Getting Caught Up

It has been a while since I last posted. I vow to myself to update my blog everyday. Here is what has been going on since I last posted.

We finished the Cuyahoga Valley Hiking Challenge. We completed 10 hikes and earned a nice patch. We also finished The Summit County Metro Parks Fall Hiking Spree, completing 8 hikes.

On September 21st I participated in the Natatorium 5K Run, this is my 3rd run in as many months. It was so nice to have a friend participating with me. This was Jennifer's first 5K and she did great. We are already signed up to do the Jack O Latern 5K Jog in October.

I just finished reading a great book about an amazing man that can run, it is called "Ultra Marathon Man - Confessions of an all Night Runner" by Dean Karnazes. If you need motivation to run that extra mile, this is the book to read. This guy is amazing and very motivational. He was on Regis and Kelly a couple weeks ago trying to break the world record by running 48 hours straight.

"If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail"

45th Annual Fall Hiking Spree

Today was the start of the 45th Annual Fall Hiking Spree. We set out early this morning and completed 4 of the 8 hikes needed to earn our hiking shield. The hikes we did totaled about 4.5 miles. We still have 3 hikes to finish for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Challenge and have to get them done by the 30th of September. The ones we needed to do were a little longer and harder than we wanted to do today, so we decided to start the Fall Hiking Spree, even though we have until November 30th to finish, we want to get done before the weather gets bad. After we got home, I rested for a couple hours, and then did my daily run of 2.0 miles. I was able to run the first mile without stopping and the last mile I walked a little then ran etc. Boy was I upset when I went to download my runs on the Nike+ site and something was wrong with my IPOD, so they didn't register. Oh well, life goes on. The important thing is that I finished.

I did my first 10K today. I participated in the Nike+ Human Race 10K. Races were held all around the world. If you weren’t in a city that was hosting a race, you could run by yourself and download the run. I have had this race on my list of races for 2008, but decided yesterday that I wasn’t going to participate. Well to my surprise when I woke up this morning, I decided to give it a try. I didn’t run the whole time, but can say that I did run 75% of the 10K. My time was 1:21:08 still waiting to see where I placed, right now I am somewhere in the 17,000, and a couple cities still have to do their race. Everyone has until 9/02/08 to download their run. It was a neat experience to know that so many people around the world are running the same race. The closest race to me would have been Chicago, maybe next time; I bet the atmosphere at that race was out of this world. I will let everyone know on the 09/03/08 what place I come in.

3 Daily Blogs In 1

Thursday, August 28, 2008 – I did a 1-hour water walking class and a 1-hour deep water fitness class at the Natatorium. I first tried water walking this summer at Water Works and really enjoyed it, since the summer is over, I decided to try it at the Natatorium, and the lazy river is a lot smaller than at Water Works, so it wasn’t as much fun. I loved the Deep Water Fitness class and will continue it through-out the winter.

Friday, August 29, 2008 – Mom, dad and I headed out with the dogs to finish another trail in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Challenge. We hiked our 7th of 10 trails. This trail was just short of 6 miles. I thought I would have to carry the dogs a lot, since their little legs can go that far, but they surprised me and walked almost the whole trail. Later in the day I walked 2-miles around the track with my friend Jennifer.

Saturday, August 30, 2008 – I am taking today off, since I put in a lot of miles the past few days.

Out Run Ovarian Cancer 5K

August 23, 2008, I ran my second 5K. It was the OROC 5K (Out Run Ovarian Cancer). It started and finished at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. My parents and Natalie were there for support and I want to thank them for getting up so early and cheering me on as I started and finished the race. The route took us from the Rock Hall, by the Science Center, Cleveland Brown Stadium and the House of Blues and back to the Rock Hall. There were different muscian's along the route to keep all the runners going. Before the race, they had a small expo and all the survivor's let go of turquoise balloons and a white balloon was let go in memory of those who have passed. It was such an inspiration to see so many survivors taking part in the race. I finished almost 2 minutes ahead of my last run, which made me happy. I thought the race would be pretty flat, but there were a few hills to contend with.

