Jump Starting Our Day, Pun Intended (Project Pretty)

(Project pretty is a personal commitment to share my weekly journey of keeping my non-New-Year's-Resolution: staying fit to improve quality of life while inspiring others to do the same. Let's all jump on the endorphin wagon!)

Last week Cristina and I not only jump started our day together with a nice little workout, we also had to jump start her car just to leave the gym parking lot! Luckily I had some jumper cables in the 4 Runner, but had never used them before, and Cristina had me convinced that she "kinda" knew what she was doing.....until she accidentally let the black and red ends touch which resulted in a big spark.........then I was genuinely scared the likely hood of us blowing something up was significant. To make matters even more challenging, our car batteries were so far away from each other, the jumper cable ends couldn't reach, and given the limitations of space due to other cars in the lot, our vehicles were merely millimeters apart by the time we could make it work!!! SCARY! (Side note: Some sweet older man saw what we were doing, but must have had a feeling we were independent women [or was just interested in some early morning entertainment], because he just stood back and silently watched us to make sure we didn't do anything stupid and then stepped up to make sure we were all good in the end.)

Besides my whole body feeling like it was hit by a truck one boot camp class and 2 days later, I'd been gently and unsuccessfully trying to get back into a running groove. (I'm serious about that getting hit by a truck thing. I was so sore over the weekend, Patrick had to put his hands under my butt cheeks and spot me up the stairs because I couldn't manage the incline alone........and because he really likes to touch my butt.) Unfortunately, despite taking it slow, stretching, rolling, and icing, every time I run, the knot in my left calf returns with a vengeance. This is officially the roughest injury recovery yet and I have no idea what to do about it. At this rate, it looks like I may be walking the MetroPCS Half in December!!!

I've Never Felt More White (Project Pretty Week: Who Knows)

(Project pretty is a personal commitment to share my weekly journey of keeping my non-New-Year's-Resolution: staying fit to improve quality of life while inspiring others to do the same. Let's all jump on the endorphin wagon!)

When I decided to try Zumba for the very first time, I totally wasn't expecting to pass out, which is what almost happened. To be honest, I've always been a little skeptical about how good of a workout Zumba could actually be, but since I love to dance and was looking for something fun to kick start my re-introduction to the gym after recovering from all my stupid injuries and medication induced ickiness, I was willing to give it a shot. 

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I loved the music. Grooving to new school and old school Hip Hop, Pop, and Latino music was right up my ally. In-between the disguised squats and lunges, it felt a lot like being at the club, but with water instead of alcohol, minus the constant obstacle of shooing away strange men trying to grind on me, and without the fear of having a hangover the next day. Of course, a normal person would be dancing in synchrony with their instructor (their very talented African American instructor who knows how to shake her ass like she's on a Ludacris music video and move her feet to the Moroccan beat like Saleena), but I was doing good to shake my hips and try to look like I was following the moves all while not tripping over my two left feet or spraining a knee. I seriously have never felt more "white" in my entire life. 

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"Don't over think it," she said, "Let your body move naturally to the beat."

This IS how my body wants to move to the beat, I thought to myself, awkwardly and a tinsy bit off rhythm......like Mary Kathrine Gallagher. Geez, Napoleon Dynamite could probably show me up!

Towards the end of class I started to feel really sleepy. Things only went downhill from there. Small black and brown spots began vandalizing my vision, growing bigger and bigger. I kept trying to blink them away, but around the time I could no longer see a single thing, I became distracted by the fact that my hearing was disappearing. Voices were still vaguely audible, but oddly distant, traveling to me in slow motion through some sort of metal tunnel. My brain felt so full. I stayed strong up until this point, careful not to make a scene or worry anyone, but my body couldn't stand upright a single second longer, so I plopped myself onto the floor and pretended to stretch.

