The 20 Strictly Running Commandments and whiners

The 20 Strictly Running Commandments

1. Don't be a whiner. Nobody likes a whiner, not even other whiners.

2. Don't make running your life, make it part of your life.

3. When doing group runs, start on time no matter who is missing.

4. Don't compare yourself to other runners.

5. When standing in starting lines, remind yourself how fortunate
you are to be there.

6. The faster you are the less you should talk about your times.

7. Don't always run alone.

8. Don't always run with people.

9. The best runs sometimes come on the days you didn't feel like running.

10. Be modest after a race, especially if you have reason to brag.

11. All runners are equal; some are just faster than others.

12. There are no short cuts to run excellence.

13. There is nothing boring about running, there are, however,
boring people who run.

14. Look at hills as opportunities to pass people.

15. Don't try to out run dogs.

16. With out goals, training has no purpose.

17. Go for broke, but prepare to be broken.

18. Unless you make your living as a runner, don't take running too seriously.

19. Runners who never fail are runners who never tried anything great.

20. Running is simple. Don't make it complicated.


I found this on the internet today, oh how I love the internet! What on earth did we do before it? Encyclopedias? pffft! Mail letters with stamps? What?!!? Go to the Library?!?! And what on EARTH did we do with all our free time?

I must admit I was a whiner last week. I had a couple of rough days. Why? I don't really know. I blame it on my RAGING hormones and quite frankly, a lack of vacation. I really am sorry, mostly to and for my DH who had to put up with me. I digress...

Whiners are people with long faces, who are sad, depressed, irritable, never feel good and always have some reason things aren't going their way and it's ALWAYS someone else's fault. Something is always annoying them, it's always party cloudy and the glass, most definitly, is at least half empty. They are people with a black cloud that follows them around, unhappy with their place in life, and either too lazy or too tired to fix it. They never sleep good, always have bad dreams, and are never on time. They have no energy and are annoyed by those who aren't like them.

They are energy SUCKERS. They pull from others what they do not internally have. They want others to be down with them. They want to pull you down with them. Will you let them? Life is not easy, but it is not meant to be. Life is hard. And if life seems to be going great, easy...it's only a matter of time before something will happen to change things all around.

I am not going to be a whiner. No one likes a whiner.

What defines you?

What defines me?

First and foremost, I am a woman. I am a brave, strong, loving, determined woman.

Other people may not have high expectations of me, but I have high expectations for myself.
-- Shannon Miller

I am a wife.
I love my wonderful husband more and more everyday. I wonder what I ever did to deserve someone like him, he who loves me for who I am, and mostly who I am trying to become. He's seen me at my best, and also at my worst. And he still loves me.

I am a daughter, a daughter-in-law, a sister, a sister-in-law, an aunt, a niece, a cousin.
So many things, to so many different people!

I am a friend.
I am your listening ear, to gossip, chatter, support and nurture. I am here for you when you need me, and even when you don't. Cry together, drink together, shop together...

I am a runner.
People ask why I run. I say, "If you have to ask, you will never understand". It is something only those select few know. Those who put themselves through pain, but know, deep down, how good it really feels.
--Erin Leonard

I am a nurse.
I work hard and care too much. I am proud to be a nurse.

Being a Nurse....
You will never be bored.
You will always be frustrated.
You will be surrounded by challenges...So much to do, and so little time.
You will carry immense responsibility, and very little authority.
You will step into people's lives for a moment and you will make a difference.
Some will bless you. Some will curse you.
You will see people at their worst, and at their best.
You will never cease to be amazed at peoples' capacity
For love, courage, and endurance.
You will see life begin
And you will see life end.
You will experience resounding triumphs
And devastating failures.
You will cry a lot.
You will laugh a lot.
You will know what it is to be human
And to be humane.
-Melodie Phenevert


Are we who we are beacuse of how we define ourselves?
Or are we who we are because of how others define us?

just for fun...check this website out

Out with the old...

Slightly traumatized today.
Got new shoes...new brand...feeling guilty. Is that weird? I can't help it. I am strangely attached to inanimate objects (yes, I should probably see a therapist about this admittance but I WON'T!) and have a strange sense of loyalty to said "things." I'm still the same person that as a child put all my stuffed animals face forward so they could all see and breathe.
What?!
Like I said. I can't help it.
So. Today is a sad but happy day. My New Balance 1224's

have treated me well. They only have about 260 miles on them but because my feet/gait are so funky it looks like I am going to BLOW through shoes. This was my first REAL running shoe! These babies took me through 12 weeks training for Zooma and a great race! We went for many walks with the dogs together. But they are also making my right ankle ache a little(actually a lot but don't tell Mitchell), as I am a super duper over pronater with FLAT, WIDE, BIG feet. So, they deserve to be laid to rest right? ha ha...they will still get lots of love...walking love of course...I'm on to a lighter but still stability(and cheaper!) Mizuno and I'm excited to try it out.
Highlight of the day----woman at running store telling me my legs are well defined and asking what strength training, if any, do I do in addition to running...ahem..well, oops. maybe I should start doing some...


Okay. Now, I need a drink. Heading to booze fridge to sulk/celebrate.

Happy Hump Day!

Whoooooooo hoooooooo I love hump day. Tomorrow we start the downward rolling of our week. And for me, it means bowling league Thursday! I love Thursdays! Bowling league has turned out to me really fun and enjoyable, if you haven't done it, put it on your bucket list!

I'm not feeling too chatty today. I got up this morning and used my treadmill (!!!!!!!) for the first time, and it kicked my butt!! Who says treadmill running is easy? And since I had a rough day, I went out for a wonderful 5miler when I got home. It was a great day to run, minus the wind!
It just makes you burn extra calories though right?