Out Run Ovarian Cancer 5K

5K Race Results

Well, I finished my first 5K Race on Saturday, July 26, 2008. I have to say I was praying for rain and that it would be cancelled, as I haven't gotten any training in since the middle of June when I found out I was being laid off from work. I couldn't let myself down or the wonderful people that sponsored and supported me. When I got to the race site, I was really nervous and intimated by all the runners. Somehow, I calmed myself down, and decided that my goals for this race is to finish and try and finish in 45 minutes. I started off great, and ran the first mile nonstop, after that, I switched from running to walking to running. I was in last place for about the last mile or so, the reason I knew I was in last was because I was being followed by a police car and a bike. lol Coming in to the home stretch, my dad met me and cheered me on to finish strong. I picked up my pace and passed the person in front of me, which meant I wasn't last. yahoo! I crossed the finish line in 40:19, well before my goal of 45:00 minutes. I want to thank everyone who donated to the Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer, I exceeded my goal by $150.00, having donated $350.00 to the fight. I also was the winner of a $50.00 gift certificate to the Vertical Runner (running store), which made me happy, that will come in handy when I need new shoes.

I have already signed up for my next race, which will be the 5K Run/Walk to Out Run Ovarian Cancer at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland on August 23, 2008. I hope to beat my time from my last race.

I DID IT!

I DID IT! Last night, I ran a mile without stopping. That accomplishment really boosted my motivation. I really felt good, with the exception of my right knee hurting a little. I think I need to do a little cross training where I am not pounding on my knee so much. I have decided that I am going to try swimming a few days a week to give my knee rest time between runs. My parents walked the dogs 2 miles last night, so I didn’t have to do it when I came back from running. Casey & Bentley are so funny; the minute I get my running shoes out they think it is time for their walk. I usually take them after I come back from my run. I walk them each 2 miles, but not together. I guess the whole time I am gone with one, the other is sitting by the door crying, waiting for me to return. They are so cute.

QUOTE OF THE DAY - "There's only one way to succeed in anything and that is to give everything." - Vince Lombardi

Back On Track

Well, after a few days off, I went to the track at Bolich and did 2 miles (Monday's aren't my training day for running, but decided that since I missed Sunday's training day because of the weather I would run a little) I ran 2 complete laps without stopping, which is great. I could have done more, but didn't want to push it, since it was suppose to be my rest day. Tonight I will be starting my Couch 2 5K Week 4. I will let everyone know how it goes. The weather is finally dry, so should be a nice night to run.

My First Blog

This is my first attempt at creating a blog. I am on a journey to get healthy and fit and thought it would be great to share this experience with whomever is interested in helping me strive to reach my goals. If you noticed the widget's on my blog, you will see that my goal is to lose 80lbs. I started my weight loss on April 4, 2008 and have lost a total of 15lbs so far. I have had a few setbacks, but got back on track quickly. I have had a dream of running a marathon, and can see myself crossing the finish line. It is a long road to being prepared mentally and physically to run a marathon, so I am taking it slow and taking one step at a time. My first small goal is to do a few 5K races this year and work my way up to a marathon. I am currently training for my first 5K Race on July 26, 2008. This race is the Joseph C. Monastra 5K Run - Refusing To Lose - The Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer. I will be running in memory of my Grandfather who died of Pancreatic Cancer March 03, 1996. I am following the Couch 2 5K training plan from Coolrunning. I found a PODCAST on iTunes that has a 9 week program, it is nice because they tell you when to run, and when to walk, slowly working your way up to the 5K. I just finished up week three and will start week four on Sunday. Week three consisted of a brisk 5 minute walk, followed by 2 sets of running 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, run 3 minutes and recover 3 mintues, followed by a 5 minute cool down. I did great this week, and can't wait to get started on week 4. I will keep everyone posted on how the week goes.