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After recovering my senses, I walked to the car and took two bites out of a snack bar I found in the console, only to realize it expired 14 months ago, (Ew! Note to self: clean out pantry), then headed home for a real meal. And to think, I was worried I wouldn't get a legit workout! In all reality, this was my first real workout since being on Metformin and I'm almost positive I was experiencing a blood sugar issue, but Zumba really was a fun way to burn some fat. I'll definitely be returning, but with substantially more to eat next time. 

Have you ever fainted?

Think Good Thoughts (Project Pretty Week:25 and 26)

(Project pretty is a personal commitment to share my weekly journey of keeping my non-New-Year's-Resolution: staying fit to improve quality of life while inspiring others to do the same. Let's all jump on the endorphin wagon!)

Ureeka, I think there's an end in site!!.....I hope, anyway......

After finally going to on ortho (who happened to be hunkalicious, for any of you single ladies with pending injuries) and getting the diagnosis of a plantar tendon strain with orders to take it easy for two more weeks, then gently ease back into running, I got a little excited and registered for another Half Marathon. The race entails cold weather running, which is my favorite, and a course through some pretty cool Downtown Dallas landmarks, plus I really liked how laid back my day was with the last local half. 

It's been weeks since I've been in the running game, so it looks like I'll be starting over from scratch, but given the fact it isn't until December, I have plenty of time to take it slow and steady, which will be worth it! 

On another note, I've been taking a new medication, Metformin (part of my "operation get fertile"), for a couple of weeks. It effects the insulin levels in my body and it's got me feeling majorly fatigued and extremely nauseated at all hours of the day. But hopefully, it too, will be worth it in the end.  The confusing part is I've totally had to abandon the Paleo ship to keep from going into a hypoglycemic coma, and I'm not sure how taking a medication instead of eating super healthy is really suppose to level things out.......but hey, healthcare is just an ongoing experiment, right? If I still feel like this in another week or two, I'm seriously contemplating throwing in the towel on this experiment. Patrick can only go so long living off of soup for diner, since that's all I cook anymore. Who knows, maybe diving back into running will add as a distraction.

Cheers to Muscle Confusion (Project Pretty Week 21)

(Project pretty is a personal commitment to share my weekly journey of keeping my non-New-Year's-Resolution: staying fit to improve quality of life while inspiring others to do the same. Let's all jump on the endorphin wagon!)

Working on weekends makes driving to and from work much less complicated, but on weekdays it's a different story. I've had to develop special routes and timing is of the essence. As a delivery nurse, my goal is to get out of the hospital by 0630, so I can cruise through all the school zones before the super slow speed limits take effect (when I'm dead tired, 3 zones can feel like driving 50 miles going 3.5 mph). But when I have an assignment or a super busy night, I'm lucky to leave by 0715 at the earliest, inevitably cursing me to creep home in the middle of morning chaos. Partially due to sun shock, and partially from unwillingly losing an internal battle to fight against the exhaustion, I try my hardest to keep my eye lids from creeping closed.

The latter scenario of the two is exactly what I was faced with this week, except when the signs for the school zones started to appear, no one slowed down. I was the weirdo who put on the brakes, but immediately sped back up to avoid getting run over by the eager drivers who were probably late to work because they hit their snooze button one too many times after staying up late to watch the NBA finals. I thought we were all being school zone rebels, or that I was too tired to comprehend the signs, consequently forgetting how to follow them.

But actually, as rumor has it, school's out for summer!!

Duh. Silly me.

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At the gym, I've been taking it easy all week on the stationary bike, followed by some upper body weight training and a few of my go-to core exercises. There I was, sucked deep into my book, when I was interrupted by a trainer who was asking if I wanted to come to his body pump class in T-4 minutes. He assured me he'd include safe modifications for my calf strain, so I agreed to show. 1 hour later I found myself driving home with arms so fatigued I could barely raise my longest finger high enough to pick my nose. It was nice to be back in a friendly competitive, by comparison, environment with someone to hold me accountable for reps, making me push myself harder than if I was solo. And now I can't move a single muscle in my body without grimacing.
Cheers to muscle confusion!

