run would be in Wine Country in VA.  It would be a beautiful run and the registration is already closed so the only way I can get there is through this group.  I think I can do this.

The sad news but good news for them is that Yvette and Luis bought a house in St. Louis.  I'm really happy for this new beginning for them.  They are closing on the house March 15th.  The week before my birthday.  I know it's going to be hard for the family to be this far from Sophia but I figured I'll see her in July and again for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  That's not bad...3 times? But I'm so used to seeing her every weekend.  It's exciting for them though and I know Sophia will be happy wherever she is as long as she's with her parents.  My mom and dad are going to be so lonely.  If me and Brett were okay and had it together I would love to have a grandbaby for them, but it's just not in the cards right now. 

Anyway, I called in to work today and I really needed it.  I slept a lot and blew my nose every half hour, so needless to say I feel better...finally.  Not 100% yet but ready to hit the gym tomorrow night at any cost.

A new day has come!

This is proving to be a great new year after all! I was just formally offered the Registration Lead position and I start my new job is on the 24th.  I was a little hesitant at first becuase of "office gossip" about that position, but in the end I really don't care what others say.  I've worked hard at the lab since my first day there a little over a year ago and I feel I deserve it.  I'm very confident that I will do well. 

I signed up for my first 5K of the year.  It's 2/5- the Florida Hospital Women's Track Shack run...or something like that.  I have been training to get a faster time than 40 minutes.  I'm hoping for 38 and anything less than that would be AMAZING.  It's still turtle time, but I'll be happy. 

I'm debating joining Planet Fitness.  Only because I can only run every other day and my off days I'm doing cross training and like to use different machines.  I enjoy doing more organic workouts, but it's good to be around more people sometimes so I am so nosy :-) 

My other goals for this year, besides running my ass off (literally) are to travel more.  I'm waiting to start my new job to see what that OFF calendar will look like and I will jump right in and schedule my time.  I want to go to CA to see Lisa's new house and visit Amanda in Denver, Keri in Boston, and Alyson in NC. 

Another goal is to spend more time with my family that I have here in Orlando and I never see!

I never was that person that set goals for the new year.  I've always felt you should work on yourself everyday.  I wake up everyday with hope.  I drive to work every morning thankful that I have a job.  I go home everyday from work knowing that I have a tremendous amount of people to go home to, so to speak, that love me. 

This life is it.  31 here I come and I'm not scared.