Week One, Day two of the hundredpushup.com challenge!
It's not to late to join in!!
Where my girls at?!?

Got some pics downloaded. Enjoy. And Happy Hump Day!
my new camera!

Zoe and Maya, such pretty girls!
Chico loves his duck!

Excellent running shirt/jacket I wore last week, half price, Academy! Love it!
Especially sweet Ipod pocket!
LOVE IT!

blog=brag?

hee hee.



check me out.



ah yeah.




While I'm here, let me brag on my hubby. This solar project was his, and BAM! He's awesome!

Are you up for it?

Always being up for a challenge...
(and quite frankly feeling like I owe my buddy Alma since I did kinda really encourage her to run with me Saturday) this is something Alma and I are going to do for the next 100 days!

And it looks like fun!

Are you up for it?
100 push ups

Here's to hot arms, and a sexy upper back for sleeveless and strapless tops this summer!

Race Report

So yesterday was the big day!
Zooma Austin, Women's Racing Series Half Marathon!
I had an added bonus and wonderful surprise when my dear friend Alma decided on Thursday, what the hell, I'm going to do it with you! AH! Whooppie! Exciting. So with online registration closed she headed up to Austin Thursday after work, registered and picked up both of our packets. Sweet! So we made plans to meet up and ride together! DH was also excited he didn't have to get up and drive me...
Once we arrived at the parking area we hopped on the shuttle, aka a yellow school bus. Whoa. When was the last time I was on a school bus? Back in DH's and my dating days after a river float and yeah...that was fun! This on the other hand, was nerve racking! Time to get nervous! Elevated heart rate. Anxiety! Finally. We arrived at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort.
We both had been sipping on water and our bladders were calling out to us so we ran over (literally!) to the port-a-potty, where the lines weren't too long, and then quickly headed over to the bag check, where also, the line wasn't long either! Yes!
I was nervous about the bag check after all I'd read on runner's world but it was a quick and easy process.
We take our shots of goo, give ourselves cheers and sip some more water, then go line up. AH! Full tilt girl power surrounds us (it's really pretty great having a women's running series!!) and anxiety at an all time high. Feeling good though. Ready and eager to get started.
And we're off!
The first three miles pretty much flew by for me. Rolling hills and a beautiful start, cloudy, cool and around 55 degrees. Awesome! The trees are brilliant shades of green and I'm feeling good. We have a short area out on a major road around mile 4, which was pretty much flat. Mile 5 and 6 lead us into a gorgeous neighborhood and ACK! A huge hill at the turn around! Did I say ACK!? And did I say HUGE HILL?! That's also when the wind picked up a little and man, was that a tough hill. Heading back in was definitly harder. Took another goo about mile 8, and let me tell you, there's something mental for me about mile 8.5-9. I don't know what it is. It's like when I see that 10 mile sign I get revved up again. Then the biggest hill of all! CRAP! Almost got me down. Seriously.
Running is so much mental prowness it's unbelieveable!!
And then! The finish line! It weaved around the parking lot to the back of the resort and I sprinted in the last minute!
Success!
1:58:15 pace of 9:02
159th overall out of 1252
30th in my division of 178
Under 2 hours!
I really wanted a time of 1:57 at least; I somewhat wanted to match my first half time but, this was a HARD course! And I am very proud! I got my finishers necklace (cheezy as hell) slammed two waters and munched on some oranges while I waited to cheer Alma in!
And she rocked it! No training whatsoever, who the hell cares! 2:42 baby!
You Rock girl!!
We grabbed our bags and headed over for post-race goodies...mini-cupcakes, starbucks coffee, breakfast tacos...a hour wait for the massages (boo) and some pretty good vendors available. Live music down by the water, but of course you know where we went. The WINE AREA!! All you can drink! So we hit up a couple (ha ha) glasses of champagne and before I knew it we were back on the shuttle and headed to our car....where I managed to squeeze in a pit stop before heading southbound 35...ha ha
Overall, it was a great experience! I managed not to cry this time when I crossed the finish line even though I had eyes full of tears...I was very happy with the organization of the race and only would suggest a little better food at the end! The shirts are awesome and the necklace, though a little cheezy, is something I will wear, more than a metal anyway...Alma, Thank you for being a crazy, tough chick and a wonderful friend.
Beach to Bay next month and then one month off before training for Rock-n-Roll Marathon!

Happy Hump Day!

Actually, to be quite honest, today is my Thursday. It's been in my head all week and I honestly thought it was Thursday all day today. ;) My second half marathon is Saturday! Whoooo hooooo! So I will be taking Friday to drive the course (super hilly, I just checked the elevation map, AGAIN) and pick up my packet in Austin. I can't wait! And I am getting nervous. Doubting myself. Freaking myself out. Did I train enough? What am I going to wear? What if it's "too" hilly!?! There's a little added pressure this time because I've done this before. I can't excuse myself and act like I didn't know what I was getting myself into! My time on my first half, 1:54:31...was better than I had trained for and I have it in my head that I want to get there, at least there, again...hopefully better...
It's also PMS time, and I'm fighting off a small headcold/allergy/sinus thing. BOO

Regardless. I am pumped! 13.1 or bust baby!

This week is an easy week, work wise and running wise. Minimal working late, and 3 easy 3 mile runs. Today's was glorious! Hot. But great!

DH is in San Antonio eating at Boudrous for work. SUCKA! I in exchange got some ice cream (carbing up right!) for dinner (that I'd been crying for) and am working on the laundry.

Early to bed! Tomorrow's my friday! Just don't tell my boss. :P