Does anyone else think it's really cool to watch their hands under the xlerater hand dryer transform into a loose flappy mess of skin, like for that moment, it belonged to a 112 year old person, because I am fascinated with it?

My Calf had a Heart Attack (Project Pretty Week 20)

(Project pretty is a personal commitment to share my weekly journey of keeping my non-New-Year's-Resolution: staying fit to improve quality of life while inspiring others to do the same. Let's all jump on the endorphin wagon!)

Once again, I'm a cripple...

Well, not totally crippled in the politically correct sense of the word, but I have been limping around for 5 days now with a bum calf, again. Huge knot. Lots of pain. Tight, tight, tight. Remember when I thought I may not get to participate in the Dallas Rock 'n Run due to a calf strain? 

It'sssss Baaaaaaaaaack.

I can't believe it. Two months of almost complete running rest (just a few 1-2 mile runs here and there), then one 3.75 mile run with the husband and our puppies and BANG; I'm down for the count. I never felt a twinge of pain until about 30 minutes after the run was over.

On the verge of going crazy with frustration, I started searching the web in hopes of finding out more than I already knew (R.I.C.E.). Unfortunately, when I found the answer it was bittersweet. Apparently I've had a "Calf Attack" with a Grade II-III tear (based off a very educated self diagnosis), and there's no easy fix, but at least I have more knowledge about how to prevent this reoccurring sports injury. I'm already ahead of the game and have been using The Stick, which was recommended to me by a physical therapist at the last Expo I went to. But the irritating road to full recovery is never easy and tends to be time consuming in an annoying way, especially when my workout plans of going to boot-camp and doing Insanity with Patrick disintegrated before my eyes.
INJURIES SUCK BUTT HAIRS!

It's all my fault, really......Patrick never even wanted to run; I had to talk him into it. Little did I know forgetting my water bottle at home would be the least of my worries. Nevertheless, if I was going to hurt myself, I did it on a beautiful day having fun with the family in the park.

Have you ever dealt with a reoccurring calf strain?

Gas. Such is Life. (Project Pretty Week 17, 18, 19)

(Project pretty is a personal commitment to share my weekly journey of keeping my non-New-Year's-Resolution: staying fit to improve quality of life while inspiring others to do the same. Let's all jump on the endorphin wagon!)

My workouts haven't been anything to banter about lately. If anything, they've been one mishap after another. 

Like when I actually woke up early to go to yoga, only to remember it was the only day of the week that didn't have a morning class. Still determined to seize the moment, I headed to my gym for a pilates class, got to the room a little early and started stretching. Thirty minutes of stretching later, I realized no one showed up for the class......not even an instructor! Let me just say, it was extremely difficult to make myself get on a machine after 2 failed class attempts. 

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Or like when Jessica and I got all dressed and pumped to go out for a run one morning after work and was actually in transit to the park, but the run never started because Bobby wouldn't answer his phone (he was suppose to be her ride), and we were worried he wouldn't show. Forced to hitch a last minute ride home, she found Bobby passed the F*** out, not even answering the doorbell, dead to the world, which proved sending her home was a good decision, since I had to be back at work that night and couldn't afford the lack of sleep to drive her myself. It was Saturday morning, so I just went home, put my workout clothes back in my gym bag, and got in bed to cuddle with my husband, which is way more fun than running anyway.

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Another example would be getting an email from my gym to explain they were closing our current location and all the members were being sent to a different location a few extra miles across town. I go to the new gym, and totally feel like I'm on a first date.......a little cautious in the unfamiliar surroundings with new people, and reluctantly having to hold in a fart the entire workout because the new gym is just one intimate box......headphones or not, I was sure someone was going to hear the new girl blow a hole in her spandex. It's all about first impressions...... Revolving bubble guts are never conducive to a decent workout, especially not the abdominal focused ones, or a first date (thank goodness I don't have to worry about the latter of the two anymore). 

Sigh. 

Have you had any workout mishaps lately?? 

Tsk Tsk. (Project Pretty Week 16)

(Project pretty is a personal commitment to share my weekly journey of keeping my non-New-Year's-Resolution: staying fit to improve quality of life while inspiring others to do the same. Let's all jump on the endorphin wagon!)

Remember when not too long ago I posted this extremely annoying grammatical error on Instagram? Not only is it an official sign made of thick plastic (not a piece of paper like I'd thought before I inspected it), but it was such an eye sore it caught my eye from across the building. Ever since noticing, I haven't been able to take my eyes off it!! 

Apparently it's been plaguing someone else's nerves too, because this week I noticed someone had altered it.

 And on the second improper sign located on the opposite side of the free weights station someone got really smart for there britches......just kidding about that "there" thing. Get it?? Get it????

I also noticed after putting these pictures side by side that I must wear green to the gym a lot. Now that I think about it, I actually have 4 green workout shirts......

And since this post is suppose to be about working out, instead of bashing the literal skills of people who work at the gym, here's an example of one of my low impact cross training workouts I made up this week to prevent boredom. It takes somewhere between 10-11 laps around our gym's upstairs track to equal 1 mile, and I can never pay attention long enough to count that far. It's actually a good thing I never run faster than a 8 minute mile or I'd get dizzy up there from all the turning!! 

It was a pretty solid moderate effort workout to follow a busy 12 hour shift. 

When's the last time you did a wall sit?!?

Wind in my Pigtails. It's the Small Things. (Project Pretty Week 15)

(Project pretty is a personal commitment to share my weekly journey of keeping my non-New-Year's-Resolution: staying fit to improve quality of life while inspiring others to do the same. Let's all jump on the endorphin wagon!)

All my running around on minimal sleep eventually caught up with me on Sunday and I crashed super hard. Patrick wasn't thrilled about my day long napping, but couldn't hold a grudge against this cuteness (which he couldn't resist photographing) for long. 

The puppies are loving the weather so much lately, they are completely content with just lounging outside......of course that excludes instances when they hear key words like "walk" or "run".....

But Patrick found my rollerblades, so I finally got out on my wheels for some full blown doggie sprinting!!

 I took them out to the nature preserve to cover a few miles and if a dog could smile, it'd be the only description suited for their faces. 

My pigtails standing on ends from the speed, their flowy hair parting back from their faces in the wind......we were living the life. 

I'm convinced if unleashed, Sumo would full on run about 20 miles before he ever slowed down...... 

.....especially when the weather is nice and there's plenty of shade to block the sun. 

Something super weird happened to me in yoga this week. Half way through class I started having some tingling and numbness in my left palm/fingers. 

I think the onset was during an extended hold of downward dog, but my memory starts to blur after I've been awake for 20+ hours. I actually think I fell asleep in final corpse pose, which only lasts maybe 3 minutes. A couple of days later it was just coming and going, but I'm interested to see if it flares up again in my next class. Did I mention I looked like a total sissy trying to do multiple sorry excuses for real pushups? I've really got to step up my arm game.... At least I was the only one in class who could get into the Bird of Paradise pose. Everyone's body is so different, and I've got to celebrate the few things my body excels at!!

Lastly, I finally found a taker to accompany me on my first outdoor run since the half marathon....it was hard....granted it was hill work after a 12 hour shift....but damn the devil it was hard!! They sky was gorgeous, though, and we were even graced with a few sprinkles to cool us off. The two miles of running followed by two miles of walking (because I felt like I was going to throw up if I ran another step) was the perfect after work workout. 

Have you ever had tingling/numbness in your hand associated with yoga? 

Green, Green. It's Good for Your Heart. (Project Pretty Week 14 )

(Project pretty is a personal commitment to share my weekly journey of keeping my non-New-Year's-Resolution: staying fit to improve quality of life while inspiring others to do the same. Let's all jump on the endorphin wagon!)

Every time I do a few hard workouts, my left calf knot issue that showed up a couple of weeks before the half-marathon makes it's reappearance and starts threatening to debilitate me, so I've been sticking to easy stuff for a while. Lately we've really been trying to soak in the fleeting moments Spring has to offer and these little stinkers have absolutely no idea just how spoiled rotten they are.

How many other Yorkie pip-squeeks get to go on 2 hour long walks in the park with countless new smells to investigate, too many things to pee on, and have endless opportunities to lounge in the overgrown shaded Johnson grass at free will. 

How many primpy house dog owners give their fur-balls a bath and blow dry, then let them drag their bellies in skanky swamp water the very next day, all for the sake of a quick cool down? 

As much as I'd rather them wade and drink from the crystal clear creek water flowing through the park, reaching it from the sandy cliff banks poses as quite the challenge. But when there's a safe enough entrance we bounce on the chance. They're not usually as glamorous as these super convenient semi-staired-roots we found in this particular spot, but we're not picky........just love the water!!

Callie prefers to take a dip the lady like way by staying in the shallow water, re-hydrating while laying down. 

Sumo, on the other hand, is all about the action. He actually started swimming out to the floating water bottle (don't even get me started on how mad it makes me to see trash in such a beautiful place) that activated his acute hunter instinct, but soon realized he was in over his head (he's not the greatest of swimmers......) and chose to stand and whine at the bottle until it was out of sight. As much as I'd love to let them run around unleashed and explore, I'm totally afraid of what may happen if they come across a bigger animal or accidentally provoke a grumpy snake.

It only took one extended afternoon of being in the sun without sunscreen, resulting in me looking like a well done lobster with a farmer's tan, to get smart and start slathering on the goo. 'Tis the season.......

As the outdoor heat continues to rise, I've been really wanting to get the puppies back in shape to go rollerblading (I wear the roller-blades, they just run....duh). Only problem is everything in our garage is pushed against the wall and piled to the ceiling, so I couldn't find them. However, I did manage to get completely distracted and find some of our Bone Lenox Chirp China, which I totally plan on using now on a everyday basis instead of all our regular chipped dinnerware. Life's too short.......

Speaking of life, I'm working on making it a little healthier by replacing one of my wimpy meals a day with green fruit/veggie smoothies........except mine didn't turn out very green!! Apparently beets are a pretty potent ingredient!! I posses absolutely no perception of appropriate quantity measuring when preparing things for a single person, so I accidentally made enough for 10 people. And after three solid servings I'm finally getting used to the taste. Try to imagine taking a bowl of sliced fruit and placing it on the ground in your herb garden, then lean in real close and take a good smell. Fresh, sweet, but with a hint of earth, right? That's my first smoothie....strawberry banana flavored applesauce with an aftertaste of dirt. 

P.S. Did you finish the title of this post in your head with, "The more you eat, the more you fart"? I did.

Hurry, I need your most favorite ever healthy smoothie recipe. 

Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. (Project Pretty Week 12)

(Project pretty is a personal commitment to share my weekly journey of keeping my non-New-Year's-Resolution: staying fit to improve quality of life while inspiring others to do the same. Let's all jump on the endorphin wagon!)

After an accidental 2 week slumber (I have no idea what happened.......one minute I was laying on the couch with the excuse of resting my IT band/hip flexor, and the next minute it was 2 weeks later......it's as if I was sucked into a wind tunnel time warp) there's nothing more motivating to get my butt back in the gym than needing to work out occupational frustrations.

I couldn't even force myself to run more than 2 miles on the treadmill (probably due to my very rational fear of falling off the back, resulting in me running as close to the front of the belt as possible, like so close my belly usually hits the middle grab handle, therefore making the t.v. 4 inches away from my face......and I can't stand looking at that monitor bouncing up and down with every step I take....it's like watching the second hand of a clock), so I had to hop on the elliptical. While I haven't figured out a way to make training on either one of those machines any more enjoyable than watching rice boil, I have concocted a simple 5 step list everyone could benefit from utilizing in their everyday lives.

1. We must remember, no one is in the occupation of Mind-Reading except Mind-Readers themselves. And even if  a person tried to get paid for such a thing, I'd be skeptical. 

2. Considering I'm about 76% positive my reading audience has all graduated from kindergarten, and about 62% confident they finished high school, then I'm 101% sure most personal, social, and professional issues can be settled without "tattling to your teachers". Things can be resolved much more efficiently and effectively with adequate communication. 

4. You are a grown-up, act like it. Unless you're some sort of freakish uncanny accident like Tom Hanks in Big or Jennifer Garner in 13 Going On 30, then I'll consider reconsidering your situation.

3. Life really isn't a popularity contest. I promise. It's more about who can eat the most chilly dogs without throwing up.

5. Don't worry about what others are doing; enjoy the life YOU live. You only get one. Unless you are a cat......if you're a cat and reading this A) WOW, you are amazing! Are there others like you? B) you probably have a few more lives left.

Source: timestops-lifehappens.tumblr.com via Kayla on Pinteres

There it is, the down and dirty truth. Now go spread the word so we can all live in harmony!!!
While your brains are warm, take a moment to read this enlightening post from a gal who's way better with words than I. I'm 87% certain it will steer your attitude in a positive direction.

Do you ever get sucked into time warps? Do you check yourself before you wreck yourself? (Because you know, playing life dirty can be bad for your health.)

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Hold On To Your Butts (Project Pretty Week 11)

(Project pretty is a personal commitment to share my weekly journey of keeping my non-New-Year's-Resolution: staying fit to improve quality of life while inspiring others to do the same. Let's all jump on the endorphin wagon!)

Really? I mean really. 

After being spoiled by all the beautiful 70 degree sun shining days, mother nature decided to keep us on our toes by sending a cold front with 27mph winds just in time for the half marathon. {Insert sarcastic "Yay......."} Wipe that smile off your face, Flo, it's 5 flipping A.M. in the morning and this is serious business. 

It was still black outside when us gals paid for our train tickets and huddled together for warmth until our ride arrived. When the electric doors opened, we dispersed, filling the last of the open seats. And for the next 30 minutes we talked our jitters out as we watched more and more people flood in, filling the isles with excited runners. 

Gear check was all too soon. So soon, I absentmindedly kept my fleece jacket on when I checked my bag (my subconscious not ready to let it go just yet), consequently having to run back, uncheck my bag, remove my security blanket, and recheck it again.  For the next 45 minutes I'd be freezing my nipples off in my super thin breathable workout shirt, envious of all the warm layers I saw on the people around me, but I knew later I'd be glad I wasn't running with extra layers dangling from my waist. 

Thinking she'd be running close to a 11-12 minute mile, Britney changed her corral to the same as mine; this being her very first half-marathon, she'd originally registered under a slower finish time. I didn't care if we'd never ran together before, I was thrilled to gain a partner!

While we hopped in place to keep from morphing into popsicles, anxiously waiting to cross over the starting line, Mr. Bobby picked up the cheerleaders.

It wasn't his first rodeo, so he knew exactly were to go in order to cheer us along at the half-way point. Don't they look so warm and happy?  

After entertaining themselves for a while, they started to get glimpses of the Presby running crew.

First up, was firecracker Missy, who put on a show for the camera.

Next was Jessica, my hero.

Then I imagine, they had plenty of time for people watching in between, since Jess and Missy started about 8 corrals before me and Britney. 

It didn't take us long to work out a good system. I like for my partner to be on my left, and Britney's dog runs on her right. We admired the shiny downtown buildings, the ridiculously gorgeous mansions and beautiful hoity-toity landscaped scenery in Highland Park. We laughed at all the creative posters people held on the sidewalks. Despite the wind blowing so hard at times I actually had to hold my head down so my hat wouldn't blow off, we found a sweet steady pace right at a 10:30 minute mile, faster than we'd anticipated, but that's the beauty of the race day environment.

Somewhere around mile 6 was a long hill, and seeing as I'm a slow and steady hill climber, Britney pulled a bit ahead of me. Just as I was closing the gap, Patrick noticed her running by. "She's right behind me," Britney says.

And just like that, I missed Patrick and he missed me. Never even saw a glimpse of each other. Apparently, he took a picture of me without knowing, though. Below, in the middle of a group of people you can see my bright sherbet shirt and white hat, and Britney just about to run out of the frame.

Immediately after I'd unknowingly passed my husband, I saw Bobby, called for his attention. Then my brother, my mom. They all cheered and Dusty got a picture of my jazz hands. "Did you see Patrick?" they called from the sidelines.

WHAT? I missed him!?! He called me 5 minutes ago. I told him where I was. I'd been looking to the left and to the right. I'd been anticipating seeing his smiling face since before the run even started, and I missed him?!?!?

In that moment I caught up with my partner and we deliberated in disbelief at how something so retardedly (yes, I just made that a real word, just go with it) ironic could have happened. I was the only one my husband didn't see, and the only one he was really looking for. 

Somewhere around mile 8, my pace partner high tailed it and left me in the dust. She had to pee. On another unfortunate note, my running app had stopped updating me on my pace time back when Patrick called me. So there I was, alone with my thoughts for the next 5 miles, the same miles I needed the most motivation for.

In the last couple of weeks, I'd only ran twice (due to my strained calf). Once was the St. Patrick's Day 5k, the other was my last long run of 10 miles, a solid 16 days ago. I kept after it, trying not to think about the struggle, but by mile 10 my hip flexers were ready to call it a day. One foot in front of the other, I chipped away at the last 3 miles, keeping in mind my friends were already done, waiting for me with my family, and we'd all get to celebrate once I finally crossed the finish line. 

I really got the feeling of urgency when the 2:30 time pacing crew caught up with me. No!!! I will not finish slower than last time! I REFUSE!

I dug deep and pulled away, running as fast as my dead tired legs could handle......which wasn't very fast, but sufficient enough to beat my last finish time by 6.5 minutes. Sure, the last half was technically a harder course than this one, but my training this year was also way shorter, I've been adapting to minimalist shoes, AND I weigh more (sigh). I'm still not the speediest or the slowest for a female my age, but for 2 hours 26 minutes and 23 seconds I ran. And judging by my running app, I ran pretty darn steady for 13.1 miles (the red part is post race and us walking to the car, since I had no idea it was still tracking me).

It's something that can easily seem mediocre when surrounded by about 14,000 other people who did it too, but the reality is a half-marathon is a long way, creating a wide-open target for posing hurdles, guaranteeing some kind of personal demon is going to be fought one way or another, and triumphing is something to be very proud of, no matter what.

I'd been so worried that I might not even get to finish. But not only did I finish, I did it without the partner I was convinced I so desperately needed, and I beat myself. I defeated my mental block of being companion dependent in a mentally and physically challenging situation, and I achieved a new PR.

I even kissed my medal before kissing my husband.....but you better believe he got some sugar soon after.

These girls were right there waiting for me to do what they do best: giggle and hug and tell me how awesome I did........

........And I was right there waiting for my jacket and sweats!!! Gear check prevailed and earned my trust by not losing any of my stuff!

It's amazing how cold you get after you stop the strenuous exercise.

I was so thankful my Mom drove 2 hours to come stand around for a few more hours, just see me run for a collective time of 36 seconds!! And so proud of her for wearing that adorable knit hat!!

And my brother who woke up at the crack of dawn to do the same......please ignore the optical illusion of my pot belly. Jess had her own set of supportive cheerleaders.

It didn't take us long to find the rest of the girls (and boy, if you count Ale's bump).

We all hobbled together to take a few group shots, then quickly switched gears to one of the best topics in the world, FOOD. Pappasito's, never knew what hit 'em.

Patrick and I spent the rest of the day together snuggled up in bed watching movies and snacking. Can we say, "Awesome Sunday?!?!"

What's your ideal running weather? When it comes to races, do you like to have a buddy or prefer to fly solo? How do you overcome tough mental challenges? Gear check: use it or lose it?